Movers, shakers and ground breakers
It takes a lot of courage to make cultural change
These stories were first published in my book The Wild Bunch, stories of game changers in the modern New Zealand wine industry, published in 2012 by New Holland
Ata Rangi's new beginning
Ata Rangi is Maori for dawn sky or new beginning and it's the perfect description of how Clive Paton felt when he decided to ditch a career in share milking to follow his heart into winemaking in 1980. Paton was one of the first to plant grapes in Martinborough and was a solo father with a young daughter in tow when he first moved there. He has since been joined by his partner in wine and life, Phyll Pattie; a winemaker in her own right, who shifted to Martinborough in 1987; and also by his sister, Alison Paton. Today Clive’s focus is on conservation as much as wine and Ata Rangi’s winemaking reigns are now held by Helen Masters.
Contact Joelle
If you have found this online writing portal and have ideas, need expert advice on wine or want to make contact
mailme@joellethomson.com
