In 1997, after two years clearing stumps, scrub and many thousands of rabbits, Mark Walpole and his wife Carolyn De Poi planted Fighting Gully Road's first vines on their property south of Beechworth.

Fighting Gully Road's passion is Italian varieties – particularly Sangiovese – since their alpine home is climatically and geographically similar to northern Italy. The cool, breeze blown vineyard rises to 580 metres, its undulating slopes draining away spring frosts. Applying sustainable viticulture practices, they foster a dynamic system wherein the vines play only a small part. Fighting Gully Road shape their wines in the vineyard, believing they simply refine them in the winery.

Fighting Gully Road aspire to set the Australian benchmark for Sangiovese with their La Longa Sangiovese. The Black Label wines, especially the Smith's Vineyard Chardonnay, are also of note.