Kerri Greens was born in 2013 as a little experiment, a source of expression. Lucas Blanck and Tom McCarthy identified the old Hickson vineyard in Balnarring as something of a project. There wasn’t a brand, just two vignerons with plenty of ideas and the enthusiasm to make some mistakes.
Seven years on, and Kerri Greens remains entrenched in the vines. Through a little intention and a good dose of luck we have garnered a stable of vineyards that far exceed Kerri Greens in age, if not in wisdom also. Silverwood (Balnarring), the heritage ‘Hickson’ site (Balnarring), and the homesite, The Duke (Red Hill South).
The vineyards are managed with a strict viticulture regime aimed at quality, with sustainable practices including no irrigation, pruning techniques promoting longevity and fruit intensity not yields, mowing undervine to avoid herbicide, canopy management aimed at exposure, inter-row cover crops for nutrition and soil structure, and spray regimes using organic principles.
Off the vine, the winemaking follows a predictably similar line, additions are kept to a minimum using wild yeasts unhindered by initial additions of sulphur allowing the unique biology of the vineyard and season to have its impact. There is no rush to bottle and where possible it takes place without fining or filtration.
