Wine & Rugby: Ata Rangi, Martinborough:
There's no doubt that for the next seven weeks the world will be watching New Zealand and each competing nation will have their eyes on glory, hoping their team lifts the Webb Ellis Cup. New Zealand is famous for its love of rugby and quality players, but the country produces more than an impressive line-up of All Blacks, we also produce outstanding wines.
The New Zealand wine industry is creative, innovative, and brimming with interesting personalities from around the world. Many of the colourful characters in the industry are as passionate about rugby as they are about wine! Here are a few stories that link the national sport with one of the nation's favourite drinks…
Clive Paton is the founder of Ata Rangi Vineyard. He bought and planted the original home-block in 1980, and in doing so became one of a handful of people who pioneered grape growing in the area. Clive had formerly been farming in the South Wairarapa but his love affair with red wine and belief in the potential of the area for grape-growing led him to the Martinborough terrace and into Pinot Noir. Clive is right into fitness and sport, with mountain biking his current focus. With a grandfather who'd been an All Black, he was also a keen rugby player in his youth. He once scored a try against the Lions, marking J J Williams, on their regional tour of NZ in 1977, his 'claim to fame'!
Ata Rangi Pinot Noir is considered a leading New World example of this challenging variety, and was awarded the inaugural 'Tipuranga Teitei o Aotearoa', which translates as 'Great Growth' or 'Grand Cru' of Aotearoa.
www.atarangi.co.nz