In this one hour documentary, Sam Neill, New Zealand actor and devoted wine maker, will explore the last century of Australian red wine making from his point of view as a struggling, small scale vintner. Along the way he will discover that the story of Australian wine production is a story of ingenuity and individual brilliance that in some cases changed wine making throughout the world. It is a story of risk and reward, boldness and craft and ultimately how an unambitious industry captured the imagination of the world, it is the story of Great Innovators.

Unlike their conservative European and American counterparts, in the 1950s and 1960s Australian winemakers were prepared to ‘have-a-go’ at reinventing their industry. Sam tells the story through the prism of such amazing inventions as the screw cap, refrigerated harvesting, stainless steel equipment and sanitisation, the Australian Wine Research Institute, the infamous ‘Flying Winemakers’ and finally, through Penfold’s Grange, a ground-breaking blend of ancient art and modern science.

The story of the Australian wine grape can be told through the country’s rich and versatile soil, it’s warm sun and wondrous coastlines. And Sam Neill will take a closer look and reveal how the true evolution of Australian flavour stems from the country’s roots as a rogue penal colony, how, through innovation, bravado, and the right dash of charm, Australia’s wine innovators created a new-world-wine-powerhouse. They may have arrived late to the world’s wine fayres but the party only began when the Australians arrived!

In this one hour documentary, Sam Neill, New Zealand actor and devoted wine maker, will explore the last century of Australian red wine making from his point of view as a struggling, small scale vintner. Along the way he will discover that the story of Australian wine production is a story of ingenuity and individual brilliance that in some cases changed wine making throughout the world. It is a story of risk and reward, boldness and craft and ultimately how an unambitious industry captured the imagination of the world, it is the story of Great Innovators.

Unlike their conservative European and American counterparts, in the 1950s and 1960s Australian winemakers were prepared to ‘have-a-go’ at reinventing their industry. Sam tells the story through the prism of such amazing inventions as the screw cap, refrigerated harvesting, stainless steel equipment and sanitisation, the Australian Wine Research Institute, the infamous ‘Flying Winemakers’ and finally, through Penfold’s Grange, a ground-breaking blend of ancient art and modern science.

The story of the Australian wine grape can be told through the country’s rich and versatile soil, it’s warm sun and wondrous coastlines. And Sam Neill will take a closer look and reveal how the true evolution of Australian flavour stems from the country’s roots as a rogue penal colony, how, through innovation, bravado, and the right dash of charm, Australia’s wine innovators created a new-world-wine-powerhouse. They may have arrived late to the world’s wine fayres but the party only began when the Australians arrived!