Remembering Sam Neill

Remembering Sam Neill

Like millions of people around the world, we were devastated to hear of the passing of Sam Neill on Monday morning.

To his legions of fans he was Dr Alan Grant, Major Chester Campbell and dozens of iconic roles besides.

To us, he was all that, of course. But first and foremost he was a pioneer of what became one of the world’s great wine regions and styles, Central Otago Pinot Noir – and a great friend to Fells who we will miss immensely.

A true Central Otago pioneer

It’s increasingly common to see wine brands launched by celebrities. Often collaborations with big co-operatives – a famous name on a label – or the purchase of a vineyard they seldom subsequently visit.

Sam Neill’s Two Paddocks was different.

From the very start, it was a project done properly – and for love.

Founded in 1993, long before Central Otago was anything like a household name to wine lovers, it was intended originally as a way for Sam to grow a bit of his favourite grape, Pinot Noir, and make a little wine to share with family and friends.

In 1997 Two Paddocks produced its first vintage and by 1998 the vineyard plantings were expanding. In 2014 they became the first Central Otago producer to have vineyards in all three of the region’s key valleys – Gibbston, the Alexandra Basin and the Cromwell Basin.

In other words, a small side-project no more. Two Paddocks was all in – in their words: ‘we believe it demonstrates our faith and confidence in the future of New Zealand wine, Central Otago and in particular, Central Otago Pinot Noir.’

And Sam, always affectionately referred to by his role as ‘The Proprietor’, was both the figurehead and the heartbeat driving the winery – and the region – on.

A legacy of world-class Pinot

Given his particular fame and standing, it would be entirely understandable had Sam remained aloof – certainly from a distributor of his wines half a world away.

But that couldn’t have been further from the truth.

The tasting he came and held at our Kings Langley offices was, as you might suspect, particularly well-attended, and he took the time to speak to everyone who came to taste his wines, and to share with them the Two Paddocks story.

What’s more, his wines didn’t need helping along through celebrity endorsement. As the multiple dizzying scores and accolades from top critics proved vintage on vintage, their quality spoke for itself.

Finest of all were, and remain, his ‘Proprietor’s Reserve’ range – his three Single Vineyards and ‘The Major General’ that brought the best of each harvest together in a flagship cuvée.

But the estate Pinot Noir and Riesling – Sam’s other favourite grape – as well as the supremely juicy, vibrant ‘Picnic’ range showed how high the Central Otago and Two Paddocks standard could be at all tiers.

Simply put, without Two Paddocks, and Sam Neill, the landscape of Central Otago – and indeed New Zealand – wine would be very different today.

We will miss him. We will raise a glass of Two Paddocks to him this weekend. His legacy – as a person and as a wine pioneer – is assured.

To The Proprietor. Thanks Sam.