Luscious lawns, views of vine-filled hills and long lazy lunches – what could be a more perfect way to sample the Mornington Peninsula's seasonal produce this summer.
We have collected some of our favourite local wineries that offer you some of the best regional sips, coupled with the most delicious alfresco and indoor dining options. Read on to tempt the taste buds and get those annual leave day booked in for a day trip.
The ultimate adults' playground. Tucks is a fun winery experience offering a unique take on the cellar door experience, with great value lunch, outdoor seating and stunning views across the rolling vines of the estate and wetlands. Tucks is dog-friendly, so lunch with your furry friends is the perfect way to chill out for a lazy weekend on their luscious lawn. Enjoy an afternoon on the terrace or lawn chairs, order a few glasses of wine, a cider or beer and soak up stunning vineyard views. There are food options galore on offer, fried chicken, earth plates, cheese and Charcuterie boards and homemade ice creams to complete your culinary experience.
Balnarring based Elan Vineyard and Winery is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy the views while sipping on beautiful wines. Designed for young and old alike, Elan has kids covered with a playground and cubby house, sandpit and slide and grassed area for ball games. Pack the ingredients for a delicious BBQ feast or picnic on-site utilising the gas barbecue facilities. Sit and sip one of the estate-grown, handcrafted special wines from the rotunda overlooking the vineyard. They also offer coffee and tea making facilities if you don’t want to pack your own.
Blue Range Estate can be found in the hills above the panorama of Port Phillip. With breath-taking views from the restaurant and surrounds, you truly feel on top of the world. Enjoy their delicious Italian style menu from the Terrazzo or book a private tepee picnic for four with a basket bursting with antipasto, cheeses, smoked salmon, chef's dessert choice and Blue Range Estate Pinot Grigio. The boutique villas on the property are a place of peace and serenity to enjoy a glass of wine, devour a tasting plate or stay the night to immerse yourself entirely in the Blue Range experience.
Foxey’s Winery in Red Hill serves informal light lunches in an architect-designed space with vineyard views across the valley Friday - Monday. Wine tastings of outstanding handcrafted wines, biodynamically grown and naturally fermented are available accompanied by small seasonal share plates. You can even book in for Foxeys’ unique customised sparkling bottling sessions, hosted on weekends and by appointment if you are feeling curious.
One of the longest-running family wineries on the Mornington Peninsula, Stumpy Gully Vineyard welcomes guests to enjoy wine tastings at their Cellar Door and a delicious meal in their modern Australian Restaurant ‘Stumpy Gully Dining’. For the first time at Stumpy Gully Dining, they offer picnic tables on their Summer Deck for couples or parties up to 6 to enjoy the Dining Restaurant Menu al fresco.
Yabby Lake Cellar Door and Restaurant is the perfect spot to escape the city and enjoy the best of this beautiful region. Settle in for a long lunch, take in the vineyard views with a glass of Chardonnay on the deck, taste a range of single-vineyard wines, or sit back with a coffee and take in the dynamic Australian art collection.
Paringa Estate winery is in beautiful Red Hill amongst ten acres of vines. The restaurant attached to the vineyard was awarded Two Chef Hat's in the 2020 Age Good Food Guide. The menu celebrates locally sourced, seasonal produce and makes Paringa Estate one of the region's premier food and wine destinations. With magnificent valley views from every table overlooking the vineyard where the Toulouse geese roam, all elements which make the restaurant an intimate dining atmosphere for a relaxed lunch Wednesday to Sunday.
Summer on the Peninsula is waiting for you, time to book a long lunch with friends and loved ones to sample the flavours of the season.
Looking for more Mornington Peninsula experiences to explore?