Mornington Peninsula winery reviews
Check out the wineries in the Mornington Peninsula wine region, independently reviewed by wine writers Ralph Kyte-Powell, Ben Edwards and Stuart Gregor.
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The name is a clue to this winerys original role as a thoroughbred horse stud.
Today the handsome stable building with its stallion boxes houses the winery cellar door and a high-quality, but reasonably priced restaurant. An iron stove warms in winter while in summer, tables migrate outdoors where tall hedges, elms, planes and eucalypts frame pastures and wetlands, populated by all manner of water fowl. The good quality wines differ from the Peninsula norm, with eclectic varieties like Arneis, Gewürztraminer and Dolcetto, as well as more conventional fare.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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This remains a must-visit Mornington Peninsula winery. The cellar door and Stillwater café, overlooking an attractive lake, are excellent destinations, and the landscape of vineyard and trees is very easy on the eyes. Port Phillip Bays beaches arent too distant, and comfortable, self-contained villas now make this a practical headquarters for exploring the delights of this lovely part of the world. Crittenden wines have broken plenty of new ground over the years, both with fascinating new grapes like arneis, and by energising conventional fare like cabernet with unconventional winery techniques.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Darling Parks driveway descends a hill to the cellar door, leaving the bustle of the main road well behind. Theres a slight, fairy-tale feel in this forest clearing.
The cellar door has a pointy tower, undulating mosaic landscapes grace a little childrens area outside, and wine labels feature fantasies by leading artists. Further down, a little grassy sward by Dunns Creek has picnic tables, and a well-tended vineyard climbs back up the hill from the winery. Wine quality is very good, the atmosphere is magical.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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2008 is the 12th vintage of Elan Vineyards exceptionally good Gamay, which is a light, dry and fruity red wine made using the primary grape variety of Beaujolais in France. The wine is quite unique; it is light-bodied but surprisingly earthy and is terrific slightly chilled at lunch. The other wines are chardonnay, shiraz, and a cabernet merlot blend.
Stuart Gregor
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The Lee brothers experience and instinct for food and wine shows in the Foxeys Hangout winery. The stylish, relaxed cellar door occupies an ultra smart, airy, wood-panelled room with a wall of glass bringing a vista of pines, eucalypts, and a cosy little amphitheatre of vines to the doorstep. Quality wine-bar-type snacks slot well with the very good estate wines, and you can even help make your own sparkling wine, blending, disgorging and liqueuring it to your personal taste.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Hickinbotham is a very famous name in Australian winemaking and Andrew Hickinbotham is the third generation to make a substantial impact in the winemaking world. The wines here are idiosyncratic with highlights being
the chardonnay blended with the little-known French variety aligote and a surprisingly delicious sparkling wine made from strawberries. The cellar door is rustic, quirky and thoroughly inviting live music, a raging open fire, freshly baked bread and good food make it easy to stay put for a while.
Stuart Gregor
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Main Ridge was the first commercial winery on the peninsula, and it has been setting a wonderful standard since its arrival in 1975. Winemaker/proprietor Nat White is an authority on the region and a passionate advocate
of its suitability to the precocious pinot noir. If you make it to the cellar door prepare to be converted by one of Nats own delicious examples of pinot noir – the Half Acre Block is stunning.
Stuart Gregor
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Mantons Creek Vineyard occupies a peaceful little dell among giant cypresses and stands of gum trees. The bustling modern world seems light years away from this rather isolated little vineyard, and the welcome is warm. The vineyard has some varieties not often found in the area, like Gewürztraminer and muscat, both well worth trying. Four smart B&B units allow you to enjoy the
tranquil atmosphere overnight.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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One of the real show places of the Mornington Peninsula, the stylish Montalto isnt only a source of high-quality chardonnay, riesling and pinot noir, it has an olive grove, wetland habitats and waterbirds, a lake, a lovely
view across vineyards and hillsides, and a first-class restaurant. Theres also a European-style piazza for light food. Another idea is to take a stroll through the herb garden, then enjoy a bite to eat in one of the beautiful picnic sites in the grounds.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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This is a serious winery that is certainly worth calling before you make your trip to the peninsula. The McIntyre family are well-known in Melbourne wine circles and the wines are reserved, complex and very stylish, just as the
McIntyres are in person. A host of Burgundian winemaking techniques result in silky pinot noir and a very fine chardonnay.
