Blank Canvas today announces the purchase of a remarkable 9-hectare vineyard property in Marlborough’s Omaka Valley, in the Southern Valleys subregion. The acquisition becomes the winery’s long-awaited home site and complements nine existing, distinctive partner vineyards, anchoring the Blank Canvas single-vineyard philosophy.
Blank Canvas was founded in 2012 by award-winning international winemaking consultant Matt Thomson and Master of Wine Sophie Parker-Thomson with the bold vision of crafting wines that earn their place among the world’s best.
Sophie states, “This is a defining moment in our evolution as we approach vintage number fourteen. We have dreamt of the perfect home for Blank Canvas from day one and have been actively searching for it over several years. We are delighted that we have finally found it.”
The amphitheatre-shaped hillside vineyard that Blank Canvas will call home was established in 2003 and planted at very high density on steep, even, low-vigour clay slopes. The property offers sensational 360° views across the Wairau Valley and contrasting aspects, where vines now over 20 years old are planted and in excellent condition. The company plans substantial phased investment and careful development to realise the site’s full potential.
Winemaker Matt Thomson, who has completed an even split of 66 harvests over 33 years in Europe and New Zealand, explains, “Site drives style. In the Old World, the best sites typically grow one or at most two varieties; in the New World we often try to force many varieties into one terroir, frequently with mediocre results. This site gives us two complementary terroirs – a cooler east face and a warmer west face – that will allow us to match variety and style to place, which is a founding ethos of Blank Canvas.”
While the small parcel of established Pinot Noir on the cooler eastern face will remain, Matt and Sophie plan to convert the remainder of the block, currently Sauvignon Blanc, to varieties better suited to the microclimates created by the differing aspects.
Their extensive experience and decades of vintages in Europe inform these decisions. They believe the warm, clay-based amphitheatre offers one of the rare terroirs outside of Italy suited to producing outstanding Nebbiolo, while also showing strong potential for compelling cool-climate Syrah. The balance of the property will feature Chardonnay from their preferred clone in Marlborough, B95, which will grow on the cooler side alongside the Pinot Noir.
“In New Zealand’s climate and with our high costs of production, it’s important we grow only varieties that are capable of true greatness,” remarks Matt. “There is no doubt that Nebbiolo, Syrah and Pinot Noir produce some of the world’s greatest wines. These red varieties form a trifecta of great aromatic red wines of the world, and together with our belief in Marlborough Chardonnay, we think we can achieve something very special from this extraordinary property.”
Blank Canvas will continue to celebrate and release single-vineyard wines from its grower partners, while the new vineyard will reinforce the small-batch fine wine programme that has helped earn the winery its critical acclaim to date. Sophie acknowledges, “This is one of the most difficult times our wine industry has faced, yet we believe thoughtful, quality-focused producers are proving resilient. This acquisition is a positive reminder that there are good news stories in wine. Producers who take pride, care and respect in their vineyards and wines are building long-term value for Marlborough and New Zealand.”
“We bought this piece of beautiful Marlborough land not just for ourselves and future generations, but for the region,” concludes Matt, “to contribute to Marlborough’s ongoing story and support the region’s like-minded pursuit of world-class fine wine.”
The first vintage from the new Blank Canvas vineyard site will be harvested in 2026.
