Timo Mayer grew up in the Württemberg region of Germany, where his family have been making wine for over 400 years. Restless, he left the family farm to explore the world, landing in the Yarra Valley. At the time, in the mid-‘90s, most Yarra wines didn’t reflect the region’s unique cool climate and soils. Too strong, too robust. After working with De Bertoli and Gembrook Hill, Timo launched his own label in 2000. Over the past couple of decades Timo has led the charge for elegant, complex Yarra Valley wines, focussing on cool climate classics Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2004 he started experimenting with whole bunch fermentation, an old-school technique where the grape stems are left with the berries to ferment, adding flavour and texture. At that time, hardly anyone in Australia was doing it. His 100% whole-bunch Pinot Noirs were mind-blowingly fresh. Timo played a major part in resurrecting this now-popular technique. These days he’s still pushing boundaries with his son Rivar, planting more vines and crafting more wines that tell a special story of the Yarra Valley.

Timo Mayer grew up in the Württemberg region of Germany, where his family have been making wine for over 400 years. Restless, he left the family farm to explore the world, landing in the Yarra Valley. At the time, in the mid-‘90s, most Yarra wines didn’t reflect the region’s unique cool climate and soils. Too strong, too robust. After working with De Bertoli and Gembrook Hill, Timo launched his own label in 2000.
Over the past couple of decades Timo has led the charge for elegant, complex Yarra Valley wines, focussing on cool climate classics Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. In 2004 he started experimenting with whole bunch fermentation, an old-school technique where the grape stems are left with the berries to ferment, adding flavour and texture. At that time, hardly anyone in Australia was doing it. His 100% whole-bunch Pinot Noirs were mind-blowingly fresh. Timo played a major part in resurrecting this now-popular technique. These days he’s still pushing boundaries with his son Rivar, planting more vines and crafting more wines that tell a special story of the Yarra Valley.