Mornington Peninsula wineries: where to taste and where to lunch

Surrounded on three sides by Bass Strait, Port Phillip and Western Port, the peninsula has a cool maritime climate, and its sheltered, rolling valleys suit two grapes above all: pinot noir, which makes up about half of all plantings, and chardonnay. Winemaking here dates back to 1886. In the 1920s many of the old vineyards were abandoned or pulled out, and the revival didn't begin until 1972. Today there are more than 200 vineyards, most of them small-scale, and over 50 cellar doors. At the smaller ones, the person pouring your wine may well have made it.

The wineries sit in three loose clusters: the hills around Red Hill and Main Ridge, the Western Port side around Merricks and Balnarring, and the slopes behind Dromana and Moorooduc. Pick one cluster for the day and you'll spend more time tasting than driving.

Red Hill and Main Ridge

The high country in the middle of the peninsula is the heart of it, with the most cellar doors and some of the best restaurants.

Small cellar doors worth seeking out

Some of our favourite tastings happen at the smallest places, where the winemaker is often behind the counter.

Merricks, Balnarring and Shoreham

On the Western Port side the land falls away towards the water, with views across to Phillip Island from the higher ground.

Dromana, Moorooduc and Tuerong

Closest to the bay, and to many of our homes, these are easy to pair with a beach morning.

Leave the car at home

The best way to do a winery day is to hand the keys to someone else. These local operators were all running Mornington Peninsula winery tours when we checked, from small private groups to day trips with lunch.