Fine Ata Rangi wine efforts recognised

Ata Rangi vineyard owners who have worked for 30 years to get their vineyard on the international stage are among the first recipients of a brand new award. A surprised husband and wife team, Clive and Phyll Paton, received a special honour at the 2010 International Pinot Noir Conference in Wellington by being given the title of Grand Cru for their consistent work in the wine industry over the past 30 years.
The new award, known as Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa, acknowledged Ata Rangi in Martinborough and Felton Rd in Otago for taking the time to evolve and develop pinot noir in New Zealand and being the premier producers of the variety.
Mrs Paton said the award was a tremendous compliment and a boost for their future, and came at a fitting time with the vineyard's 30th anniversary taking place in June.
Ata Rangi began in 1980 when Mr Paton sold his dairy farm and brought a bare block of land to pursue something a little different.
''I think most people thought Clive was mad giving up his profitable dairy farm and buying a barren paddock,'' Mrs Paton said.
Mrs Paton was a winemaker at Montana Wines making white wine varieties, when she met her husband and they quickly decided to join forces.
She said it was fantastic getting recognised by their respected peers in the industry.
Mr Paton described the award as an affirmation of their place in the industry and even though the vineyard business could be hard going financially, it was full of rewards.
''You have to be patient in this industry. You have to love what you are doing.''
He said he was a bit like a ''possum in headlights'' when he found out about the honour. ''I was knocked for six, it took a while to sink in.''
Ata Rangi is a family-owned business with his sister, Ali Paton, also buying a plot of land next door and joining the team.
Family-owned vineyards were among the most successful, he said.
The International Pinot Noir Conference, in its fourth year, aims to establish the credibility of pinot noir, showing the world what New Zealand vineyards have to offer.
Mrs Paton said the award, which could only be achieved with vine age, proven wine quality and undoubted global recognition, would not have been possible without the hard work of their team _ Ali Paton, Helen Masters and vineyard manager Jerry Rotman.