BY FARR / FARR RISING
Geelong Victoria

James Halliday Wine Companion 2008

These two separate wineries are run by a father and his son. Both are brilliant winemakers.

Gary was the winemaker at Bannockburn Vineyards since its inception in 1978 and gained an enviable reputation for Bannockburn Wines and more recently, his own By Farr wines.

His experience as a hands-on winemaker has been enhanced by 12 vintages at Domain Dujac in Burgundy, France, and vintages in the USA at Cristom, Oregon and Calera, California. He has made numerous sojourns to other areas such as the Rhone Valley in France, where his appreciation of Shiraz and Viognier has been incorporated in his current winemaking.

Gary's uncompromising attitude towards his vineyard and winemaking enables him to make the style of wines he likes to drink. They have attitude and a great depth of character with understated finesse.

Gary Farr was Qantas/Wine Magazine Winemaker of the Year 2001 after being runner up in 2000. In 2003 he was voted equal 4th best living winemaker by his peers (The Age 28th May 2003).

Nick, on the other hand, is the epitome of enthusiasm and individuality with his own tastes and ideas.

Their collaboration across a generation has produced two distinct winemaking styles that have received critical acclaim both in Australia and overseas.

BY FARR
Gary Farr, the father, established the reputation of Bannockburn where he was the winemaker and winning Australian winemaker of the year in 2001.
12 ha of clonally selected viognier, chardonnay, pinot noir and shiraz at a density of 7000 per ha were planted by the Farr family in 1994, on a north-facing hill directly opposite the Bannockburn Winery. Farr believes the interaction of the terroir of the hill and the clonal selection gives the By Farr wines exceptional quality, but also a character subtly different from those of Bannockburn itself.

"The winemaker, Gary Farr has worked harvests at Morey-St-Denis since 1983 and is wholly committed to Burgundian practices. He creates wine of concentration, power and structure, with unmistakable varietal character. The Pinot Noirs are outstanding and are still improving in bottle but, despite using Burgundian techniques, their flavour is far more muscular and rich than any Burgundy you're likely to come across." Oz Clarke's Encyclopedia of Wine

FARR RISING
With the encouragement of his father, Nicholas Farr, has launched his own brand. The Farr Rising wines present a level of quality and complexity that truly reflects the excellent base materials used. Nicholas learned his winemaking in France and Australia.