Mornington Peninsula Archives - Young Gun of Wine

Lucas Blanck

Lucas Blanck grew up at Domaine Paul Blanck in Alsace – one of that region’s most respected family estates – before a vintage in Australia in 2010 led to a life on the Mornington Peninsula instead. Kerri Greens, the label he runs with his wife Alyce, launched in 2015 and has grown from a single-vineyard chardonnay into a range spanning riesling, chardonnay, pinot noir, sauvignon blanc, rosé and a small clutch of aromatic and experimental wines. A grower-maker in the truest sense, Blanck leases and farms four vineyards across Red Hill South, Balnarring and Tuerong with organic practices across all sites (not certified) – and the project is deliberately counter-programmed to the region’s pinot noir and chardonnay dominance. Riesling is the true focus, made in an Alsatian idiom that has no real precedent on the Peninsula, and it is quietly reshaping what the region is capable of.

Matt Lugg & Will Ross

In the expanse of Mornington Peninsula, the Portsea Estate banner has grown to include wines from their own vineyards in Portsea and Main Ridge, as well as sourcing from other growers in the Mornington Peninsula. Matt Lugg and Will Ross work together in crafting the offering for Portsea Estate, with a focusing on refining the classic wines – particularly chardonnay and pinot noir – that the Mornington Peninsula does so well.

Tim Perrin

Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate are two of the Mornington Peninsula’s enduring stars. Tim Perrin took on the role of chief winemaker of both estates in 2023, where he gets to demonstrate his understanding of chardonnay and pinot noir across some of the Mornington Peninsulas most recognised vineyard sites.

2022 Moonlit Forest ‘Spring’

Flush with spice, orange peel and wild forest berries, there’s a suppleness here and texture that welcomes a chill.

Chris Strickland

Foxeys Hangout was founded by brothers Tony and Michael Lee in the Mornington Peninsula subregion of Red Hill. They work from their organic and biodynamic vineyard and winery to produce mainly chardonnay and pinot noir, along with pinot gris and shiraz. Chris Strickland has risen over the last decade and a half from a casual worker in the cellar door to now oversee both the viticulture and winemaking. His approach is a vineyard first one, leaning on a family history of horticulture and a whole raft of experimentation to make wines from the ground up, with principles of sustainability underpinning all aspects.

2021 Ocean Eight Pinot Gris

A prettily fragrant nose of fresh pear, mandarin zest and floral notes, a gently pleasing texture and vibrant freshness sealing the deal.

2019 Ocean Eight ‘Verve’ Chardonnay

The ‘Verve’ Chardonnay has garnered a bit of a cult following for its zippy charms. In the cool stone fruit and citrus zone, the 2019 turns the texture up a little notch.

Sam Hambour & Duncan Gibson

The old saying goes that “it takes a lot of great beer to make great wine”. Well, for Sam Hambour and Duncan Gibson, they certainly have a consistent supply of the frothy stuff. Co-founders and owners of Hop Nation Brewing Co., Hambour and Gibson are winemakers by trade, and with the brewing side successful established, winemaking has come back into the frame. With five vintages under their belts, the pair make a range of wine from fresh glou-glou styles to more mediative selections both from their base on the Mornington Peninsula and across Victoria.

Lucas Blanck Kerri Greens