*This piece is written as a destination review for The Australian Travel Blog (http://blog.expedia.com.au/). The reviews are written by international travel bloggers.
There’s no doubt that Victoria’s hinterland boasts some of the loveliest and most diverse country in Australia. The landscape is full of sweeping vineyards, rugged mountains, rainforests, beaches and blue seas dotted with frolicking whales. The best news is that the Mornington Peninsula is just a one-hour drive from Melbourne’s CBD, so you can get there and back in a day and still experience some of the Peninsula’s fun (and delicious) activities.
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The Mornington Peninsula produces some of Australia’s finest wines, specialty beers and first-class gourmet food. The vineyards and breweries are run by friendly locals who will have a chat while guiding you through a tasting of their products. Most of the locations don’t charge for tastings and the owners will happily open an $80 bottle of award-winning Chardonnay just for you. Picturesque vineyards are often accompanied by Chef’s Hat restaurants (rated by The Age Good Food Guide) that base menus around produce grown in their own back gardens. All the vineyards are breathtakingly beautiful; here are some particularly eye-catching venues:
Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
The 35 acres at Montalto source premium cool climate wines and luscious olive products. Montalto’s crisp Chef’s Hat rated restaurant is acknowledged as the Peninsula’s best, while the adjoining piazza offers simple, tasty food for a reasonable price. You can explore the extensive kitchen garden and look around their permanent sculpture collection.
Red Hill Brewery
The owners of this unique micro-brewery cultivate their own organic hops field, all set in beautiful, rustic bushland. The brewery is open for public viewing and the bar is staffed by a charming expert who will get your taste buds tingling with a range of delicious hand-crafted ales. Watch out for their seasonal ale – this year was a superb “Temptation” brew with an appropriately wicked bite.
Red Hill Estate
This multi-award winning estate has unrivalled views over Western Port Bay and Phillip Island. Max’s restaurant is the pioneer of winery restaurants on the Mornington Peninsula and the cellar door offers a sensational range of wines (tasting by appointment only). There is even luxury cottage accommodation for those who can’t bear to leave the spectacular venue.
The food and wine of the Mornington Peninsula can best be enjoyed by signing on with a guided tour. Wallaces’ Mornington Peninsula Winery Tours is run by local experts who will organise your trip and point out all the best places to visit. With someone else doing the driving, it will leave you free to indulge in that fine Shiraz, delectable Riesling or refreshing Pinot Grigio . . .
The Mornington Peninsula is home to a multitude of other activities – provided you don’t get too enthusiastic about the wines at the vineyards. For the adventurous, the Peninsula offers scuba-diving, surfing and deep-sea fishing, walking and bike tours. For those wanting a more relaxing holiday, there are horseback tours of the wineries and luxury cruises along the Peninsula’s coast. You can find all the information you need at Mornington Peninsula Tourism or the Visitor Information Centre at 359B Point Nepean Rd, Dromana VIC.
You can also find more fun things to do on the Mornington Peninsula and traveller reviews on Trip Advisor.
Filed under: Mornington Peninsula, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Wineries, Food
Grappling with the Annual
9 years ago
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