Nat Geo uncorks Sam Neill wine doc

Sam Neill in Great Innovators: The Rise of Australian Wine

Kiwi actor and vigneron Sam Neill is hosting a one-hour documentary on the Australian wine industry for National Geographic channels worldwide.

Great Innovators: The Rise of Australian Wine will premiere on Nat Geo’s Australian channel at 20.30 on October 18, followed by the US, UK and other international territories.

Filmed around the world over the past two years, the in-house production sees Neill and Peter Gago, the chief winemaker of Penfolds, delve into an industry built on guts, ingenuity, imagination and science.

The film also traces Penfolds innovations such as early wine stabilisation research and refrigerated harvesting used to make one of the world’s most collectible wines, Penfolds Grange.

Neill said: “As a wine grower from New Zealand it was more than a privilege to spend time with a bunch of extraordinary winemakers and growers in Australia and to learn about the struggle and innovation that is such a hallmark of the story of wine in Australia.”

Tim Jones, MD of Australian National Geographic, added: “The story of Australian wine is one of rich heritage and international recognition and appeal. This is a premium global opportunity to share the story of our wine pioneers, to showcase Australia’s deep history and passion for winemaking and the successes of the industry around the world”.