Two Paddocks is a Central Otago estate that blends charisma with craftsmanship — a winery where storytelling meets precision, and where Pinot Noir is not only the focus, but the soul. Founded in 1993 by actor and vintner Sam Neill, Two Paddocks began as a modest ambition: to grow a small amount of serious Pinot for friends and family. Over time, it has grown into one of New Zealand’s most respected producers — not through scale, but through a steady refinement of purpose and place.

The estate comprises four organically farmed vineyards across Central Otago’s subregions: Gibbston, Earnscleugh (The Fusilier), Alexandra (The Last Chance), and Felton Road (The Red Bank). Each site brings a distinct terroir — from the high-altitude tension of Gibbston to the schist and loess of Alexandra — all unified by low-yielding vines, meticulous canopy management, and a commitment to biodiversity and long-term soil health. Two Paddocks holds full organic certification and practices with deep regard for the surrounding landscape.

In the winery, winemaker Dean Shaw works with wild fermentations, gentle extraction, and élevage in seasoned French oak. Each parcel is handled separately, allowing its voice to emerge before being blended into either the Estate Pinot Noir or held for single-vineyard bottlings like The Fusilier, The Last Chance, and The First Paddock. Small volumes of Riesling and rosé round out the range, crafted with the same attention to detail and regional integrity.

The wines are refined and quietly expressive. Pinot Noir leads with red cherry, wild thyme, and a subtle mineral thread — elegant in structure, layered in nuance. The single-vineyard cuvées offer deeper site signatures: The Fusilier is brooding and structured, The Last Chance more lifted and aromatic, with a stony core. The style is not pushed, but composed — wines that speak with Central Otago’s natural clarity and energy, rather than stylistic insistence.

What defines Two Paddocks is its sincerity — a project shaped as much by personality as by precision, where the seriousness of the wine is always balanced by a lightness of spirit.

These are wines that don’t just reflect place — they carry a sense of belonging, crafted with care, humility, and a wry nod to the land that made them.