Also itinerant actor. Long standing interest in wine, particularly red wine, which accounts for his rude good health.
Has visions of a vast Two Paddocks Empire, but is usually better the next day. Plays cricket badly, also the ukulele. Pretends to be a fly fisherman.
Very proud of everything about Two Paddocks, and will bore you to death on the subject if you give him a chance.
Don't.
Sadly no more chances other than through his wines.
----------
Renowned internationally as a master of both stage and screen, Sam Neill was equally celebrated as the passionate founder of Two Paddocks in Central Otago, New Zealand. What began in 1993 with modest ambitions—planting five acres of pinot noir at Gibbston alongside his friend Roger Donaldson—grew into an extraordinary, world-class winemaking legacy. From the surprising success of his first 1997 vintage to achieving complex, distinguished, and globally acclaimed pinot noirs, Sam’s viticultural journey was driven by a relentless pursuit of excellence. While he initially set out to produce a wine to be enjoyed by family and friends, his exceptional vintages quickly proved "too good to be wasted on them." Under his dedicated guidance, Two Paddocks grew outrageously ambitious, consistently striving to produce the world’s best pinot noir. Sam brought the same warmth, wit, and dedication to his vineyards as he did to his iconic acting career. He will be deeply missed by film lovers, connoisseurs, and friends alike, leaving behind a lasting legacy in the arts and the soil he loved so dearly.
| 
