Greece

Mexico

New Zealand

South Africa

Spain

Founded in 2013 by Master of Wine Sophie Parker-Thomson and international winemaking consultant Matt Thomson, Blank Canvas is one of Marlborough's most exciting labels to emerge in the past decade. Sophie and Matt have amassed a phenomenal amount of knowledge in the wine industry: together, they have 46 years of collective global wine experience and 65 harvests in the Northern and Southern hemispheres under their belt. This experience forms the inspirational backbone for Blank Canvas.

Blank Canvas represents Matt and Sophie’s desire to create distinctive small-batch, single-vineyard fine wines that reflect the best sub-regional sites across Marlborough, Hawke’s Bay, and Central Otago. Today, the winery showcases nine exceptional vineyards chosen not only for their suitability for the varieties they are nurturing—with the right soil, microclimate, and inherent high quality—but also because they are tended by people with a fervent desire to grow great wine, not just grapes. The growers all live on their vineyards and have a long-term, sustainable commitment to their land. Their fruit goes into single-vineyard wines that they can truly call their own and of which they are extremely proud.

The winemaking philosophy embraces using as little manipulation as possible to uphold, over everything else, the wine’s sense of place. While their winemaking influence from the Old World is genuine — reflected in the restraint and elegance of the wines — they start with a 'blank canvas' for every vineyard with the aim of reflecting individuality and character in each vintage. Today, Blank Canvas has received significant acclaim from esteemed critics, including top marks across their range from Jancis Robinson, Rebecca Gibb MW, and James Suckling, marking their arrival on the international radar. In 2024, Blank Canvas officially claimed the 18th position among all New Zealand wineries on the Top 20 New Zealand Wineries 2024 list.

One of the Top 20 Wineries in New Zealand

The Top Wineries of New Zealand List for 2024 was released by leading Australasian wine publication The Real Review. In 2024 Blank Canvas made the list’s coveted Top 20, officially claiming the 18th position overall out of all New Zealand wineries, sitting alongside well-established names such as Felton Road (#1), Ata Rangi (#4), Craggy Range (#5) and Pyramid Valley (#11). According to the ranking, this therefore places Blank Canvas in the top few percent of New Zealand’s finest wine producers. This is an improvement of four places from last year’s #22 and inclusion in this year’s list means that Blank Canvas has made the list every year since its inception seven years ago.

Situated in the north-eastern corner of the South Island, Marlborough produces 69% of the national harvest and 90% of New Zealand’s Sauvignon Blanc. While the region is most commonly associated with Sauvignon Blanc, it is also well-suited to any variety where fruit intensity is key. The climate here is on the cooler side, but Marlborough is also dry and sunny, producing excellent Rieslings, Pinot Noirs, and Chardonnays. The combination of sunshine and cool nights means Marlborough’s wines have plenty of fruit flavour backed by high levels of natural acidity. These marked diurnal temperature fluctuations give the wines their incredible vibrancy and freshness. Almost as important are the area’s soils, the best of which are on old gravel-strewn riverbeds. The best vineyards are shallow, free-draining, and low in fertility, especially in an area where vines can produce large, vigorous crops.

Three-quarters of Syrah plantings are found in Hawke’s Bay. The region is the opposite of the Rhône, as the vines are largely grown on the flats that spread inland from the sea rather than on the hillsides. It is the fruit basket of New Zealand—warm and sunny, with meandering paths of four rivers that have laid down more than 20 different soil types. However, Hawke’s Bay is not associated with a single style in the way that Marlborough has become synonymous with Sauvignon Blanc; the region is well known for its Bordeaux blends and Chardonnays as well.

