Ata Rangi, "dawn sky, new beginning," is today a flourishing vineyard owned and managed by Clive Paton, his wife Phyll and Clive's sister Alison. Clive planted the originally bare, stony 12-acre home paddock at the edge of the Martinborough village in 1980 and, in doing so, was one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is now widely considered a leading New World example. In February 2010 it was awarded an inaugural New Zealand "Grand Cru" status; or, as this translates in our indigenous Maori language : "Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa"
With a dedicated team in both the vineyard and winery, Clive now has more time to focus on his on-going commitment to planting native trees at the family's Bush Block, and the Ata Rangi alliance with Project Crimson which has evolved from this work.