Blank Canvas is a thoughtful, small-production wine project where art meets science, and every cuvée is a deliberate act of expression. Founded in 2013 by the husband-and-wife team of Dr. Matt Thomson, one of New Zealand’s most experienced and respected winemakers, and Sophie Parker-Thomson MW, Blank Canvas reflects decades of global winemaking knowledge distilled into a singular vision: to craft wines that are precise, vineyard-driven, and intellectually engaging.

The project draws fruit from exceptional single vineyard sites across Marlborough, Central Otago, and Hawke’s Bay. These blocks are selected for their soils, microclimates, and ability to express detail rather than volume — places that allow for both structure and aromatic complexity. Farming partners are chosen carefully, with sustainable and regenerative practices at the core of every relationship. Blank Canvas is about site specificity and creative intent — every wine is an individual brushstroke.

In the cellar, Matt and Sophie work with restrained precision. Fermentations are wild, sulphur is used judiciously, and the approach is tailored to each varietal and site. Chardonnay is whole-bunch pressed, barrel-fermented, and aged on lees with minimal bâtonnage. Pinot Noir is handled gently with partial whole cluster and low new oak to preserve aromatic purity. Grüner Veltliner, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, and Albariño are given room to evolve in large format oak, amphorae, or concrete, with a focus on building tension, texture, and vibrancy.

The wines are detailed and exacting. Reed Chardonnay from the Wairau Valley is flinty, saline, and long — citrus, white stone fruit, and chalk. Upton Downs Pinot Noir is perfumed and savoury with wild herbs and fine-grained tannin. Element Syrah from the Gimblett Gravels is peppered, dark-fruited, and restrained, while Grüner Veltliner is textural and dry, with white pepper and lime blossom. Each release feels quietly sculpted — wines of intellect, energy, and thoughtful restraint.

What defines Blank Canvas is its intent — a winery where every wine begins not with repetition, but with a question, and is crafted to be both beautiful and true.

These are wines that carry clarity like a signature — refined, purposeful, and drawn with precision from the intersection of land, mind, and method.