Central Otago is remarkable in many ways. Its vineyards are the southernmost in the world, sitting right on the edge of possibility. The region experiences hot summers and very cold winters, with significant diurnal variation during the growing season. At latitude 45° south, there are two more hours of daylight in summer than in Auckland, and solar radiation is 11% higher than at the northern grape-growing latitude of 50° north. The Earth is simply closer to the sun during the southern hemisphere’s growing season. Central Otago receives 40% more UV light than expected for its latitude, which helps explain the deep colour of many Central Otago Pinots, as the grape skins thicken in response. The vines here get more than enough sunlight for photosynthesis, but grapes ripen later than in most Pinot Noir-producing regions: the period between flowering and harvest is two weeks longer in Central Otago than in Oregon or Burgundy.

Blank Canvas

Dillons Point | Marlborough - Consistently among New Zealand's top rated Sauvignon Blanc wines. A single vineyard, small-batch classic Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc.

Dillons Point | Marlborough - Our alternative take on the classic style, our Abstract Sauvignon Blanc is about savoury complexity and seamless texture that we think draws parallels with the best white Bordeaux wines.

Waihopai & Wairau Confluence | Marlborough - Consistently reviewed among the top Marlborough and New Zealand Chardonnays, the Reed Vineyard Chardonnay has both power and incredible elegance.

Taylor Pass | Marlborough - Escaroth's dry farmed Pinot Noir produces a bewildering fragrance of peony and violets, red cherry and pomegranate overlaid with a smoky, earthy savouriness.

Gimblett Gravels | Hawkes Bay - In the true expression of cool-climate Syrah, this wine exudes freshly cracked black pepper, crushed violets, red and black forest fruits and savoury smoky nuances.

Gibbston Valley | Central Otago - We grew up in the enlivening surroundings of Central Otago. With this formative connection we dreamed early on of finding a special vineyard to venerate Central Otago Pinot Noir. We found it in the Anthem vineyard, cradled in the Gibbston Valley.

Bannockburn | Central Otago - The 'Una Volta' name is designated to limited release one-off parcels that we believe will make something very special. The 2020 Una Volta hails from a site with impressive pedigree: the Renaissance Vineyard on Bannockburn's Felton Road.

The winemaking philosophy is minimal handling of grapes and wines with few additions, and respectful to the earth. They believe that only in natural balance one can find true quality. They follow nature, instead of trying to control it. Certified organic since 2009 with biodynamic practices in the vineyard and winery.

Domaine Karanika was founded by Laurens M. Hartman-Karanika, the son of a Greek mother and a Dutch father, and his wife, Annette van Kampen. Both have lived all their life in the Netherlands and had worked for about 15 years. Their common love for good wine and discontent with commercial “Parkerised” wines, led them one day back in early 2004 to pursue their dream: produce world-class organic sparkling wines following only the traditional method. Over the years, they were trained as a winemaker, enologist and viticulturalist in Europe and the US while searching for the right combination of terroir and grape varieties. After serious consideration of options from Australia to Germany, their love for the amazing Xinomavro variety, not yet famous then, led them to Amyndeo in Greece where their dream started coming to life.

Amyndeo or Amyntaio (named after the grandfather of Alexander the Great), in the far north west of Greece towards the border of Albania and North Macedonia, is around 700 metres above sea level. It lies on the far side of Mount Vermio, blocked off from the influence of the Aegean. These features of Amyndeon's setting cause the local climate to be entirely continental, though moderated somewhat by the influence of four lakes, of which Lake Vegoritis is the biggest.

Amyndeo has the coolest climate of all the wine producing regions of Greece. Soil tends to be a sandy clay around Xinonero, on the slopes west of Amydeon, and a sandy loam around Ayios Panteleimonas, on the plain area just west of lake Petron, with considerable variation in calcium content from vineyard to vineyard.

Domaine Karanika

Mariatinto has grown to become synonymous with high-quality wine in Mexico. In the fields and in the cellar, work is done with minimal intervention, organically wherever possible and always to allow the grapes to speak for themselves.

This has paved the way for the brand to be present on the tables of the best restaurants and hotels in Mexico. Mariatinto stands out for being a versatile and elegant wine, pairing perfectly with the local cuisine, yet complementing the best of international dishes and flavours.  

