Two Paddocks

Two Paddocks is a New Zealand wine producer based in Central Otago, a region particularly associated with cool-climate Pinot Noir. The company was established by actor and entrepreneur Sam Neill in 1993, when he planted approximately five acres of Pinot Noir at a small vineyard in Gibbston. The venture developed from a personal vineyard project into a multi-vineyard wine operation with a focus on estate-grown fruit, Burgundian Pinot Noir clones, and the expression of individual Central Otago sites. The original vineyard became known as First Paddock. The business later incorporated two additional small vineyards in the Alexandra district, including Alex Paddocks, a roughly seven-acre site planted in 1998 on a terrace above the Earnscleugh River. Alex Paddocks was planted with Burgundian Pinot Noir clones identified as 5, 6, and 115. Its first single-vineyard Pinot Noir bottling, The Last Chance, was released from the 2002 vintage. The name Two Paddocks emerged after the addition of a second vineyard associated with the original operation; the broader estate later expanded beyond two sites. In 2000, Two Paddocks acquired Redbank Paddocks, a sheltered 60-acre property in the Earnscleugh River valley between rocky escarpments. The site was planted with further Burgundian Pinot Noir clones, including 777, 667, and 115, as well as Riesling. The combination of separate vineyards, varied terrain, and multiple grape varieties gave the producer a wider base for estate and vineyard-designated wines while retaining Pinot Noir as its central identity. The company also acquired an interest in The Central Otago Wine Company in 2001. At the time described in the reference material, that winery produced approximately 3,000 cases annually. This investment connected Two Paddocks with additional regional winemaking capacity and complemented the producer's own vineyard holdings. The available reference material does not establish whether that interest remains current. Two Paddocks has produced premium and single-vineyard wines alongside a second label called Picnic. Picnic has principally used sourced fruit and has included Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. In addition to grapes and wine, the vineyards have been associated with the cultivation of medicinal and culinary herbs, including lavender for oil and saffron. The properties have also become known for animals given names linked to actors and other public figures, reflecting the founder's film-industry background and the informal personality of the brand. The available material identifies Sam Neill as the founder and owner-operator but does not provide a current corporate structure, management roster, official website, distribution footprint, financial information, or confirmation of present operating status. Accordingly, Two Paddocks is best characterized as a specialist New Zealand wine brand rooted in Central Otago vineyard ownership, Pinot Noir production, and a distinctive founder-led identity.

Two Paddocks began in 1993 when actor and entrepreneur Sam Neill planted approximately five acres of Pinot Noir at a small vineyard in Gibbston, in Central Otago, New Zealand. The first site was subsequently known as First Paddock and established the company's long-term emphasis on Pinot Noir and regional vineyard character. A second vineyard, Alex Paddocks, was planted in 1998 on a terrace above the Earnscleugh River in the Alexandra district. The approximately seven-acre property sits below rocky headlands and was planted with Burgundian Pinot Noir clones numbered 5, 6, and 115. The addition of this vineyard helped shape the Two Paddocks name and broadened the company's estate holdings. The Last Chance, a single-vineyard Pinot Noir made from Alex Paddocks fruit, had its first vintage in 2002. In 2000, Two Paddocks acquired Redbank Paddocks, a substantially larger and sheltered property in the Earnscleugh River valley. The roughly 60-acre site lies between rocky escarpments and was planted with additional Burgundian Pinot Noir clones, including 777, 667, and 115, together with Riesling. The property gave the producer another distinct growing environment and increased its ability to make wines from estate vineyards. The company expanded its winery interests in 2001 by acquiring a stake in The Central Otago Wine Company, which was described as producing about 3,000 cases of wine annually at that time. The available reference material does not specify the later ownership status of that investment. Alongside its estate and vineyard-designated Pinot Noir, Two Paddocks developed Picnic as a second label. Picnic has primarily used sourced fruit and has included Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. The business has also grown herbs with medicinal and culinary uses, including lavender for oil and saffron. Two Paddocks' public identity has been closely associated with Neill's film career and the character of the vineyards. Animals on the properties were given names connected with celebrities, including a kunekune named after actor Bryan Brown and a cow named after Helena Bonham Carter. A neighboring vineyard established by film director Roger Donaldson was incorporated into the wider story of the area; Donaldson later created Sleeping Dogs, named after the 1977 film that he directed and in which Neill made his first feature-film appearance. The supplied sources establish the historical development of the vineyards and product range but do not provide a current ownership structure, executive team beyond Neill's historical role, production volumes, financial results, official website, or confirmed present-day operating status.

1. 2002First vintage of The Last Chance

   The Last Chance Pinot Noir, a single-vineyard bottling from Alex Paddocks, reaches its first vintage.

   Source
2. 2001Interest in The Central Otago Wine Company

   The company acquires an interest in The Central Otago Wine Company, described at the time as producing approximately 3,000 cases per year.

   Source
3. 2000Redbank Paddocks is acquired

   Two Paddocks acquires the approximately 60-acre Redbank Paddocks property in the Earnscleugh River valley and plants it with Pinot Noir clones and Riesling.

   Source
4. 1998Alex Paddocks is planted

   A roughly seven-acre Alexandra-district vineyard is planted with Burgundian Pinot Noir clones 5, 6, and 115.

   Source
5. 1993Two Paddocks is established

   Sam Neill establishes the company and plants approximately five acres of Pinot Noir at a vineyard in Gibbston, Central Otago.

   Source

A founder-led Central Otago wine producer positioned around estate vineyards, cool-climate Pinot Noir, single-site expression, and an informal, personality-driven New Zealand identity.

• The Last Chance Pinot NoirSingle-vineyard Pinot Noir2002

  The Last Chance is a single-vineyard Pinot Noir made from the Alex Paddocks site in the Alexandra district. Its first vintage was produced in 2002. The wine represents Two Paddocks' emphasis on identifying individual vineyard parcels and expressing Central Otago Pinot Noir through a site-specific bottling.

• Two Paddocks Pinot NoirEstate and regional Pinot Noir

  Pinot Noir is the core product category of Two Paddocks. The vineyards at First Paddock, Alex Paddocks, and Redbank Paddocks were developed primarily around Pinot Noir, using a range of Burgundian clones. The wines are associated with Central Otago's cool-climate conditions and with the producer's estate-vineyard identity.

• PicnicSecond-label wine range

  Picnic is Two Paddocks' second label. The range has largely been made from sourced fruit rather than solely from the company's own vineyards and has included Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc, and Riesling. It provides a broader varietal and sourcing expression than the estate-focused wines.

• Lavender oilAgricultural product

  The Two Paddocks properties have also been used to grow medicinal and culinary herbs, including lavender. Lavender oil is identified in the reference material as one of the non-wine products associated with the business.

• SaffronAgricultural product

  Saffron is another culinary crop associated with the Two Paddocks vineyards and agricultural activities. The available source does not provide production volumes or a separate commercial brand structure for this product.

1. Two Paddocks