The Australian and New Zealand wine industry is mourning the loss of Sam Neill OBE.
He was much loved and respected in the wine industry and beyond.
Sam died suddenly in Sydney today at the age of 78.
He was a Hollywood star most famous for his role in Jurassic Park.
Sam also enjoyed success as a wine producer, having founded Two Paddocks in Central Otago in New Zealand in 1993, specialising in Pinot Noir.
He says on the website, “I wanted to produce a good Pinot that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my friends and family.
“Frankly, my friends will pretty much drink anything, so this didn’t seem too hard.”
Sam spent a lot of time in Australia and was admired by winemakers for his modesty and relaxed, friendly nature.
Many people in the Australian wine industry met him at various tastings, events and conferences here and in NZ.
They all seemed to say the same thing about him: “Just a great bloke.”
Sam’s humour was next level and his posts at the height of Twitter were compulsive reading.
He was also famous for naming his pigs on the farm after his celebrity friends and co-stars.
Nick Ryan said in a tribute on Facebook, “He was a wine guy of the highest order, quietly annoyed with those who mischaracterised what he did as a celebrity side hustle.”
James Suckling said, “He was such a lovely human being and a fine winemaker at Two Paddocks.”
Jackson Pollock wrote on Instagram, “Never forget his short film at Pinot NZ in Wellington about a decade ago where he fed Sauvignon Blanc grapes to pigs.”
His family said on Instagram, “Sam was surrounded by family and passed with the dignity that has characterised his whole life.”
In 2022 Sam was diagnosed with stage-three blood cancer.
Earlier this year he announced that he was cancer-free after a successful clinical trial.
He returned to acting and his new film The Fox is due for release in October.
Sam was born in Northern Ireland in 1947 and emigrated to New Zealand when he was seven.
His sudden passing has come as a shock to the wine industry and beyond.
Photo: Sam Neill Facebook page.