The Valle de Guadalupe is quickly becoming known globally for quality wine. With over 150 wineries and countless vineyards throughout the valley, the potential of this terroir is only just being recognized.

Mariatinto

Velvety and vibrant blend of Syrah, Nebbiolo, Merlot and Cabernet Franc from the Valle de Guadalupe in Baja California, Mexico.  

The Guardian’s David Williams highlighted Oenops as “the perfect introduction” to Greek wines. A country, he says, with “an absolute trove of distinctive wine that has never quite made it over the line into mainstream acceptance in the UK.” The exceptional range of wines from Oenops is changing that perception. They are made by 

. He works as a negociant, sourcing indigenous and rare grape varieties grown on excellent terroir by passionate grape growers across the country.

Nestled in northeast Greece near the border with Bulgaria, the Drama wine region combines a rich history of winemaking with a unique terroir, producing wines with distinct character and regional identity.

Oenops Wines

30 day skin contact white made from the indigenous grape Roditis
Orange in appearance, unfiltered, no sulphites, no machinery

Indigenous red from Naoussa, nothing added, no machinery, 6 months clay amphora, unfiltered, no sulphites added

Rare indigenous red varietal, aged 10 months in clay, unfiltered

Winemakers Thomas and Emma Holt settled on Somontano to achieve their ambition of bringing together old world traditions and modern techniques to make their own wines, in their own style.

Their story begins in their hometown of Shrewsbury, a small county town in the heart of the English countryside. It just happens to also be the home of Tanners Wine Merchants, one of the UK’s most prestigious wine retailers and where Thomas and Emma met. With a burgeoning love of wine and a keen sense of adventure, they left Tanners to travel the world with the dream of becoming winemakers in their own right. 

For Thomas, this initially meant a three-year stint at Plumpton College, studying for a degree in Viticulture and Oenology. They soon joined forces again and headed off to New Zealand. Two vintages at Pask Winery in Hawke’s Bay were followed by three at Flat Rock Cellars in Niagara. Brimming with enthusiasm after working with some of the industry’s most influential producers, they embarked on their most daunting challenge yet. 

Always wanting to make wine in Europe, and Spain in particular, they set off looking for a winery who would share their ambition and help them on their way to creating their very first wine. That was in 2015 and they haven’t looked back since. Paso-Primero has gone from strength to strength winning awards and critical acclaim for their ever expanding portfolio. The ethos remains the same, though, as Thomas and Emma continue to make the sort of fun, enjoyable wines that they fell in love with when they first worked together.

The wine region of Somontano lies on a plateau at the foot of the Pyrenees Mountains. The name Somontano translates to “Under the Mountain.” This spectacular area has  a picturesque array of green fields, hills, wildflowers, medieval hamlets, and lonely hilltop monasteries. The climate is continental with cool and snowy winters, hot, dry summers, and often extreme weather in the shoulder seasons due to the proximity of the surrounding mountains. This small wine region - approximately 3,000 hectares planted to vines - boasts high sunshine hours, several unique indigenous grape varieties, excellent cuisine, and stunning scenery.

Paso Primero

Donovan is one of the key figures in South Africa’s dynamic New Wave movement. As one of the original “garagista” producers in Swartland, Donovan can proudly claim to produce some of the country’s most highly sought-after wines. Well-travelled, affable, and ambitious, he studied viticulture and enology at the University of Stellenbosch with David Sadie, among others. After graduating in 2005, Donovan spent the next two years gaining experience and getting stuck into harvests around the world. On his return to South Africa in 2007, he spent a season in Swartland, assisting none other than Eben Sadie (Sadie Family Wines). It was here that he found inspiration from Mediterranean varieties to create wines under his own label. Within a year, he had six barrels to his name, and the inaugural Rall White was born. It was an immediate critical success, and Donovan soon set out on his own. Since then, he has continued to acquire small parcels of top-quality fruit, contract vineyards, and solidify his reputation as a master blender. Over time, he has refined his winemaking style towards fresher, more vivid wines, and his creations have never been better. Today, Rall White is widely regarded as one of the finest blends coming out of the Cape. Fermentations are natural and spontaneous with no interventions, and aging takes place in various vessels, including foudre, concrete, barrels, and amphora, depending on the variety. Primarily Swartland-based, Donovan also sources premium fruit from Piekenierskloof, Darling, and Stellenbosch, and consults on various projects across the country. Donovan Rall has established himself as one of South Africa’s finest winemakers.

