The grapes to produce the Sauvignon Blanc “Holdaway” Marlborough Blank Canvas were machine harvested in the cool of the night to ensure no harsh phenolics were extracted and acidity was preserved. The grapes were crushed and gently pressed in a pneumatic press to avoid skin contact, with the juice transferred directly into one small tank. The must was settled naturally and fermented in stainless steel at cool temperatures. Post-fermentation it was left on light lees to increase textural complexity. The wine was then gently crossflow-filtered prior to bottling.
The fruit comes from a single vineyard in the Dillons Point subregion located on the coastal fringe of the Wairau Valley. This vineyard belongs to the Holdaway family, who have been farming in Marlborough for generations. They practise sustainable viticulture, using their own compost and mulching preparations to maintain organic matter in the soil. The soils are fertile and deep but well-drained, with plenty of minerals; perfect for the nutrient-hungry Sauvignon vines. The vineyard is trained to Vertical Shoot Position and cane-pruned.
Blank Canvas is the vinous studio of award-winning international winemaking consultant Matt Thomson and Master of Wine Sophie Parker-Thomson. With over 40 years of collective experience in the global wine industry, they produce small batch fine wines from exceptional single vineyard sites throughout New Zealand under their art-meets-science project. Matt has worked over fifty vintages in numerous wine regions around the world and has worked with David Gleave since 1994. Sophie has been travelling to Europe and working with Matt since 2011, leaving her career in law behind her. This international experience is the founding inspiration for this husband-and-wife team.
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