New Zealand has experienced a substantial surge in demand for Two Paddocks wine, the pinot noir, riesling, and rosé label owned by actor Sam Neill, following his death on July 13 at age 78. The actor died from pneumonia approximately three months after announcing he had achieved cancer-free status from stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, which he had been diagnosed with in 2022.
National retailer Liquorland New Zealand reported that Two Paddocks pinot noir climbed from the 423rd bestselling wine in the preceding week to fifth place in the days after Neill’s death, representing a 1,828% increase in sales. Boutique retailers in Wellington, including Regional Wines and Moore Wilson’s, reported selling out of stock or experiencing five times their usual sales volume of the label. Moore Wilson’s general manager noted that customers expressed plans to enjoy Neill’s films paired with his wine, while some cafes and restaurants created special offerings in his memory.
Beyond wine sales, several charitable causes close to Neill received significant financial support. Sustainable Tarras, an anti-mining advocacy group that Neill actively supported in opposing a controversial open-cast goldmine project near his Central Otago vineyard, received over NZ$20,000 in donations following news of his death. The Dunstan Hospital Foundation, where Neill received treatment, also received dozens of individual donations from supporters worldwide, accompanied by personal messages acknowledging his impact.
Two Paddocks general manager Jacqui Murphy stated that Neill would have appreciated the tribute, noting that the actor viewed wine as a means of bringing people together. Negociants New Zealand, the brand’s distributor, confirmed increased demand over the preceding week. Suze Keith, chair of Sustainable Tarras, characterized Neill as instrumental to the organization’s efforts and described the outpouring of support as bittersweet, given the circumstances of his passing.
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