Ata Rangi

Ata Rangi's founding belongs to a brief 1979 to 1980 window when five families and individuals, acting on a 1978 climate and soil study by soil scientist Dr Derek Milne that compared the Martinborough Terrace to Burgundy, planted the first commercial vines in the Wairarapa region of New Zealand's North Island. Clive Paton, a former dairy farmer, bought a 5-hectare stony sheep paddock at the northern edge of Martinborough Village in 1980 and planted his first vines that same year, choosing the name Ata Rangi, Te Reo Maori for 'dawn sky' or 'new beginning.' Dr Neil McCallum at Dry River had planted in 1979; Derek Milne planted Martinborough Vineyard in 1980; Stan Chifney planted Chifney; and Te Kairanga followed in 1983. Together they form the Martinborough founding cohort that, by 1991, had been awarded the Martinborough Terrace Appellation seal of origin by the Martinborough Winemakers Association. Ata Rangi's first commercial vintage was 1985, and the inaugural Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir was released from the 1986 harvest. Clive's sister Alison Paton bought an adjoining block soon after planting, expanding the estate, and in 1986 Clive's partner Phyll Pattie, who had been working as a winemaker in Marlborough, bought a share in the business and moved south to Martinborough. The three remain co-owners today. Helen Masters joined as winemaker in 2003, succeeded Phyll Pattie as chief winemaker, and was named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE in 2019 for her elegance- and site-driven house style.

• Founded 1980 by Clive Paton, former dairy farmer, on a 5-hectare stony sheep paddock at the northern edge of Martinborough Village; name from Te Reo Maori 'dawn sky' or 'new beginning'
• First vines planted 1980; first commercial vintage 1985; inaugural Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir released from the 1986 vintage
• Phyll Pattie (winemaker, formerly Marlborough) bought a partner share in 1986; Alison Paton (Clive's sister) bought an adjoining block; remains family-owned by the three
• Helen Masters joined as winemaker 2003; named New Zealand Winemaker of the Year 2019 by Gourmet Traveller WINE; sets a site-driven elegance-focused house style

Ata Rangi is best known for Pinot Noir, but the cellar produces a full Martinborough range. The flagship Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir is a multi-block selection from the oldest plantings on the Martinborough Terrace, including original 1980 vines, and is the wine that earned Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa, New Zealand Winegrowers' inaugural Grand Cru classification, in 2010. The honour was awarded to only two wines, Ata Rangi Pinot Noir and Felton Road Pinot Noir in Central Otago, recognising both producers for taking the time to evolve Pinot Noir in New Zealand at the highest level; no further wines have been added to the classification since. The McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir comes from a single block on a compact seam of clay that threads across the predominantly alluvial Martinborough Terrace, producing a fruit profile distinctly different from the home block. Crimson Pinot Noir, the entry tier, is produced from younger vines aged roughly 5 to 25 years and was named in 2003 in support of Project Crimson, the charitable trust working to restore native red-flowering pohutukawa and rata trees across New Zealand; a portion of every bottle still supports the charity. Beyond Pinot Noir, Celebre is a Bordeaux-Rhone blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Syrah, with concentration and ageing potential; Lismore Pinot Gris in an Alsace-inspired style; Craighall and Petrie Chardonnays from single Martinborough Terrace sites; a Sauvignon Blanc; a small Riesling and Rose production; and Kahu, a botrytis-affected late-harvest Riesling. The portfolio reflects the Martinborough Terrace's range of expressions, not a single-variety identity.

