Passed away peacefully, in Sydney, with his family by his side.
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Actor, writer and farmer - Sam Neill was also one of the earliest Central Otago winegrowers, planting his original 5-hectare vineyard, The First Paddock, at Gibbston in 1993. After the first vintage release in 1997, Sam aspired to “have small footprints in camps of excellence throughout the region” and planted 2 further sites; Red Bank Farm and Last Chance, both in Alexandra. Finally, in 2013, Sam bought ‘The Fusilier’, an established vineyard on Felton Rd, Bannockburn. Winemaker, Dean Shaw, has been with Sam since 1998 and crafts a stunning family of estate grown, certified organic wines that are renowned for understated precision and finesse. BioGroNZ #4816
