Grüner Veltliner Marlborough 2017 – Blank Canvas

The grapes to produce the Grüner Veltliner Marlborough Blank Canvas were harvested by hand during the cool early morning near the end of the Marlborough harvest. Quick transport to the winery saw the grapes being de-stemmed, crushed and pressed in a gentle pneumatic press to avoid skin-contact and the extraction of harsh phenolics. 60% of the clear free run juice was run to French oak puncheons (20% new oak) to ferment, while the balance was placed in tank to ferment at cool temperatures. Once fermentation was complete it was racked and matured on fine lees for 10 months in tank and barrel. It was gently filtered and then bottled.

The fruit came from a single vineyard in the Rapaura subregion belonging to grower and long-term friends Malcolm and Jill Adams. Berekah Estate has two hectares of Gruner Veltliner planted with a mixture of the two clones available in New Zealand.

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.