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Yabby Lake Vineyard was established in 1998 on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula, with the long-term goal of producing benchmark wines from the Burgundian varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Yabby Lake Vineyard is owned by Robert and Mem Kirby who have been intimately involved in the Mornington Peninsula region for decades. The Kirbys are joined by two outstanding and renowned winemakers: Group Winemaker Tod Dexter and Consulting Winemaker Larry McKenna. Tod and Larry are known for their relaxed and unassuming personalities, and they apply the same approach to their winemaking: they work with the grapes to develop beautiful and distinctly superior wines that are truly expressive of Yabby Lake Vineyard. The first vintage from Yabby Lake Vineyard was produced in 2002.
Significant resources have been devoted to developing Yabby Lake's vineyard to the highest possible standard. Regional and national experts were consulted on every aspect of the vineyard's establishment from soil mapping to climate analysis to vine layout. Careful selection of plant clones has meant that the winemakers at Yabby Lake Vineyard now have a diversity of grapes to work with. Yabby Lake Vineyard is owned by the Kirby family and they are supported by a remarkable team who are equally passionate about the vineyard, the grapes, and their long-term goal of producing the finest Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in Australia.
Robert and Mem Kirby, owners of the Kirby Family Vineyards Yabby Lake and Heathcote Estate, announce the appointment of Tom Carson to the newly created dual role of Group Winemaker and General Manager.
Tom Carson previously winemaker at Yering Station and for over 12 years has been the inspiration and hands-on driving force in the remarkable growth and international award-winning success of their wines. Tom will oversee all winemaking and viticultural aspects for the Kirby Family Vineyards, now established in the Victorian wine growing regions of the Mornington Peninsula, Heathcote and the Strathbogie Ranges.
Tom Carson has always greatly admired the wonderful wines produced by the vineyards. “The future wines will continue to be refined and we will become a great Australian wine group,” he said.
Yabby Lake and Heathcote Estate have achieved considerable success, recognition and respect over the past five years under the guiding hands of experienced and acclaimed winemakers Tod Dexter and consultant Larry McKenna (The Escarpment in New Zealand).
The appointment of Tom Carson enables Tod Dexter to concentrate his expertise on the Burgundian varietals of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and the new Pinot Gris from the Yabby Lake Vineyard, including the highly successful release of the first Red Claw wines from the Mornington Peninsula.
Larry McKenna's direct input from the inception of the vineyards and through all the vintages of the Kirby Family wines will continue.
The combination of Keith Harris' careful, intensive management of the vineyard and the winemaking itself has created over the last five years a single-minded, uncompromised focus, producing beautiful wines personifying their unique regional “terroirs”.
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