2023 Potiki Martinborough Chardonnay, Ata Rangi

• Style: Cool-climate Chardonnay, whole-bunch pressed, barrel-aged
• Taste: White peach, nectarine, toasted almond, creamy with bright acidity
• Food: Roasted seafood, summer poultry, brown-buttered scallops
• Occasion: Sunday Lunch; Date Night
• Serve: Chilled, 8–10°C
• Abv: 12.5%

In the Glass — Tasting Notes

White peach and nectarine lead, with mealy cashew and blanched almond echoing the wine's time in oak. The palate is smooth and focused, its natural acidity giving shape and freshness; the finish lingers with quiet refinement. At 12.5% ABV, it's refreshing without sacrificing depth or texture.

The Winery — Ata Rangi

Ata Rangi, meaning 'dawn sky, new beginning', was established by Clive Paton in 1980 on stony, five-hectare land at Martinborough's edge — a pioneering move in the region's early days. Now managed by Clive, his wife Phyll, his sister Alison and winemaker Helen Masters, the estate is celebrated for consistent quality across its portfolio. The Potiki Chardonnay draws from established blocks across Walnut Ridge, Cambrae and Lismore, planted on poor, deep alluvial gravels that naturally concentrate fruit. The Mendoza and Clone selections (95 and 548) yield low volumes and clean expression. Whole-bunch pressing, indigenous yeast fermentation in 300-litre Burgundy puncheons and eleven months on lees create texture and depth without the weight some oak-aged examples carry.

At Your Table — Food Pairing & Serving

Pair this Chardonnay with roasted seafood, summer poultry dishes or brown-buttered scallops; it's equally at home as an aperitif. The 2023 vintage from Martinborough's cool season rewards the vineyard's rigorous care—those challenging conditions coaxed vibrant acidity and concentrated fruit. Vegetarian and vegan-friendly, it sits alongside the rest of our New Zealand selection and our broader range of Chardonnay. Ata Rangi's reputation rests on Pinot Noir, but don't overlook what they're doing with white wines—this is proof their attention to detail runs right across the portfolio.