By Farr

By Farr is one of Australia’s most respected family-owned wineries, producing distinctive cool-climate wines from its estate in the Moorabool Valley, between Geelong and Ballarat. Founded by Gary and Robyn Farr in 1994 and now led by Nick and Cassie Farr, the winery has built its reputation through meticulous vineyard work, minimal intervention in the cellar and an unwavering commitment to wines that express their origins.

The Moorabool Valley has a long history of viticulture, with Swiss settlers establishing some of Victoria’s earliest vineyards in the region during the 1800s. Its combination of volcanic soils, cool conditions and a distinctly continental climate produces fruit with remarkable fragrance, colour and intensity. The Farr family’s vineyards sit within this rugged landscape, where subtle variations in soil, slope and exposure give each wine its individual character.

Gary and Robyn purchased the original property in 1994, followed by a second parcel in 1998 that had been left untouched for almost 40 years. Dense boxthorn and weeds had taken over, requiring enormous work to return the land to productive use. In 2011, Nick and Cassie purchased the adjoining property that connected the two original holdings, completing the 130-acre estate. Today, 36 acres are planted to vines, while the remaining land is used for grazing and cropping for cattle and horses. A diverse selection of clones and rootstocks has been carefully matched to the estate’s varied sites.

Gary Farr began making wine in the Moorabool Valley in 1978 and has influenced an entire generation of Australian growers and winemakers. His exacting approach was shaped by extensive experience overseas, including time at Domaine Dujac in Burgundy, Cristom in Oregon and Calera in California. Regular visits to Burgundy deepened his understanding of Pinot Noir and site expression, while journeys through the Rhône Valley inspired his approach to Shiraz, Viognier and co-fermentation. His wines became benchmarks for the region, with Len Evans famously describing one of Gary’s Pinots as Australia’s best.

Nick grew up working alongside his father before gaining experience at Rosemount in the Hunter Valley and Innisfail Vineyards near Bannockburn, where he began the Farr Rising label. He later completed vintages at Cristom, Au Bon Climat and Domaine Dujac, building on the foundations established by Gary while developing a perspective of his own. Nick’s understanding of traditional and contemporary winemaking allows him to preserve the identity of the family estate while continuing to refine its wines.

Gary and Nick share a deep respect for the vineyard, although they are not afraid to disagree about how its fruit should be interpreted. That creative tension has become part of the estate’s strength. Each generation brings its own experience, instincts and preferences, but both are united by the belief that wine should reflect the land, the season and the people who make it.

In the cellar, intervention is kept to a minimum and decisions are guided by the character of each parcel and vintage. The aim is not to create a polished house style or follow changing fashions, but to capture the depth, fragrance and structure naturally present in the fruit. The resulting wines are complex, savoury and beautifully composed, with a sense of place that becomes even clearer as they age.

By Farr is ultimately a story of family, land and uncompromising standards. Gary’s experience and restless pursuit of quality established the foundations, while Nick and Cassie now carry the estate forward with their own energy and vision. These are not mainstream wines, nor are they intended to be. They are deeply personal expressions of the Moorabool Valley and rank among the finest cool-climate wines produced in Australia.