The Mornington Peninsula is the perfect place to gather a large group of friends together for Christmas in July.
The evenings are getting crisp and daytime temperatures are struggling to nudge over 10 degrees. The last rays of warming sun are departing and (apologies to GOT fans) winter is definitely coming. While the North mightn’t be on the march, it is definitely time to batten down the hatches and enjoy the warmth of a glowing fire and a glass of nice red wine. Your thoughts might also turn to that typical Australian institution of Christmas in July.
You might subscribe to the theory that Christmas in July has origins in Werther, an opera in which there is a scene of children rehearsing Christmas songs during July. You may look to Hollywood with the 1940s movie Christmas in July which has the right title but the wrong sentiment. There is also an apocryphal story of a group of Irish tourists holidaying in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales in July 1980, who convinced the proprietor of a local hotel to hold a Christmas in July party called “Yulefest”.
While the exact origins of Christmas in July are uncertain, there is little doubt that the traditional Christmas fare of our Northern Hemisphere forebears is not really suited to the end of December in the Southern Hemisphere. So, pull the cork on a hearty red (we can suggest the Trofeo Estate Shiraz or Paradign Hill Col’s Block), put the roast on, and curl up in front of the fire. For dessert, bring out the traditional pudding with brandy custard, or some blue cheese and port, and enjoy.
For the full open-fire experience look no further than Collins Street House in RedHill, and our Sorrento and Dromana properties also have gas-log fires.
