In Te Reo Māori, Ata Rangi means “dawn sky” or “new beginning”. It is a name that honours the land and reflects the work done here. Making wine is all about working in sync with the changing seasons and conditions on the land. Ata Rangi was founded by Clive Paton in 1980. The first vines were planted on a small, stony sheep paddock at the edge of the Martinborough Village. Today, Alison Paton heads up day-to-day running of the business, with Helen Masters crafting the wines aided by the vital stewardship of vineyard manager Ian Ewart.

 Owned and farmed by Ata Rangi winemaker Helen Masters and her family, this vineyard was established in 2002, four km south of the Martinborough Terrace. Here the alluvial gravels are mixed with clay, which acts to retain moisture keeping the soils cooler than the more gravel dominant sites around Martinborough village.

A full effusive nose with aromas of mulberry, baking spices, star anise and rosewater mingle with blood orange. The aromas carry through on the palate with flavours of pomegranate, nutmeg and pink peppercorn. The clay brings a deeper timbre to this single site Pinot Noir, with the expanse of texture being a central theme in this wine. Fine tannins buoyed by supple acidity spread the full length of the palate, fresh and elegant, this wine has a clear and unique voice of place.