Winter and lockdown 2.0 might be keeping us inside, but there are plenty of delicious ways we can still make time indoors an experience to remember. The Mornington Peninsula has long been recognised as a destination for wine, rich in flavour and quality.
We all have our favourite sip - a delicate pinot noir, a delicious buttery chardonnay, so many to choose from. Take a moment to meet some of the makers ‘behind the vines’ to hear their origin stories and learn what they believe is the perfect drop to sample – delivered directly to your door. Stock your cellar with some of the most desirable wines coming out of the Mornington Peninsula right now.
Trofeo Estate is a family-owned vineyard, winery and cellar door. Owners, Jim and Kathy Manolios and founding winemaker Richard Darby, nurture the vines by incorporating organic farming principles and viticulture. In the pursuit of producing wine in its purest form, they explored alternative winemaking methods without the use of oak barrels. After researching several winemaking methods, they identified the ancient vessel form of Amphorae (terracotta) as a viable way to ferment and mature wine. Today, Trofeo Estate is considered the largest producer of terracotta amphora wine in the southern hemisphere. With wines made from grapes that are exclusively Estate-grown on the Mornington Peninsula, they specialise in cool climate varieties including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Red wine lover? Their Winter Wine Pack has been designed to accompany you on cosy evenings spent indoors. Featuring a half dozen mix of Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon varieties, this pack is the perfect addition to your cellar.
Pioneers of Pinot Grigio and Gris in Australia, T’Gallant is inspired by Italy, yet firmly rooted in the Mornington Peninsula. Known for their fresh and food-friendly wines with distinctive personalities, they are always a crowd-pleaser. Their name T’Gallant is the sailor's abbreviation for topgallant, the topsail of square-rigger sailing ships. The team shared ‘Like our winemaking philosophy, it represents the peak of an adventurous, free spirit.’ In the beginning, their existing apple orchard made way for 10 acres of Pinot Gris – unheard of at the time, and now an immensely popular varietal. Thirty years on they continue to lead the way with fruit-driven Pinot Gris, Grigio and Noir, crisp Rose, sparkling Moscato and Prosecco.
Showing perpetual product innovation their spritzed range in a can has taken the world by storm. An excellent wine for winter is their Cape Schanck Pinot Noir 2019. Find your own perfect drop online from their store.
Paringa Estate and their winemaker Lindsay McCall are counted amongst the brave pioneers. McCall began with a dream and no guarantee as to which grape varieties would succeed on the Peninsula. Thanks to the courage and perseverance of the early few, the Mornington Peninsula is now one of the top wine regions in Australia. Over winter the team is busy inspecting and pruning vines, a fundamental pursuit to get the vineyard ready for the next growing season.
A wine to try is their 2018 Paringa Estate ‘Estate’ Chardonnay, winner of the Halliday Chardonnay Challenge ‘Best Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay’. The Chardonnay is one of the many delicious choices available online now for your lockdown time.
Surrounded by water and cooling breezes, the Peninsula maritime climate provides unique growing conditions for the Tucks winery fruit. The winemakers of Tucks believe the long, warm days and fresh, cool nights make the wine grown on the Mornington Peninsula less punchy. The team shared ‘Chardonnay thrives on the acidic soil conditions but if we HAD to choose a favourite, pinot noir is really the poster child for the region, with a mind-boggling array of styles to suit every palate.'
In their Wine Store you can buy rosé, pinot gris, shiraz, sparkling wine and their unique sauvignon, all of which is grown on the Peninsula. Staying home and need to get your wine home delivered? Head to the Montalto Winery Cellar Door’s website (their sister estate) to get delivery Australia-wide.
Here, the vines stretch up the crest of Pt. Leo Estate and curve down towards the expanse of Western Port. Responding to the constant forces of nature, its sunshine, rain, sweeping winds and cooling ocean breezes, each wine has its place. Aromatic Pinot Gris speaks of the sun; their elegant Chardonnay has benefited from cool night-time breezes, and their Pinot Noir and Shiraz are perfect partners for a cool day overlooking the Bay. Winemaking at Pt. Leo Estate has had a deliberate, careful evolution with a view to producing the fruit of exceptional quality. The vineyard is managed with sensitivity and produces wines that speak clearly of variety and place.
You now you can sample your own choice of delicious sips from the comfort of your own home, with an offer of 15% off wine purchases through their online store.
One of the first wineries to be established in the region in 1978 by Brian Stonier and his family at Merricks, this winery is found on the southern edge of Victoria's Mornington Peninsula. Stonier planted Chardonnay in 1978, followed by Pinot Noir in 1982 and now the team thrives under the stewardship of winemaker, Mike Symons. Mike's winemaking philosophy is founded on two principles. First, achieve a natural balance in the vineyard, and second, allow the wine's flavours to develop in the vineyard with minimal intervention. Stoniers has several vineyard sites across the Mornington Peninsula, and their winemakers shared ‘By meticulously hand tending each vineyard, we come to know each site incredibly well. The exceptional fruit stands out immediately and goes on to reveal its characteristics over time. Often these vineyards deserve their own 'voice', resulting in our Single Vineyard Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines.’
Discover their range now online with home delivery available.
Home but happy to play our part in the health and safety of our community. Let the flavour discovery begin with a glass of the Mornington Peninsula in hand. With so much to choose, you won’t be disappointed.
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Explore the packages on offer by our local business community to still experience the Mornington Peninsula from the comfort of your own home.