Sales of wine from Sam Neill’s label have surged across New Zealand following the death of the actor, as fans commemorate his life by raising a glass in his memory. Neill, 78, passed away last Monday from pneumonia, just months after publicly announcing he was cancer-free after battling stage three angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, a rare form of blood cancer, diagnosed in 2022.

Neill’s representative, Philip Grenz, encouraged well-wishers to consider donating to charitable causes important to the actor instead of sending flowers, reflecting Neill’s longstanding commitment to philanthropy.

The actor was a passionate winemaker and owned the Two Paddocks vineyard in Central Otago, producing varietals including pinot noir, riesling, and rosé. Known for his generosity, Neill frequently donated wine to charity events and shared it with friends and industry peers. Now fans are choosing to honor his legacy through the enjoyment of Two Paddocks wines.

National liquor retailer Liquorland, which operates 175 stores, reported a dramatic increase in demand for Two Paddocks pinot noir immediately following Neill’s death. The label jumped from the 423rd best-selling wine the prior week to fifth place shortly after—an increase of more than 1,800 percent.

At Wellington’s Regional Wines boutique, Neill’s label sold out on the day of his passing. Meanwhile, Moore Wilson’s, a boutique supermarket and wholesaler in the city, saw sales of Two Paddocks wines multiply fivefold. Amanda Thompson, Moore Wilson’s general manager, noted that customers are pairing the wine with Neill’s films, stocking up cellars, and local cafes and restaurants have featured the wine in tributes.

Jacqui Murphy, general manager of Two Paddocks, said Neill viewed enjoying wine with friends and family as a “sign of living well” and would likely find it fitting that supporters are commemorating him with his wines. “He talked about wine being about conviviality, connecting people,” Murphy added.

Dean McHenry, general manager of Two Paddocks distributor Negociants New Zealand, described the surge in sales as a reflection of Neill’s significance to New Zealanders.

In addition to wine sales, an environmental group Neill supported, Sustainable Tarras, has seen a notable influx of donations exceeding NZ$20,000 (£8,700) since his death. The group opposes a proposed open-cast gold mine in the Dunstan mountains, near Neill’s vineyard. The actor had publicly opposed the mine, describing it as potentially devastating for the region’s landscape.

Following Neill’s passing, supporters of Sustainable Tarras have pledged to continue the environmental fight in his honor. Suze Keith, chair of the group, expressed appreciation for Neill’s advocacy, calling him a “knight in shining armour” whose involvement helped attract expert support. She described the response from Neill’s fans as both encouraging and bittersweet, mourning the loss while welcoming increased support for the campaign.

Neill’s death has thus sparked not only a surge in appreciation for his winemaking but also renewed momentum for causes he championed during his life.