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Available Now at the Central Otago Wine Company

Due to an avalanche of demand (would we exaggerate to you?) a limited supply of our clothing line is now available at Central Otago Wine Company. The world's most exclusive outerwear, crafted in Canada, includes:

Roots Frost Polo Zip -- Heavy weight fleeced jumper, long sleeved. Very warm. In cheerful red. Inscribed "Two Paddocks" in small black letters on the left. -- $155 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Glacier Jacket -- Black fleece, with red "Two Paddocks" small letters. Very Chic. -- $155 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Tee Shirt -- White. Excellent quality. Inscribed "Neill Pinot Noir Two Paddocks" as on label of wine, in red and black. Much admired. -- $45 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Roots Caps -- (pictured right) Black with tan pigskin peak. Inscribed "Two Paddocks" in red. Cool. -- $40 NZD inc. G.S.T. -- Cellar door sales only.

Two Paddocks clothing is carefully designed for all occasions; coronations, investitures, christenings and formal balls etc'. More than one punter looked sharp at the Melbourne Cup this year in our kit, and we have also been told of sightings in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. These are probably unreliable reports however; some of our spies tend to the bibulous. On the other hand, at such time as you are attending to plumbing and electrical duties around the manor, you will not feel out of place in a Two Paddocks sweater. Although made for both sexes our clothes somehow make women more attractive, and men undeniably more handsome.

Relax, look good, light the pipe - the world looks rosier when you are dressed by TWO PADDOCKS.

At this point, we are not accepting mail order because, here at the bureau, we are still unable to find anyone with sufficient skills to spell your address correctly. But we do recommend a visit to the winery and our well-dressed staff will be happy to look after you there.

On November 16, New Zealand's most handsome winery opens its doors. The Central Otago Wine Company, in which Two Paddocks has an interest, and which makes our World Famous Wine, launches its new building at what some have unkindly called a Friday night piss up. Another plain but serviceable ex-Ministry of Works building in Cromwell, the winery has been entirely refurbished and redesigned by Athfield Architects of Wellington. Leading critics have dubbed it "fab."

If you're in the area, please stop by for a visit. The winery is located at:

Building #1, Lake Dunstan Industrial Estate McNulty Road Cromwell, Central Otago

The cellar door hours are:

Summer -- 10 am-5 pm daily (from Labour weekend, which is the 3rd weekend of October to Easter weekend in March or April) Winter -- 10am - 5pm weekdays, closed weekends.

Two Paddocks enthusiasts everywhere will be thrilled to know that not only will their favourite wine be available in the winery's retail cellar, but they will also be able to buy other exciting Two Paddocks products there as well.

We are delighted to offer, initially on a local basis only, our 1999 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir. As you know, 1999 was a great year for Central Otago, and the 1999 Two Paddocks is outstanding in an exceptional year. It is certainly our best vintage. The nose includes sage, blackberry, raspberry and cherry. On the palate the wine has a sweet fruit attack lengthening to a warm, rich concentrated texture and complex seductive finish.

A significant proportion of this vintage is going to the States, where it has already had an enthusiastic reception. It is therefore very limited in supply.

Today, at Central Otago Wine Company, we bottled the 2000 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir. We were tempted to call it the Millennium Edition, but of course since we are famous for our lack of pretension, this was out of the question.

The flower depicted this year is the yellow Gorse flower. On the back label, in small lettering, there is a dedication to Priscilla Neill who died in the spring of the year this wine began (November of 1999). This was accompanied by many other natural phenomena of a calamitous nature in New Zealand - cold, floods, etc. This, in part, accounts for the very very low output for 2000; only 150 cases.

The choice of the Gorse flower is in keeping with our modest flower policy but applies, in this case particularly, to P. Neill who always enjoyed the hills when the Gorse was in bloom. Of course, she understood that gorse was a curse for the farmer, but she thought that it was beautiful anyway. This was a little part of her great enthusiasm for life and the landscape.

Last year's flower on the about to be released 1999 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir is the common Briar Rose which again is a menace for the farmer, but has its own beauty at the right time of the year. And we are always mindful of the rosehip which saved all those little pommy kiddies from scurvy in the war (MAFN).

We are thrilled with the 2000 vintage. It has spent 18 months in the barrel and is all things seductive and gorgeous. We expect to release this wine in March of next year perhaps.

Hot from the proprietor!

Two Paddocks Two pallets are now in transit to San Francisco, and we plan a simultaneous release of this distinguished vintage (round the vowels as you read this aloud) in August in the US, Australia and New Zealand. Eager anticipation is palpable. Looking very good indeed in preview.

2000 Two Paddocks Neill Pinot Noir Dean Shaw, sage and seer, has decided that another six months in the barrel will benefit our 2000 vintage, and we therefore anticipate bottling sometime in perhaps September or October. We are very much looking forward to having a look at it then; it promises to be very unusual, but superb in its own idiosyncratic fashion. It will certainly be even more rare than ever; only about 150 cases in all.

After a changeable spring and an indifferent Christmas/New Year period, Central Otago has now enjoyed a glorious late summer and early autumn. Long hot days have been followed by cool nights, and we at T.P. have become increasingly confident of an excellent vintage. Alex Paddocks is well ahead of One Paddock Gibbston and is up to perhaps half crop this year. We expect to pick there in three to four weeks time, while Gibbston will be in mid May.

Both One Paddock Gibbston and Alex Paddocks have gotten off to a great start and are flourishing under a warm if slightly windy spring. Alex Paddocks is about two weeks ahead of Gibbston which augurs well for the future. Budburst at both vineyards coincided with the opening of the trout fishing season. Fruitset at Gibbston was around Christmas Day, and at Alex Paddocks about December 8th. The three photos shown here were taken in December 2000.

Rugged hills and budding vines at Alex Paddocks.   View of the Remarkables from One Paddock Gibbston.   Alex Paddocks with new spring growth.