Ata Rangi

Ata Rangi, meaning "dawn sky" or "new beginning" is a small New Zealand winery with a big reputation
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Ata Rangi, meaning "dawn sky" or "new beginning" is a small New Zealand winery with a big reputation for serious Pinot Noir. Located at the southern end of the North Island, it is owned and managed by a family trio - Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and his sister Alison. Ata Rangi founder Clive Paton was one of four pioneer winegrowers who planted their first few acres of vines on the free-draining te

rrace gravels at the edge of the Martinborough village in 1980. Then a 30 year old solo Dad with his six year old daughter Ness in tow, he sold his herd of dairy cows to buy the original 5 hectare block and doggedly pursue his dream of making world-class wine. The locals all thought he'd gone mad; beer was the drink of choice and grapes were unheard of in the area. The first vines planted included the now legendary ‘gum-boot’ clone of pinot allegedly smuggled from Romanee Conti in Burgundy...

30 years later Ata Rangi is acknowledged internationally as a producer of outstanding wines. Robert Parkers US website reports . “When I asked winemakers to name New Zealand's greatest producers, one name kept coming up: Ata Rangi, meaning 'new beginning'.". Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is undoubtedly the flagship wine, and in 2010 was honoured with the inaugural Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa or "Grand Cru of New Zealand". Despite this success, Ata Rangi remains a small family winery owned and managed by Clive, his wife Phyll (formerly a winemaker in her own right) and his sister Alison. Talented winemaker Helen Masters heads the production team, crafting wines of exceptional finesse and balance in this tiny region that represents less than 2% of New Zealand's wine volume, and which has the lowest rainfall and windiest climate in the North Island. Combined with the valley's exposure to the cold southern ocean, these climate factors mean yields are kept well in check naturally and that humidity and disease risk are extremely low. With a dedicated team now in place, Clive has more time to focus on his passion for trees and a number of significant conservation projects, including restoration of New Zealand's stunning red-flowering native Rata trees to the wider region.

10/09/2026

Today on Sofa Sessions, we had a wee laugh — and a wee cry (off camera) with the lovely Leah Kirkland at GILT Brasserie — all because we felt the love for our late Dads during this sesh.
Leah is the Beverage Programme Manager across the Emett Group, which means she's the one who knows what you're drinking before you do, whether you're dining at Oyster Inn, Onslow or GILT. What a gal. She's been a long time supporter of Ata Rangi and we've been a long time supporter of Leah. She's the real deal. She's the Real Leah Kirkland 🥰
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Love your work 🤌😋
Special mention to Chef for checking in with the Boss.
And Ben ♥️

08/09/2026

The newly released Ata Rangi Pinot Gris 2025 offers an immediate plushness of fruit, with aromas of lychee, white peach and apricot. There is a focus on texture, ending with juicy yellow fruits, fresh jasmine and a delicious unctuous finish.
The perfect way to toast to Spring!
🌿
online now at atarangi.co.nz
at winecollective.direct for our overseas customers.
Photograph .beattie

03/09/2026

This particularly poignant piece by Alex Woods is a beautifully written interpretation of our growing, making and culture at Ata Rangi. A brilliant read for the wine curious folk starting to learn about wine. Equally, profound for the wine lifers who have been with us from the start. Alex interviews Helen to manifest his views on our world.
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timeandtide.info & atarangi.co.nz

Alex Woods writes for Time ∴ Tide, an independent editorial journal exploring craftsmanship, design, libations, hospitality and contemporary culture through the enduring relationship between people, place and time. Time & Tide reporting spans libations, architecture, gastronomy, travel, fash

01/09/2026

On this episode of Sofa Sessions, Camilo Deichler from San Ray shares that he'd share a glass of the good stuff with one of New Zealand's top hospitality legends — and recalls he was actually staying at Helen's house on Masters Vineyard when this very wine was made. Ain't that the beauty of wine? 🥰
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Mucho gracias, .nz 🤩
And ♥️

27/08/2026

Ata Rangi Céḻèbre 2024 ~ 1500ml, magnum
A blend consisting of 43% Merlot, 38% Syrah, 12% Cabernet Franc and 7% Malbec, and perfect for gifting the old man on Father's Day.
"A truly exceptional wine that will undoubtedly improve in the cellar and then maintain a delicious plateau for many years - but already just so damned delicious!"
— John Penney, Wineinsights
Read more of John's take on the Célèbre at atarangi.co.nz/journal
Shop the Célèbre online at atarangi.co.nz/shop

25/08/2026

Unveiling a Taonga: Three Decades of Ata Rangi Célèbre — A Tribute to Clive Paton by John Penney.
Ata Rangi Founder, Clive Paton, and Winemaker Helen Masters and others, recently joined wine experience guide John Penney for an engaging, thought-provoking and special tasting of our Ata Rangi Célèbre that transcends vintages from 1994 to 2024. It is a privilege to read his musings and to see John’s personal tasting notes from this dedicated Célèbre connoisseur.
Click below to read the full article.
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Portrait of Clive by .beattie

John Penney is a wine experience guide based in Martinborough-Wellington, New Zealand. His lifelong passion for wine is shaped by extensive international wine travel, formal study (WSET Level 3), and a career in adult learning. He writes about wine from both technical and cultural perspectives, draw

20/08/2026

On today's episode of Sofa Sessions we set up the two-seater in the delightful, secluded garden of The French Cafe, where we chatted to the iconic Matt Aitchison, General Manager & Lead Somm about who he'd share the sofa with so he could sip away at a bottle of Ata Rangi...forever!
Feat. Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2024 with an honourable mention of the Ata Rangi Pinot Noir 2022.
🍷Taste the wine at The French Café
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A massive thank you to Matt
And our Ben (who you can see, along with our pal Morv, reflected in the french doors at The French Café) ♥️
1w

18/08/2026

This is our place, shared collectively through the expression of twelve individual voices and the 2024 vintage. Selected by Stephen Wong MW, and Mike Bennie, this pack of precious cargo is out for delivery with wine writers to showcase the quality, diversity and calibre of our region — Wairarapa, Aotearoa.

&
feat.
. . . . . . .mason . . . . .

13/08/2026

Pinot Noir has been part of the Ata Rangi story from the beginning.
There is always more to learn, which is perhaps why we’re still so drawn to it.
Winemaker, Helen Masters, Assistant Winemaker, Katie Cameron & Apprentice Winemaker, Harvey Masters share a glass and a thought or two of the 2024 Ata Rangi Pinot Noir selection.
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Shop selection online
🇳🇿 NZ sales — atarangi.co.nz
🌏 International sales — winecollective.direct

Images .beattie

11/08/2026

POUR & EXPLORE MARTINBOROUGH
Vineyard Ramble
SUNDAY 23rd AUGUST | 11am & 2pm
$30pp (limited to 20 people per session)
Join us in the Ata Rangi Vineyard as we wander through the vineyards with a glass in hand and taste the exceptional 2024 vintage wines as you go.
Remember to wear warm layers & sensible shoes!
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This is part of the programme.

Address

14 Puruatanga Road, Martinborough
Masterton
5711

Telephone

+ 64 (0)6 306 9570

Website

http://www.atarangi.co.nz/

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