First growth of South Africa - Tim Atkin MW

In 2019, UK Master of Wine, Tim Atkin highlighted the profound influence of figures like Donovan, who, along with others, have significantly reshaped the wine industry.

Tim Atkin MW’s 2024 South Africa Special Report is based on the tasting of 2,259 South African wines from 427 different producers. Each year, the report includes a classification of the Cape’s producers, loosely modeled on the 1855 Bordeaux Classification. It features six bands of wineries: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth Growths (20 wineries each), along with a larger group of Crus Bourgeois (100 wineries). Unlike its French predecessor, Atkin’s classification is revised annually and is based solely on quality, not price.

Rall Wines secured a spot as a First Growth in the 2024 report, marking the fifth consecutive year of this recognition.

Swartland, with its arid, sun-baked landscape and mountainous backdrop with soil types from granite to shale, has become one of the most dynamic regions in the Southern Hemisphere. Once known for its high-octane reds and base wines for brandy, the region has redefined itself thanks to a new wave of winemakers who have capitalized on Swartland’s hot, dry conditions by focusing on Mediterranean and Rhône Valley varieties.

All of these winemakers are part of something called the Swartland Independent Producers. To qualify, wines must be produced naturally, without added yeast, acidity, tannin, or reverse osmosis, and aged in no more than 25% new French oak. The certification excludes Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc, concentrating instead on varieties like Carignan, Syrah, and Chenin Blanc that are well-suited to the region's Mediterranean climate.

Rall Wines

From ungrafted vines in the high altitude region of Piekenierskloof; fermented in two concrete eggs

68% Chenin Blanc, 28% Verdelho, 4% Viognier; matured in foudres, concrete eggs, and 500L puncheons

From vines planted in 1969 on the Paardeberg; aged in a concrete egg and foudre

From a schist-based vineyard in Swartland; 100% whole cluster and aged in concrete

70% Syrah, 12% Grenache, 10% Carignan, 8% Cinsault; 100% whole cluster and aged in larger oak vessels

Since day one, Vassaltis Winery’s guiding principles were to combine traditional winemaking with the operational needs of a sleek, state-of-the-art winery capable of yielding exceptional wines that showcase the best of Santorini.

In the winery, they employ a variety of winemaking techniques like battonage, oak maturation, and controlled oxidation to draw out sophisticated qualities. They aim to achieve ageability for their wines; but only through work in the vineyard and through grape handling techniques at harvest. 

Vassaltis believe that they owe it to previous generations to keep the rich wine tradition of the region alive, and to deliver this tradition to the next generation in an environmentally, socially, and financially sustainable way as possible.

Archaeological findings show that viticulture was present on Santorini prior to the 17th century B.C. volcanic explosion that devastated the island. Where vines once grew around the prehistoric Akrotiri settlements, only lava and ash remained for centuries. Dorian colonists from Sparta reclaimed the island circa 1200 B.C., bringing with them vines which they planted in the volcanic soils.

Vine growing and winemaking have endured uninterrupted since the island’s resettlement. Not only did the newly planted vines brought by the Dorians learn how to adapt to the volcanic soils, so too did the people working with the grapes learn how to adapt their methods. They taught themselves how to weave living vines into low basket shapes to protect the grapes from the punishing northern winds that tear through the vineyards and to trap moisture from morning fogs to nourish the vines. Not even the phylloxera epidemic of the early 20th century AD that destroyed most European vineyards halted wine production on Santorini, thanks to the island’s infertile, sandy soils.

