Sam Neill Wants You to Check Out This Underrated New Zealand Wine Region
"Founded in 1993 by actor Sam Neill, this boutique Central Otago winery operates four vineyards and is known for producing organic, biodynamic (but pragmatically applied) wines—especially bright, vivid Pinot Noirs. It has a solid reputation as a serious, quality-driven venture rather than a typical celebrity label, emphasizing soil health, careful clone and rootstock selection learned through trial and error, and small-scale, high-quality production; one of its sites even claims to be among the southernmost vineyards in the world. The winemaking philosophy prioritizes making outstanding New World Pinot that offers strong value relative to Old World equivalents, and while biodynamic preps are used, the founder dismisses some of the more mystical rituals (like the cow-horn-at-full-moon practice)." - Ryan Grim
