"They are mainly award-winning waters," Pieterse said of his collection at his Fine Water Tasting Room, which he describes as the world's first such venue dedicated solely to water. A tasting session lasting around an hour was a surprise for South African visitor Dere Vermeulen, 19, who normally drinks tap water. - From beer to water -Pieterse, previously a brewer, developed an interest in water during the Covid?19 pandemic when South Africa banned the sale and distribution of alcohol. It led him to become one of only two certified water sommeliers in South Africa and fewer than 100 worldwide, he said. Some bottlers sell tap water purified through reverse?osmosis filtration which removes the minerals and flavour, he said.