• Ata Rangi Martinborough Pinot Noir: flagship multi-block selection including original 1980 vines; awarded Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa in 2010, one of only two New Zealand wines ever named
• McCrone Vineyard Pinot Noir: single-vineyard from a clay seam on the Martinborough Terrace, distinct fruit profile from the home block
• Crimson Pinot Noir: entry-tier from younger vines (around 5 to 25 years); named 2003 in support of Project Crimson, a charity restoring native pohutukawa and rata trees
• Celebre Bordeaux-Rhone blend (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah); Lismore Pinot Gris; Craighall and Petrie Chardonnays; Sauvignon Blanc; Kahu botrytis Riesling round out the range

Ata Rangi farms approximately 32 hectares planted across 14 blocks clustered on and immediately around the Martinborough Terrace, the crescent-shaped alluvial river terrace formed where the Ruamahanga and Huangarua rivers converge to the south and east of Martinborough Village. The 1978 Milne study identified the terrace's combination of free-draining gravelly alluvial soils, low rainfall in the shadow of the Tararua and Rimutaka ranges, long sunshine hours, and cool nights as a profile uniquely suited to cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The original home block, the 5-hectare paddock Clive Paton bought in 1980, sits on classic Martinborough alluvial gravels and supplies much of the flagship Pinot Noir from vines now in their fifth decade. The McCrone Vineyard, very close to the home block, sits over a compact seam of clay that threads across a section of the terrace and gives the McCrone Pinot Noir a denser, more structured character distinct from the gravel-based home block. Additional blocks supply the single-vineyard Craighall and Petrie Chardonnays and the broader range. Plantings are predominantly Pinot Noir, with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and the three Celebre blend varieties making up the remainder. The estate has been managed without insecticides since planting, with predatory wasps deployed for leaf roller control and mixed native shelter belts providing biodiversity corridors between blocks.

• Approximately 32 hectares across 14 blocks clustered on and around the Martinborough Terrace, the crescent-shaped alluvial terrace formed by the Ruamahanga and Huangarua rivers
• Original 1980 home block (5 hectares) on free-draining alluvial gravels supplies much of the flagship Pinot Noir from vines now in their fifth decade
• McCrone Vineyard sits on a compact seam of clay threading across the terrace; produces a denser, more structured Pinot Noir than the gravel-based home block
• Predominantly Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, and Celebre blend varieties (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah)

Ata Rangi has built a sustainability and conservation profile that extends well beyond the vineyard fence. The estate is certified under Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ), the national programme covering over 96 percent of New Zealand's producing vineyard area. Insecticides have not been used at Ata Rangi in over four decades of vineyard management; biological controls including predatory wasps for leaf roller caterpillars replace conventional sprays, and mixed native shelter belts plus inter-row wildflower planting maintain biodiversity corridors. More than 170 solar panels installed on winery buildings supply over a third of the estate's year-round power requirements. Beyond the vineyard, founder Clive Paton has built a conservation legacy that earned him the Loder Cup, New Zealand's oldest conservation award, in 2014. He chairs the Aorangi Restoration Trust, which is working to restore native forest in the Aorangi Range south of Martinborough, and serves on the board of Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre, a major bird sanctuary near Masterton. The Crimson Pinot Noir, launched in 2003, contributes a portion of every bottle's sales to Project Crimson, a charitable trust founded in 1990 to protect and restore native red-flowering pohutukawa and rata trees across New Zealand; the wine's name itself honours the trees. Critical recognition for Ata Rangi has been consistent for three decades, with Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa Grand Cru status (2010), Five Stars in the 2019 Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification, regular top placements in Bob Campbell MW's New Zealand rankings, and strong scores across Decanter, Wine Spectator, and the international Master Sommelier programmes.

• Certified Sustainable Winegrowing New Zealand (SWNZ); no insecticides in over four decades; biological pest control, native shelter belts, and over 170 solar panels supplying more than a third of estate power
• Founder Clive Paton awarded the Loder Cup (New Zealand's oldest conservation award) in 2014; chairs the Aorangi Restoration Trust and serves on the Pukaha Mount Bruce National Wildlife Centre board
• Crimson Pinot Noir contributes a portion of sales to Project Crimson, the charitable trust restoring native red-flowering pohutukawa and rata trees across New Zealand
• Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa Grand Cru status (2010); Five Stars in the 2019 Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification; consistent top placement in Bob Campbell MW rankings