#ata rangi

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Pinot Noir is New Zealand’s most fashionable red wine, and it’s also making waves internationally. In only three decades, Martinborough has transformed from a sleepy colonial town to world-class wine village, taking an enviable, attention-grabbing collection of international awards since 1990.

In 1982 the French were to Pinot Noir what the Swiss are to watches. French Burgundy towered so far above Pinot Noir made anywhere else in the world that it discouraged winemakers from experimenting with this challenging wine grape. In that year St Helena in Canterbury made a wine that set the ball rolling. Martinborough’s fledgling winemakers, believing their soils and climate were New Zealand’s answer to Burgundy, began planting Pinot Noir. By 1991 Martinborough had become New Zealand’s Pinot Noir capital.

The first decent Pinot Noir in New Zealand was made 30 years ago. Nearly 60% of the vineyards are taken up with the Burgudian varietals Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. And for once, Pinot is more prolific than Chardonnay, due to the fact that the people behind the region′s three pioneering wineries (Dry River, Ata Rangi and Martinborough Vineyard), are all Pinot lovers. Their enthusiasm has spurred on their neighbours to try Pinot and their wine was good, although not yet in the same class as the big three. There′s twice as much Pinot Noir as all the rest of the red varieties put together, but there are some impressive Bordeaux blends and even a decent Syrah or two to be found.

THE MARTINBOROUGH TASTE The best wines offer texture, perfume and the sniff and sip. The Bordeaux blends have ripe, fleshy, blackcurrant fruit, with decent structure.They′re good but can′t match the Pinots.

Ata Rangi Craighall Chardonnay, Martinborough 2011 $55

A serious chardonnay, tight and youthful, revealing more if given plenty of air and not served too cold. Shy mealy, buttery, nutty and white peach aromas, with some malt and honey touches; intense and refined and very long on the palate. A superb wine with a future. Now to 2022. 13.5 per cent alcohol. 95/100 (Huon's Wine 360)

Food: sautéed marron tails

Having so many NZ feels right now! (i reckon it's  i watched the hobbit yesterday) I miss them, especially my 5 month old niece,

and the gorgeous country a ridiculous amount. Can't wait to head out their later this year.

Martinborough is just an hours drive over the mountain from Wellington on New Zealand's north island. Characterised by its many small producers aiming at quality Pinot Noir. Here the town square with the once famous hotel, which unfortunately felt quite run down when we were staying there.

A high quantity of the wineries' cellar doors are positioned along the roads going into the town square of Martinborough. Most within walking/cycling distance.

Martinborough Vineyard is one of the local wineries that have won great acclaim by critics worldwide and won numerous competitions. The most controversial was a Californian tasting aiming to name the world's top 20 Pinots, as it named their 1998 Reserve Pinot Noir the world's greatest Pinot Noir.

Their nearby vineyards.

Their trophy décor might not be to everyone's liking, but the current winemaker Paul Mason has continued his pre successors impressive work and their Pinots are very delicious. The Riesling is also noteworthy.

Schubert wines is a tiny producer, yet the ambitions have always been high from this German couple, graduates in viticulture and oenology. Kai Schubert has during the recent years travelled around the world with his impressive Block B and Marion Pinot Noirs (vineyard named after Marion, his partner in life and business). His hard work promoting his wines has paid off as they are now recognised among NZ's finest

The modest cellar door did not make the experience any less. Christine Calmus was generous to answer questions and the wines amazed  Also their excellent sweet wine called Dolce, made of Müller-Thurgau in small quantities.

Ata Rangi is the Maori term for new beginning. New Zealand has unlike other nations chosen to see to eyes with their dark past, and has gone far to support/aid the original people called the Maoris. Ata Rangi has quite a unique story as their Pinot Noir vineyards are in fact planted using Dijon clone cuttings from Domaine de la Romanée-Conti.

Visited early in the season during the first leaf pruning. Ata Rangi is known for their brutal cropping on their low yielding vines, which is part of the recipe for their extraordinary quality.