Mornington Peninsula – Click to Enlarge
Mornington Peninsula – Click to Enlarge
The Mornington Peninsula wine region forms part of Victoria’s Port Philip wine zone. The zone horseshoes around the state’s capital Melbourne and is shared with Yarra Valley, Geelong, Macedon Ranges and Sunbury.
Situated around 45km southeast of Melbourne and overlooking Port Philip Bay, the Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia’s maritime wine regions with no vineyard further than 7 km from the ocean.
The region’s viticulture history dates back to the 1880s, when small pockets of vines were under planting in the Hastings area. By the 1920s most of the vines had been abandoned or uprooted. Riesling was later planted in Dromana by the Seppelt family around 1948 but was destroyed by bushfire in 1967. It wouldn’t be until the early 1970s that a number of independent aspiring winemakers saw the potential in the area and started planting vines again. Today there are more than 200 vineyards and plantings in the area and over 50 wineries and cellar doors.
As the area has continued to grow, the differences between the Red Hill area at the coolest end of the spectrum and Moorooduc on the warmer end can be evidenced in the varied wine styles.
The region is a favourite getaway for locals and interstate travellers and offers a wide range of activities outside of wine tasting. Arthurs Seat is the most popular of all Port Phillip Bay landscape features. Its 314-metre summit, reached by road or on foot, gives spectacular views of the bay and Port Phillip Heads. On a clear day, the view extends as far as the city skyline, the You Yangs and Mount Macedon. The peak makes for a great photo opportunity of the bay. The region boasts a stunning coastline offering fabulous views across the bay, with numerous cafes and restaurants to sample the local wines and soak up the views. Given the popularity of the region, there is no end to accommodation options to suit all budgets.
The region is famous for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, but you will find some great examples of other varietals like Pinot Gris and Shiraz.
