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As Victorians begin to enjoy the newfound freedom of being able to travel more than a few kilometres from home, we thought it an opportune time to review five of our favourite wineries in the Mornington Peninsula! In our opinion, the Mornington Peninsula is probably Australia’s best wine region for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Across both of these varietals, the Mornington brings an earthiness and minerality to these wines that can give them beautiful texture, glorious aromatics, and a delicately complex flavour profile.
Just one short hour out of Melbourne, Mornington is a very popular tourist destination. In our opinion, the harried service can sometimes undermine the overall experience at some stops, but don’t let that dissuade you. There is incredible wine here that you absolutely must try. When you visit, here are five wineries you just can’t miss!
Moorooduc Estate – Moorooduc was an Australian pioneer in wild fermentation, which has become quite popular now. Wild yeast fermentation essentially lets the wine “make itself” rather than introducing foreign yeasts that streamline the process and make it more predictable, but also, the wine more boring. In the wrong hands, wild yeast fermentation can lead to unbalanced wines, but for a master like Moorooduc, it means the wines truly capture the essence of the land and season whence they came. Truly, Moorooduc’s wines are bewitchingly complex and all around incredible.
Stonier Wines – To us, Stonier really does produce the quintessential Mornington Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. If you want to understand exactly what “Mornington” brings to its two most famous varietals, Stonier would have to be our top pick. The minerality, the texture, the delicate earthiness … Stonier captures these qualities beautifully in wines that are very approachable, but also beautifully complex.
Chirping Bird Wines – Chirping bird is something different and very refreshing in the Mornington. There’s no pretence or arrogance behind this winery. Chirping bird crafts juicy wines with delightfully elevated fruit expression. They capture the lighter and brighter side of the Mornington, and while they are certainly easily drinkable, they also possess a subtle depth that is oh so rewarding. And notably, the good people behind Chirping Bird couldn’t be warmer or friendlier. Be sure to stop by this charming place when you visit Mornington.
Paradigm Hill Winery – Paradigm HIll happens to be in the Mornington, but the place produces some of the most complex wines in all of Australia. The breadth of flavour that Paradigm Hill somehow squeezes into its bottles is simply mind-blowing. These are definitely not “easy drinking” wines, but they are incredibly rewarding. You could easily spend hours drinking just one Paradigm Hill wine, and you still wouldn’t be able to unravel all the layers of flavour going on in there.
Yabby Lake – Yabby Lake is a Pinot Noir specialist, and easily one of Australia’s top 20 Pinot producers. What we love most about Yabby Lake is that they make so many different and delicious Pinots. Literally, when you visit, you’ll find at least four or five different Pinots produced from different parcels of their vineyard and sometimes with different wine-making methods. Exploring the nuances between these wines is such a rewarding experience. You’d be surprised how different two Pinots can be when the fruit that made them is only 50 metres apart in the vineyard.
Now, we know this is supposed to be a top 5, but we really had 6 all along, so you get a little bonus today 
Montalto– Winemaker Simon Black is so talented, and with Mont Alto’s sterling fruit, he is producing some of Mornington’s most striking wines, and striking really is the right word for these wines. Yes these are definitely “Mornington Peninsula” wines with all the key characteristics, but also with an edge, with real character. It’s something fresh and different, and we love it. Also, Mont Alto’s sculpture garden is probably our favourite Mornington Peninsula attraction. Unfortunately, it draws droves of tourists, so be prepared.
In closing, we do hope that you will visit the Mornington Peninsula and check out these wineries, because if you’ve never understood the allure of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, they’ll make you believers. There is magic to be had here!
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