{"product_id":"by-farr-viognier-2023-geelong-australia","title":"by Farr Viognier 2023 (Geelong, Australia)","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Winery:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBy Farr Wines is a family-owned winery founded in 1994 by Gary and Robyn Farr in Victoria’s Moorabool Valley, between Geelong and Ballarat, about 100km southwest of Melbourne. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGrape growing in this region dates back more than 200 years, with Swiss settlers planting Victoria’s first vineyards here in the early 1800s. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawn to the region’s cool climate and distinctive terroir, the Farr family established vineyards dedicated to expressive, site-driven wines. Today, the 130-acre estate comprises 36 acres under vine, with the balance devoted to grazing and cropping for cattle and horses.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe vineyards are planted with a combination of Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Gamay and Shiraz, and farmed with a focus on quality and character. The winemaking philosophy is rooted in minimal intervention, allowing each season and parcel to speak clearly in the glass.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFather Gary's \u003cspan\u003eexperience as a hands-on winemaker was shaped by time spent at Domain Dujac in Burgundy, Cristom in Oregon and Calera in California. And l\u003c\/span\u003eike his father, son Nick has experience at international vineyards, including Cristom in Oregon, Au Bon Climate in California, and Domain Dujac in Burgundy. Training with the famed Dominque Lafon has served as the inspiration for by Farr's wines.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAbout this Wine:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe By Farr viognier consists of a blend of fruit from two vineyards. The first is the original house block, planted in 1994, which is friable red soil over limestone leading to sandstone—similar soils to the Sangreal pinot noir and By Farr chardonnay. The second vineyard is a younger planting of unknown clones in red ironstone soil. The viognier is a difficult variety to manage as it has a tendency to grow horizontally rather than vertically, needs a lot of water and can become sunburnt very easily. Because of this we have decided to pick the fruit earlier in the past few years in order to retain its natural acidity, ensuring we maintain varietal character and creating a more delicate and refined wine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eVinification:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe Viognier is foot stomped and left for two or more hours on its skins to extract the phenols, flavour and texture. The fruit is then pressed, cooled and put straight into barrel with all solids for a natural fermentation. Gentle stirring during the end of autumn encourages malolactic fermentation, which softens the finish by converting the tart malic acid to lactic acid. The wine is then racked, fined and filtered. It is ready to be bottled 11 months after harvest.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eA lovely perfumed, yet subtle expression of viognier. Fresh peach and apricot flavours as a young wine, which we believe will intensify over time. The palate is restrained, luscious and shows a ginger-flavoured freshness with underlying power and lingering aftertaste. This wine benefits beautifully from 12 months of bottle ageing, as the acid softens.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch4\u003eRatings \u0026amp; Reviews\u003c\/h4\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003e94 Points - The Wine Front (an Australian-only wine review magazine)\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Grand Cru Selections","offers":[{"title":"750 mL","offer_id":67601602576749,"sku":null,"price":89.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0481\/8940\/7391\/files\/01JBZHEW804B1DM8HMB19BF5VP-main.png?v=1790879151","url":"https:\/\/artisan.wine\/products\/by-farr-viognier-2023-geelong-australia","provider":"Artisan W\u0026S","version":"1.0","type":"link"}