Stuart Gregor
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The country hereabouts reminded Mario Toniolo of the country of his birth, Italy. So, not surprisingly, the quaint cellar door and vineyard he established in this lovely small Mornington Peninsula valley has a distinctly Mediterranean feel. A friendly terrace and tasting room overlooking a delightful pastoral vista offers wine-friendly fare from kitchen and wood-fired oven, and the towertopped main building houses three-bedroom accommodation with mod cons for those wishing to stay and enjoy this tranquil spot overnight. Chardonnay, pinot grigio and pinot noir are the specialities of the estate.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Paradigm Hill
This vogueish new cellar door and winery at the end of a long driveway boasts a large timber deck with an eye-pleasing view of vineyards, meadows, stands of bush and rolling hills. An excellent spot to savour very good riesling, shiraz, pinot gris and pinot noir. Tasting plates of savoury delicacies are available to complement the wines. Keep an eye out for some very relaxed cows and deer in the hollow in front of the winery.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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A unique vineyard site combined with passionate and often brilliant winemaking means Paringa Estate shines as a beacon in the region. The pinot noir can be quite brilliant and the shiraz from a good vintage is one of the
very best examples of the cool-climate style in Australia. There is an excellent restaurant at the cellar door if the wines knock you off your feet and you need to sit down.
Stuart Gregor
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Port Phillip Estate is a lovely place. You approach it via a winding driveway with vistas of rolling hills, the distant sea and towering trees framing the perfectly
manicured vineyard. The cellar door that looks across the vineyard is a bit like a country general store, very atmospheric, homely and friendly. Port Phillip's
wines are excellent and have a great record at wine shows, particularly the richly constructed, age-worthy shiraz and pinot noir.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Red Hill Estate enjoys some of the most spectacular views on the peninsula. Add to this a smoothly run cellar door, and a multi-award-winning restaurant, and you have all the ingredients for a very successful tourism winery. The wines
themselves have been made with care, and the chardonnay is particularly good, with a range of prices that suit all consumers.
Ben Edwards
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Stonier has long been recognised for making excellent varietal wines on the Mornington Peninsula. The standard pinot noir and chardonnay are always terrific value, and the reserve range highly decorated over the years. There
can be no doubt that Brian Stoniers original intent of 28 years ago, on concentrating solely on the quality of the wine, continues to this day.
Ben Edwards
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You dont get much closer to the vines than this. The cellar door at Stumpy Gully boasts an outside deck thats only a stones throw from this mature vineyard in the fertile heartland of the Mornington Peninsula. Its a friendly, relaxed place, and wine quality benefi ts from the slightly warmer climes in this part of the peninsula. Merlot is a house speciality making subtle, complex wines that are a regional rarity. Sauvignon Blanc and Marsanne, also scarce in the region, thrive here. The sharply priced second label, Panorama, is excellent value.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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T'Gallant is the funkiest winery on the peninsula. The cellar door always offers something new and unusual, yet beautifully made; the labels are quite crazy and the restaurant, La Baracca, always seems to have something
exciting gong on, with live music on weekends. This is an innovative and often brilliant place and you must try their Tribute pinot gris. The 1999 vintage pays homage to the late, great wine writer Mark Shield.
Stuart Gregor
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Ten Minutes By Tractors name comes from the distance between the vineyards that provide grapes for the estates outstanding regional wines, and the winery has a collection of old tractors as mascots. A very smart, new complex, overlooking a verdant landscape, contains the cellar door and a first-class restaurant. Open fires beckon in winter and the restaurant has clever walls that open up in summer to bring the outside in. Theres a view of the sea in the distance. Great chardonnay and pinot noir are signature wines.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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The Cups Estate is uniquely sited, towards the end of the peninsula behind Rye, in a region of undulating sandhills and coastal scenery. Its a challenging spot for winemaking, but wine quality has been excellent, with very good pinot noir and shiraz. The place to taste the wines is the cellar door, a smart, airy pavilion among the vines and the lovely coastal scenery.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
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Geoff and Sue Duke have planted their vineyard exclusively with pinot noir and chardonnay which shows just how astute they are. With four acres now in the ground at Red Hill South the results continue to improve. Both wines are extremely stylish with the chardonnay in particular an intriguing Burgundy style.
Stuart Gregor
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Whinstone Estate
In a beautiful little valley beside Dunns Creek Road, Whinstone Estate is one of the smaller wineries and vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula. Bellbirds ring in the tall trees hereabouts, and the view across vines, pastures and forest is a delight. Visit the modest cellar door to soak up the atmosphere while tasting excellent Chardonnay and other regional specialities like Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris. Also grown here is the unusual Melon grape that makes the famous Muscadet of Frances Loire Valley.
Ralph Kyte-Powell
