AUSTRALIA

The Star of Geelong

The story of By Farr began in the mid-70s when the newly graduated oenologist Gary Farr traveled to France to further his education and study winemaking in the homeland of wine. After less successful visits to Bordeaux, Alsace, and the Northern Rhône Valley, he finally found his place in Burgundy. Gary was fascinated by the elegance and depth of the wines, but most of all by the ambition to make wines that reflect their place of growth. Gary worked at Roumier and Dujac before moving on to Calera in California. Full of inspiration and new knowledge, Gary returned to Australia and helped found Bannockburn Vineyards just outside Geelong in Victoria. During his time at Bannockburn Vineyards, Gary located a perfect farm to start his own winery. In 1994, he bought what would become By Farr and planted his first vines on previously unused pastureland. The geological and climatological conditions were absolutely perfect for producing Australia’s best Pinot Noir. Today, the estate is run by Gary’s son Nick, who is a trained geologist but lacks a complete oenology education. This is reflected in his wine philosophy, which is more about producing wines that best reflect their place of growth. After practical training at Rosemount, Calera, Cristom, Au Bon Climat, and Domaine Dujac, Nick returned to Bannockburn in 2001. Before joining By Farr, Gary leased a piece of land to Nick to produce his own brand, Farr Rising. In addition to the wines from By Farr, Nick is involved in Domaine Dujac, where he has helped with the recent vintages. In 2009, Nick took over winemaking for By Farr.