Two Paddocks
Two Paddocks is a wine producer based in Central Otago, New Zealand. It is owned and operated by actor Sam Neill.
| Two Paddocks | |
|---|---|
| Location | Gibbston, New Zealand |
| Coordinates | 45°13′11″S 169°18′10″E / 45.2198°S 169.3027°E |
| Wine region | Central Otago |
| Other labels | Picnic |
| Founded | 1993 |
| Key people | Sam Neill |
| Known for | Proprietor's Reserve Pinot Noir |
| Varietals | Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc |
| Other products | Lavender oil |
| Tasting | Club member events only |
| Website | twopaddocks.com |
Two Paddocks is a wine producer based in Central Otago, New Zealand.[1] It is owned and operated by actor Sam Neill.
History
[edit]In 1993, actor Sam Neill established the Two Paddocks company with a planting of 5 acres (2.0 ha) of Pinot Noir on a small vineyard at Gibbston, Central Otago.[1][2][3]
Alex Paddocks is a 7-acre (2.8 ha) vineyard on a terrace above the Earnscleugh Valley under some rocky headlands. It was planted with Burgundian Pinot Noir vines (5, 6, 115) in 1998.[citation needed]
Numerous animals live in the area which Neill named after celebrities. A kunekune is named after actor Bryan Brown.[4] A cow is named after Helena Bonham Carter.[5]
In 2000, the company acquired Redbank Paddocks, a sheltered 60 acres (24 ha), also in the Earnscleugh Valley, which nestles between two rocky escarpments. It is planted with more Burgundian clones (777, 667, and 115) and some Riesling.[citation needed]
In 2001, Two Paddocks acquired an interest in another winery, The Central Otago Wine Company, with an approximate production of 3,000 cases of wine a year.[6]
The original vineyard, First Paddock, was augmented[when?] by two other small vineyards[which?] in the Alexandra district. After incorporating a second vineyard established by neighbouring film director Roger Donaldson, Neill changed to the current name.[7] Donaldson eventually built another vineyard, Sleeping Dogs, named after the 1977 film, which had marked his directorial debut and Neill's first feature film.[8]
"The Last Chance" Pinot Noir is a single vineyard bottling from the Alex Paddocks plot, its first vintage in 2002. The company also produces the second label Picnic, largely with sourced fruit, with bottlings of Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling varietals. Two Paddocks also grows medicinal and culinary herbs, such as lavender oil and saffron.[citation needed]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b Hume, Marion (13 September 2007). "New Zealand's Great Performer". TIME. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ Barkham, Patrick (15 April 2002). "Les vins de Sam". The Guardian. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ Brown, Corie (20 March 2008). "Sam Neill's New Zealand vineyard". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ "Sam Neill - finding balance among the vines". RNZ. 16 November 2022.
- ^ "Sam Neill on naming his cows after famous actors: 'One can't really eat Helena Bonham Carter'". The Independent. 3 February 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand Actor Sam Neill Peddles Wine". Washington Post. Associated Press. 30 January 2007. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ Barton, Warren (4 February 2014). "Sam Neill spreads his pinot wings". Stuff. Retrieved 3 December 2017.
- ^ Gaffney, William. "Sleeping Dogs". PinotFile. Retrieved 3 December 2017.