Arguably the most important people in our wine are the growers—the families who expertly farm the grapes we work with. We’re proud to source the majority of our fruit from multi-generational growers who not only know their land inside out but are leading the way in sustainable farming.

The Bassham Family have been growing grapes in the Riverland since 1919. Bruce and Val Bassham, along with the next generation stepping up, have been pioneers in rethinking what’s possible in warm-climate viticulture. In response to the oversupply of traditional varieties like Shiraz and Chardonnay, they began grafting to Mediterranean varieties in 2009—focusing on grapes that are better suited to the region’s hot, dry conditions. Today, they’re certified Organic and Biodynamic, and deeply committed to protecting the surrounding lakes, rivers, and soil. The Basshams aren’t just growers—they’re changemakers, proving that farming can be both innovative and regenerative.

The Chalmers Family, based in Merbein (Murray Darling) and Heathcote, have played a massive role in reshaping the Australian wine landscape. Since the 1980s, they’ve imported around 70 grape varieties and clones—mostly Italian—giving winemakers access to new flavours and better-suited vines. Their work in matching varieties to place, running nurseries, and championing sustainable growing practices has made them a cornerstone of Australia’s next chapter in wine.

Each year, we also work with new growers in small, experimental quantities—exploring different sites and expressions from across Australia.

The Growers

The Wine

Why Muto? The name comes from the Latin mutō, meaning “to change.” It reflects our passion for sustainability in agriculture and our commitment to doing things better in a rapidly changing climate.

Our focus is on what we like to call "Future Classics"—Mediterranean varieties that thrive in warm, dry climates, just like ours here in Australia. These grapes hail from southern regions of Europe—Italy, Spain, France, and Portugal—and are naturally suited to our environment.

It all starts with the fruit. We only work with growers who farm sustainably and responsibly, with a strong preference for organic or biodynamic practices. Once the grapes arrive at the winery, our approach is simple: minimal intervention. We let the fruit and the place do the talking—our job is to get out of the way and let the wine tell its own story.

Sustainability doesn’t stop in the vineyard. Our winery runs on solar power, and we use electric vehicles—including our forklift and delivery vans. We capture and reuse wastewater for irrigation, and all leftover grape skins and stems are composted. Every bottle is filled, sealed, and labelled onsite, using lightweight glass and labels made from recycled sugarcane waste.

The Place

We’re privileged to make wine on a small piece of Taungurung Country in Tallarook, Victoria. We acknowledge the Taungurung People of the Kulin Nation as the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on. We recognise their enduring connection to Country—land, waters, and culture—and we thank them for protecting these rivers and ranges since time immemorial.

Tallarook sits on the northern slopes of the Great Dividing Range in Central Victoria, within the Goulburn Valley wine region. Just south of the historic town of Seymour, the landscape is marked by dense eucalypt forests and scattered granite boulders—a rugged, beautiful place that shapes the way we farm and make wine.

Our farm rests atop a range of hills, surrounded by trees and native scrub. The soil is loamy, with a mix of rock, clay, and sand, and the terrain is steep and demanding, with few dams to collect water. It’s not land suited to traditional, mechanised farming—so we’ve embraced it on its own terms.

We’ve planted a small bush-vine vineyard, untrellised and completely tended by hand. While it’s more labour-intensive, this approach offers resilience in dry conditions and, in time, fruit of great intensity and character. The vineyard is still young and in development—so watch this space for wines from our own site in the not-so-distant future.