HOW
SAM N EILL
becAme a dyed-in-the-wool enophile and a waggish purveyor of NEW ZEALAND wine by steve stevens
Sam Neill. New Zealand actor formerly described as “media shy,” now as “outspoken.” Unable to describe how this change occurred. Born in Ireland of New Zealand stock. Still difficult to understand. Educated more or less. Passed Philosophy I courtesy of a long evening with friend John Clarke and some whisky. Awarded honorary doctorate in 2002. His friends still asking why. Disappointed he is unable to write prescriptions, but insists on being addressed as Doctor nevertheless. Can be seen on the screen on occasion between drinking bouts. This is how Sam Neill describes himself on the Web site of his New Zealand film company. And if you want to crawl inside the guy’s head, it’s a pretty good indication of what you’ll find: a talented artist who takes himself and his fame with a grain of salt. But for someone who takes it all so casually, Sam Neill’s career has reached fantastical heights. Parlaying acting success in 1970s’ New Zealand into a film career that includes box office successes such as The Hunt for Red October, The Piano and Jurassic Park, Neill has kept his head and his sense of humor. And he uses both of those attributes to tackle his other career—that of a private winery owner.
imageS courtesy: Susan BOAG
Neill’s film success allowed him to start Two Paddocks, a winery near Queenstown, New Zealand, essentially so he could make
New Zealand Wineries You Should Know About
�ATLANTA
Come Coast Awhile!
75
341
16
95 17
Cloudy Bay— Getting its name from the bay at the eastern tip of Wairau Valley, winemaker Kevin Judd made the winery’s first Sauvignon Blanc in 1985 and it put Marlborough and New Zealand on the world’s wine map. Find them at www. cloudybay.co.nz.
Kim Crawford Wines— Kim Crawford is widely considered one of New Zealand’s best wine makers and his wife Erica is a savvy marketing mind; it’s a pairing that has led the company to great success. Rather than getting grapes from a single New Zealand region, the Crawfords use select vineyards in Marlborough, Gisborne and the Hawke’s Bay. Log on to www.kimcrawfordwines. co.nz for more information.
wine for himself and his friends. The wine, however, wouldn’t cooperate and ended up being too good to keep at home. Neill’s American importer is completely out of the three Pinot Noirs that Two Paddocks exports to the United States. Three hundred and thirty three cases of the most recent release made it to the states, but it’s not enough to satisfy demand. “We’d love to have more,” says Lisa Hayes, spokesperson for the importer. “It’s a really good wine. If we had more, we could definitely sell it.” Picking up that love of a good drink was no accident. His father’s business, Neil & Co., imported wine and liquor into New Zealand and Neill has said of his father that he “drank wine on a regular basis and lived well and happily as a result.” As far as vineyard management, the winery is well on its way to an organic certification and Neill believes Mother Nature definitely knows what she’s doing. “We’re a great believer in organic farming,” he says. “You don’t need a bunch of chemicals getting in your way.” Despite his laid-back character, Neill seems quite committed to the winery and the wine. In fact, if you type in www.samneill.com, you won’t find a fan site, or a page loaded with pictures of the actor, or promotions for his new films. You get Two Paddocks. “I’m an actor,” Neill told Wine Report on the phone from New Zealand, “but I’m totally committed to the winery. I’m extremely involved. It’s not like putting a name on a T-shirt or something. There’s nothing ambivalent about it.”
Villa Maria Estate— Villa Maria might be New Zealand’s most distinguished family-owned winery, winning accolades hand over fist, being named one of the world’s 50 great wine producers by Wine Spectator magazine and New Zealand’s best wine producer six out of seven years. Go to www.villamaria.co.nz.
Craggy Range— In 1998, wealthy American businessman Terry Peabody teamed with the viticulturalist Steve Smith, who boasts the rare and difficult-toachieve Masters of Wine certification. Craggy Range quickly developed a reputation for quality, focusing on single vineyard production wines, mainly grown on its own Hawkes Bay and Marlborough vineyards. Check out www.craggyrange.com for more information.
Felton Road— Felton Road is a small, artisan producer of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Riesling. Starting up in 1991, it quickly gained a reputation as one of New Zealand’s leading premium wine producers. The three estate vineyards are all located in Central Otago’s Bannockburn region. Find more info at www.feltonroad.com.
75
520
From mainland Brunswick discover
the charms of St. Simons Island, Sea Island, Little St. Simons Island and Jekyll Island. Enjoy breathtaking beauty, rich history, warm hospitality and glorious year ’round weather. You’ll find sun-drenched beaches, 216 holes of golf, tennis, fishing, boating, casino/cruise ship and great shops, galleries and restaurants. Plus accommodations to fit every budget, from convenient Interstate hotels to full-service island resorts, quaint inns, campgrounds and rental cottages. Minutes from I-95 at Exits 42, 38, 36 and 29. CONVENTION & For a free 80-page Visitors Guide call 800-933-COAST (2627) VISITORS BUREAU
COMECOASTAWHILE.COM
T r av e l G u i d e
The premier wine and food destinations in the Southeast
Description: Georgia’s Premier Wine Country Inn. Selected as the “No. 1 Inn for a Weekend Escape 2006,” and the “No. 1 Inn for Wine Connoisseurs 2004,” by Inn Traveler Magazine. Features: Mountain Views, gourmet breakfasts, prix fixe wine dinners, wine tastings and weekend wine events. 4,000 bottle wine cellar, 7 spacious guestrooms/suites with private baths. Location: 220 Beechwood Drive, Clayton, GA/Northeast GA Mtns. Contact: P.O. Box 429; 220 Beechwood Drive, Clayton, GA, 30525; Phone: (706)782-5485 Web/E-mail: www.beechwoodinn.ws or david-gayle@beechwoodinn.ws
Source-Wines of New Zealand
Features: Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden for fine dining, The Spa at Old Edwards Inn is a European Spa, The Farm for special events & meetings.
Location: 445 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741 Contact: (828)526-8008 or toll free (866)526-8008; Fax: (828)526-8301 Web/E-mail: www.oldedwardsinn.com
Description: Private Membership resort offering four course dining including wild game paired with extraordinary wines. Located on 1,860 acres of pristine lakes and woodlands. Premier hunting, fishing, and sporting clay adventures. Features: 14 unique lodge rooms with private baths.Rejuvenate with full service spa and weekend packages for two. Come be pampered and watch our swans ducks and geese. Location: Swainsboro, GA / located in Southeast Georgia Contact: toll free (877) 352-8273 ; (478) 237-3474 Web/E-mail: www.flatcreeklodge.com or cmcdaniel@flatcreeklodge.com
Steve Stevens is Wine Report’s Editor in Chief.
Description: Small luxury destination spa resort. 30 rooms, suites and cottages.
If your establishment is an extraordinary destination for our readers and you would like to be a part of this page, call Wes Dewhurst at Wine Report office at (678) 985-9494 ext. 105 for details.