In 1993, actor Sam Neill established Two Paddocks in Central Otago, with the modest goal of producing Pinot Noir for family and friends. He planted five acres of Pinot Noir at the original vineyard in Gibbston, known as The First Paddock. Over time, the venture has expanded to include three additional vineyards – in Alexandra and Bannockburn. It puts Two Paddocks in the unique position of being the only Central Otago winery with a footprint in all three of Central Otago’s great valleys, by owning vineyards in Gibbston, the Alexandra Basin and the Cromwell Basin.

Sam’s relatively unambitious aim, began to be overtaken, as the exceptional quality of the wine became evident, starting with the first harvest in 1997. Ever since, they have been producing some of the world's best Pinot Noir.

The ‘First Paddock’ vineyard in Gibbston features schist-based soils and a marginal climate, contributing to wines with delicate aromatics and fine structure. The Last Chance and Redbank vineyards in Alexandra are located on terraces with free-draining soils, producing wines with intense fruit flavours and minerality. And the Fusilier vineyard in Bannockburn, with its warm, arid conditions and heavier soils, yields wines of richness and depth. The combination of varying altitudes, soil types, and microclimates across these sites allows Two Paddocks to craft Pinot Noir and Riesling that showcase the complexity and diversity of Central Otago's terroir.

Their organic management philosophy is important too, avoiding agrichemicals, promoting soil health and biodiversity, which in turn allows the fruit to be as ‘natural’ and true to the place it was grown as possible.