An exciting addition to the Peninsula wine scene, Kerri Greens brings together two adventurous and forward-thinking young vignerons – Tom McCarthy and Lucas Blanck, crafting single-site wines from self-managed vineyards in Balnarring and Red Hill.
Kerri Greens has established a foothold on the Peninsula, farming their vineyards sustainably, drawing inspiration from Tom’s family; the esteemed Mornington mavericks Quealy Winemakers, where they both hold down day jobs. Winemaking also runs in the blood of Lucas, whose own roots are founded in Alsace at his family winery, Domaine Paul Blanck.
Alsatian purity meeting Australian ingenuity, their philosophy is a nod to both these rich family heritages and their pioneering spirits. Traditional Mornington champions Chardonnay and Pinot Noir provide the backbone of the range, with Alsatian favourites Gewurztraminer and Riesling also in the mix. Expression of site is key to these wines, with the aim of showcasing the quality of the fruit coming from these special sites, which range in age from roughly 20 years old to the heritage site planted in 1981 that makes the Hickson Chardonnay. To this end, winemaking inputs are kept to a minimum with wild yeasts and neutral oak a theme, as well as sulphur being used very sparingly, and sometimes not at all. This commitment to place is also apparent at their cellar door which is a converted trio of water tanks, running completely off the grid with solar panels and rainwater harvesting built into the small complex. We are excited to see this next-gen project lay down some roots and shake things up.