The island is home to many old, ungrafted vines; in some cases vines sitting on 200-year-old roots! The 

 basket vine weaving techniques are still employed and that, combined with the age of many of the vines, earned PDO Santorini the first designation of origin in Greece to be included in the National Index of Intangible Cultural Heritage.

The island is also home to a vast array of indigenous grape varieties. Assyrtiko remains the dominant one followed by Mandilaria, Aidani, Athiri, and Mavrotragano, but those aren’t the only grapes that grow here. More than 30 different “traditional” white and red varieties can be found on the island such as Katsano, Voudomato, Platani, Voudomato, Mavrathiro

Vassaltis Vineyards

Vassaltis considers the PDO Santorini to be the most representative wine of the island’s terroir. An explosive bouquet on the nose with immense complexity on the palette and a long finish make this stunning wine pleasurable with or without food.

We love to call Nassitis the “alter-ego” of our Santorini PDO wines. The presence of the island’s two lesser known varieties, Aidani and Athiri add wonderful freshness, without stealing the glory from the mineral full-bodied character of the wine. The result is a delicious, versatile wine typical ofSantorini, ideal for the long, warm summer days by the sea and nights under the stars.

It is often said that the use of oak in Assyrtiko wines covers the grape’s volcanic nature and should therefore be avoided. However, Vassaltis takes a delicate approach, using neutral barrels and lees ageing to create a perfectly balanced wine with great complexity and great ageing potential.

100% Assyrtiko that spends 12 months on fine lees, Gramina is an astonishingly elegant wine that exhibits all the unique characteristics of the variety.  A thing of beauty.

Plethora is Vassaltis' tribute to the past generations who kept the wine making traditions alive in Santorini. Vinified in the way our ancestors used to do it, we collect over ripe golden berries of pure Assyrtiko, ferment and age them in large oak barrels which aren’t topped up. An exquisite wine for a special crowd, Plethora is exactly what it says on the label.  Only 2400 bottles produced.

A very special red grape variety indigenous to the island of Santorini but rapidly gaining recognition around Greece. Mavrotragano may be an island wine, but it is one that shows off the serious and gritty side of life on a volcanic island.

Domaine Karanika

Cuvée Speciale 2020

Oenops Wines

Rawditis 2021

Xinomavro 2020

Xinomavraw 2021

Limniona 2020

Vassaltis Vineyards

Santorini 2022

Nassitis 2022

Barrel Aged Santorini 2021

Gramina 2021

Plethora 2020

Mavrotragano 2020

Mariatinto

Red Blend 2021

Blank Canvas

Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Abstract - Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Escaroth Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Element Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2019

Anthem Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

Una Volta Pinot Noir 2020

Rall Wines

2022 Grenache Blanc

2022 White

2022 Noa Chenin Blanc

2022 Syrah

2021 Red

Paso Primero

Moristel ‘76 2021

Free Verse Inventory

Greece

Domaine Karanika

Cuvée Speciale 2020

Oenops Wines

Rawditis 2021

Xinomavro 2020

Xinomavraw 2021

Limniona 2020

Vassaltis Vineyards

Santorini 2022

Nassitis 2022

Barrel Aged Santorini 2021

Gramina 2021

Plethora 2020

Mavrotragano 2020

Mexico

Mariatinto

Red Blend 2021

New Zealand

Blank Canvas

Holdaway Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2023

Abstract - Three Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2019

Reed Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

Escaroth Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020

Element Vineyard Gimblett Gravels Syrah 2019

Anthem Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

Una Volta Pinot Noir 2020

South Africa

Rall Wines

2022 Grenache Blanc

2022 White

2022 Noa Chenin Blanc

2022 Syrah

2021 Red

Spain

Paso Primero

Moristel ‘76 2021