Respected New Zealand wine producer dies

Actor and vigneron Sam Neill has died, his family has confirmed.

“It is with immense sadness that the whanua (family) of Sam Neill share the news of his passing on Monday 13th July, in Sydney, Australia,” they posted on social media.

Northern Ireland-born, New Zealand-based Neill, the star of multiple films including My Brilliant Career and Jurassic Park, was 78.

“The loss was sudden and unexpected but blessed by the fact that Sam remained cancer free. They would like to express their deepest gratitude to the staff at St Vincent’s Private Hospital for their incredible care,” the family statement said.

“More details will be shared later, but for now, on behalf of the family, we ask that you respect their privacy as they navigate this immeasurable loss.”

Neill was diagnosed with blood cancer in March 2022, but recovered.

 

Neill was highly respected in the wine industry, having owned and operated his own pinot noir-focused vineyard Two Paddocks in Central Otago for over three decades.

“We started in 1993 with modest ambitions and first planted five acres of pinot noir at our original little vineyard at Gibbston, Central Otago in the deep south of New Zealand,” Neill said on the winery website, which makes no mention of his career as actor. He was serious about wine. 

“I wanted to produce a good pinot noir that would, at the very least, be enjoyed by my family and friends,” he said.

Two Paddocks now consists of four small certified organic vineyards and produces between 3,000-5,000 cases depending on the vintage.

Woodstock finds its sweet spot

Family wine businesses need to evolve to thrive. 

For more than 50 years Woodstock Wine Estate has been part of the fabric of McLaren Vale, evolving from a family vineyard into one of the region’s best-known wine and hospitality destinations.

The Blewitt Springs winery is entering a new chapter, with third-generation winemaker Peter Collett helping lead an evolution of the family business.

Woodstock’s story began in 1973, when Douglas Collett AM purchased the property following a career in the wine industry and earlier service as a World War II fighter pilot. His vision for premium South Australian table wine laid the foundations for the modern Woodstock business.

That vision was expanded by Doug’s son Scott Collett, who took over management in 1982 and helped establish Woodstock as a respected McLaren Vale wine brand and tourism destination.

Now Scott’s son Peter is carrying the family legacy forward after stepping into the winemaking role in 2022. 

“Dad is still here all the time tending to the gardens, lawns and orchard,” Peter told the South Australian Wine Industry Association newsletter. “It’s still very much a family business, but we’re also evolving and looking at where we want to take Woodstock into the future.”

  
The transition to the next generation has coincided with a period of significant change for the business. 

In 2024, Woodstock closed its long-running Coterie restaurant and undertook major renovations to transform the space into a larger cellar door focused more directly on wine experiences. 

The new cellar door officially opened in November 2024 and now welcomes visitors seven days a week.

The estate has also introduced a more relaxed visitor offering through a partnership with Gin Long Canteen that features casual lawn dining, weekend live music and a strong family-friendly focus.

A wildlife sanctuary featuring rescue kangaroos, emus and native wildlife has become another point of difference for the property, alongside a playground and expansive lawns designed to encourage families to spend time at the venue.

“Not a lot of wineries in the area are so family friendly,” Peter said. “We’ve got the playground, the wildlife sanctuary and lots of open space, so parents can relax with a glass of wine while the kids can safely run around and enjoy themselves.”

The business has also diversified its on-site experiences, with brother Max Collett recently launching Trilby’s Chocolates at the Woodstock property.

In the winery, Peter is steering Woodstock toward a fresher, more contemporary wine style aligned with changing consumer preferences.

The 100% estate-grown portfolio has been refined, and Mediterranean varieties such as montepulciano and fiano are playing an increasingly important role.

“There’s definitely been a shift toward younger, fresher and lighter wines that are easier drinking,” Peter Collett said.

"The key is to capture these aspects in certain wines while not compromising the bold, rich style that our customers have grown to love. It is a subtle evolution."

The estate now comprises 100 acres of vineyards planted with seven grape varieties, with an ongoing focus on estate-grown wines and regional character.

Wine producer agrees to cough up millions

Treasury Wine Estates, which owns brands including Penfolds and Seppelt, has just suffered a legal whopping.

A $65 million settlement has been reached between Slater and Gordon Lawyers, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers and Treasury Wine Estates on behalf of shareholders who sustained losses due to Treasury’s conduct when it downgraded its forecast earnings for 2020.

The plaintiffs alleged that Treasury had engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct in breach of Australian Consumer Law and breached its continuous disclosure obligations under the ASX Listing Rules.

Slater and Gordon and Maurice Blackburn filed class actions against Treasury in relation to that contravening conduct that were consolidated in late 2020 and have since then jointly represented the joint plaintiffs, and investors, who lost money when Treasury downgraded its earnings guidance for 2020 on January 28, 2020.

The class action alleged Treasury engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and breached its continuous disclosure obligations based on the earnings guidance it provided the market in 2018 and 2019.

A seven-week trial was due to commence this week before Justice Waller in Victoria’s Supreme Court, to consider those issues and ultimately determine Treasury’s liability to affected Treasury shareholders.

Slater and Gordon’s lead plaintiff Brett Stallard said he was “pleased that a settlement had been reached on behalf of investors who lost money as a result of result of Treasury’s earnings downgrade in 2020”.

Slater and Gordon Class Actions Principal Lawyer Mitchell Coidan said: “We are pleased to have been able to reach this outcome for group members on the eve of a trial listed for seven weeks, following hard-fought litigation with Treasury.

"The outcome means that group members who sustained losses as a result of Treasury’s allegedly contravening conduct, will receive compensation in the short term. We are glad to have achieved this result for affected group members, without the need for a protracted court process.”

The settlement remains subject to court approval and Treasury has made no admission of liability.