Pinot Gris | Chardonnay | Pinot Noir | Syrah

A surf break between two worlds

On driving down the dirt track drive you’re met with panoramic valley views and the inconspicuous but characterful Kerri Greens cellar door.  Kerri Greens is the name of a surf break found between Cape Schank and Flinders here on the Peninsula, but Lucas Blanck, the winemaker, has origins that fair from far further afield, in the Northern French wine region of Alsace.

It’s hard not to notice the large and colourful mythical sea creatures on the cellar door walls, the same creatures that can be found on the Kerri Green labels.  I ask what they are and Lucas explains that a friend created them, that they live in a place that can be found somewhere between the old and new world of wine, where Lukas’s story continues today.  Intrigued?  You should be.

Kerri Greens started in 2015 when Lucas and his friend Tom Quealy (of Quealy Wines) started making wines from the Hickson Vineyard.  They started with a Chardonnay and a field blend - in true European style - but there’s no set recipe to the Kerri Greens range with each vintage depending on the fruit Lucas has the opportunity to work with.  The creative labels are symbolic of the freedom and fun that Lucas injects into the wines he’s making.

One constant through the years are the Duke and Hickson Vineyards which Lucas leases and pours a lot of love, energy and work into, guided by a holistic philosophy of sustainability. He’s not in pursuit of a stamp, nor a certificate but an understanding and equilibrium of the entire ecosystem of the vineyard to craft better wines year after year.  Lucas is easy going and seems reluctant to use the word serious for his wines, but he says that the single site wines have to show structure and be true to the sites he’s working with, otherwise what’s the point?  Outside of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir you’ll find Alsace inspired expressions of Riesling and Gewurztraminer and through the year they showcase the wines and wares of friends and his family’s Domaine Paul Blanck Pinot Blanc.  A lovely drop, well worth trying.

Time from Melbourne | 1hour 20 minutes

Wine RRP | $30 - $65

Kerri Greens is open Friday to Sunday from 12pm-5pm when you can head down at leisure to enjoy the wines.  But if you’re interested in a more bespoke and intimate experience, come this way.