“Bubbles have truly consumed my life. The process allows you to delve into just so many incredible facets, and, just in winemaking, you have to think about a wine that will only be released in four to six years, sometimes even longer. Bubbles is really in my blood, and I am just so happy that I can still be part of the journey.”
Following his studies of general agriculture at the University of Pretoria, Durban-born Pieter spent seven years in Franschhoek as apprentice to Achim von Arnim of Haute Cabrière. During this time, he experienced a number of working vintages in France’s Champagne region, at Mumm in 1987, George Vesselle in Bouzy in 1988 and at Moët & Chandon in 1989. In 1990, he joined Graham Beck in Robertson which now operates state-of-the-art cellars specifically equipped and directed for the production of Cap Classique. Pieter has a particular interest in Cap Classique winemaking and is one of the leading sparkling wine specialists in the Cape. Pieter is now the COO of Graham Beck.
His Cap Classique was chosen to celebrate the inauguration of President Nelson Mandela in 1994 and also used by Barack Obama before he went on to do his inception speech in Chicago in November 2008. Currently in pursuit of the perfect bubble, Pieter has been producing sparkling wine in Healdsburg, California, USA since 2012 and also started a project in Hampshire, UK.