Ata Rangi, meaning ‘dawn sky, new beginning’ is owned and managed by a family trio – Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. In 1980 Clive planted the bare, stony, home paddock at the edge of Martinborough, becoming one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Ata Rangi’s first vineyard covered less than five hectares on deep, free-draining alluvial gravels – the original course of a local river which flows from the hills that flank the eastern side of the valley. Today they are joined by a strong team including winemaker Helen Masters, who in 2019 was awarded New Zealand Winemaker of the Year by Gourmet Traveller WINE magazine, as recognition of her 16 years’ work at Ata Rangi. Ata Rangi is renowned for its Pinot Noir and is widely regarded as New Zealand’s top Pinot Noir producer. They were awarded Five Stars in the ‘2019 Great New Zealand Pinot Noir Classification’ by Matthew Jukes and Tyson Stelzer for the consistent gold medal standard of their wines. At the 2010 International Pinot Noir Conference, Ata Rangi Pinot Noir was one of two producers granted the title of ‘Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa’ (which translates from M?ori as ‘Great Growth of New Zealand’ or ‘Grand Cru’), in recognition of their unique site and of the family’s commitment to evolving and developing New Zealand Pinot Noir. The oldest Pinot Noir vines, which include a clone allegedly smuggled from Burgundy, were planted in 1980. 2018 saw dry conditions in early summer. The warm temperatures resulted in an excellent flowering period and successful fertilisation of bunches. As a result of the weather during flowering, bunch weights were generally higher than average, which helped to compensate for generally lower bunch numbers. Larger bunches may have been in part responsible for a greater degree of pest and disease pressure late season. Temperatures remained moderate over summer. Precipitation remained below average until the end of February, after which the region had regular rainfall. Temperatures cooled, but this had limited influence due to the ripeness levels the grapes had achieved, and harvest took place in early autumn. Fruit was harvested in good condition, despite the threat of botrytis, thanks to meticulous vineyard management. Notes of tree-ripened plums, exotic five spice and liquorice on the nose, with full flavours of rose hip and dark plums that burst onto the palate. - 2018 saw dry conditions in early summer. The warm temperatures resulted in an excellent flowering period and successful fertilisation of bunches. As a result of the weather during flowering, bunch weights were generally higher than average, which helped to compensate for generally lower bunch numbers. Larger bunches may have been in part responsible for a greater degree of pest and disease pressure late season. Temperatures remained moderate over summer. Precipitation remained below average until the end of February, after which the region had regular rainfall. Temperatures cooled, but this had limited influence due to the ripeness levels the grapes had achieved, and harvest took place in early autumn. Fruit was harvested in good condition, despite the threat of botrytis, thanks to meticulous vineyard management.