2024 Ata Rangi Pinot Gris, Martinborough

A pinot gris with weight and soft texture, this has attractive bitter lemons, peaches, stone, flint and spice character. Full-bodied, it shows lots of flavor and richness at the end. White-pepper and nutmeg undertones in the aftertaste with some almond puree. Drink now. 

93 points James Suckling, February 2025

Influenced by the wines of Alsace, this wine opens with fragrant aromas of juicy fresh pear, lychee and citrus and displays lovely floral high notes. It is full-bodied and textural, the complex flavours sprinkled with warming spice and flinty notes.

History has shown the better vintages of this wine to age well, but it is delicious on release. A treat with dished featuring  warm aromatic spice or rich, creamy textures, you could enjoy a glass or two with roasted butternut pumpkin with Stracciatella, pickled shallots and crispy sage, or pan-seared scallops with cauliflower puree and hazelnut butter.

More about this wine

The 2024 vintage is described by winemaker Helen Masters as the best she has seen in her 22 years at Ata Rangi. The vines had great canopy balance, and a cool dry March allowed for exceptional phenolic ripeness combined with bright acidity.

The fruit for this wine was handpicked from the Lismore and Walnut Ridge vineyards. Whole bunch pressed to large oak barrels for spontaneous fermentation with indigenous yeasts. The wine matured on lees for six months and did not go through malolactic conversion.

About Ata Rangi

Ata Rangi was founded by Clive Paton in 1980 in Martinborough, Wairarapa, at the southern end of New Zealand’s North Island. Today, Alison Paton heads up day-to-day running of the business, with Helen Masters leading the work at the winery while Ian Ewart’s team looks after the vineyards.

Fruit is sourced from three estate sites within a few kilometres of one another within the Martinborough Terrace area on the northside of the town of Martinborough. All share general soil profile is 300–600mm of silt-loam over 25–30 metres of free-draining alluvial gravel. Additional fruit is sourced from The Masters vineyard on the southside of the town.