2013 Estate Riesling, Two Paddocks

Established in 1993 by itinerant actor Sam Neill, initially, the sole aim was to share ethereal pinot noir moments with loved ones. Sam is now the only producer to own land in the three main valleys of Central Otago – Gibbston, Bannockburn (Cromwell Basin) and Alexandra. All vineyards are certified organic. Two Paddocks Estate Pinot Noir is an assemblage of the four vineyards and is a barrel selection comprised of the older blocks. Tiny volumes of single-vineyard wines, The Proprietor’s Reserves, are also produced. Sam writes the website himself, with one simple rule, it must “keep me amused”.

The estate is committed to organic principles (certified by BioGro) and creating beautiful vineyards that will remain a legacy for future generations. Two Paddocks and its wines also have a wonderful sense of fun; Sam Neill’s blog and Twitter feed are laugh out loud funny and the animals that roam his vineyards, providing much of the organic compost, are named after celebrities who have crossed the proprietor’s path during his career. So if you visit, you might run into Imogen Poots the saddleback sow, a cow called Helena Bonham Carter and her calf Graham Norton, or maybe even Angelica Huston and Susan Sarandon the sheep.