Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern have honored their late friend, actor Sam Neill, by raising a glass of his renowned Two Paddocks Pinot Noir. The actresses, both 59, shared a moment on Instagram with a bottle of the wine from Neill's vineyard in New Zealand's Central Otago region.
"Raising a glass to our beloved friend and leading man, Sam," Kidman captioned the image. "Just the way he would want, toasting with his gorgeous Pinot."
Neill passed away on July 13, 2026, at the age of 78. His death followed a period after he had announced he was cancer-free following treatment for stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma. His family described the death as "sudden and unexpected," attributing it to pneumonia. He was surrounded by family at St Vincent's Private Hospital in Sydney at the time of his passing.
Following Neill's death, sales of his Two Paddocks wine saw a significant surge. Liquorland reported an 1,828% increase in sales, with the wine climbing to fifth place from 423rd on their bestseller list in the days after his passing. Boutique wine stores also experienced high demand, with Regional Wines in Wellington selling out its entire stock on the day Neill died, and Moore Wilson's reporting sales five times their usual volume.
"Customers have shared plans to enjoy Sir Sam Neill's movies with a glass of his pinot noir," said Amanda Thompson, general manager of Moore Wilson's, told The Guardian. "Others are stocking up the cellar, and some of the cafes and restaurants were putting up a blackboard special to celebrate his life."
Neill, known for his roles in films such as "Jurassic Park," was also a dedicated winemaker. He produced pinot noir, riesling, and rosé under the Two Paddocks label and was known for his generosity in donating bottles to charity auctions and sharing them with friends and family.
Fellow actors and colleagues, including "Jurassic Park" director Steven Spielberg, paid tribute to Neill. Spielberg recalled Neill as an exceptionally collaborative actor and a loving father, stating that he owed a debt of gratitude for Neill's brilliant performances that led to his casting in "Jurassic Park."