Mornington Peninsula Food and Wine Destinations – Large Group Travel

Peninsula Group Stays is pleased to present a guest blog from Wine CompassWine Compass, a leading food and wine tour operator on the Mornington Peninsula that can tailor the perfect outing for your next large group stay or Corporate Offsite…

“Always well known for its beaches and holiday vibes, the Mornington Peninsula is fast becoming the hottest destination for foodies and wine enthusiasts. Highly regarded for its premium produce, stunning scenery and rugged coastline, a side-trip on the Peninsula promises an adventure full of fun and indulgence for all. Here’s a list of the must-visit locations when planning your next Mornington Peninsula holiday at a Peninsula Group Stays property…

Ocean Eight

As soon as you head down the driveway of the immaculately landscaped property of Ocean Eight, you know you’re in for something special. The beautiful gardens, vineyard and amazing barn-like exterior of this cellar door are certainly a sight to see. As picture perfect as the grounds of this winery might be, they are no match for the exceptional wines being poured at this unique cellar door. They take their winemaking very seriously here, and once you taste their premium range of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris, you’ll understand why. The wines here are some of the most elegant and refined expressions of these varieties that you’ll find anywhere on the Peninsula. Visitors are taken down into the depths of their underground cellar to explore the inner-workings of this understated but outstanding winery.

Morning Sun

A family-owned vineyard that feels like a little slice of Italy, in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula. Once you arrive at Morning Sun, you’ll find it hard to tear yourself away from the beckoning vineyard views that sweep across the property. The vineyard was named as such because the property sits at the top of a lush green valley that each day welcomes the morning sun across its many rows of hand planted vines. If you do manage to make it inside the cellar door for a tasting, you’ll be greeted with friendly faces and rewarded with some of the loveliest award-winning wines in the region.

Red Hill Epicurean

Popular with locals and visitors alike, lunch at Red Hill Epicurean is the best way to refuel and re-energise after a morning of wine tasting on the Peninsula. Housed in a huge old cool shed which has been stylishly renovated to have a modern industrial feel, the Epicurean is a warm and inviting venue that churns out some of the best wood-fired pizza you’ve ever tasted. There’s also a great selection of pasta, risotto, and salads to tempt you, and a pretty comprehensive wine list that perfectly showcases the best local wines from the region.

Merricks Creek

With a dining area set amongst estate vines, you can embrace everything that’s great about the Mornington Peninsula in the one location at Merricks Creek. Merricks Creek is fanatical about sharing their amazing range of wines with guests. You can also enjoy a mouth-watering lunch designed to share, with dishes that are uniquely designed to accompany the knockout Merricks Creek Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, from a delicious raclette to a succulent braised lamb shoulder, and everything in between, lunch at Merricks Creek is sure to be a gastronomic delight.

Main Ridge Dairy

The perfect accompaniment to the outstanding wines of the Mornington Peninsula are the deliciously tasty goats’ cheeses of Main Ridge Dairy. An impressive range of multi-award-winning goats cheese is available to taste and buy here at the dairy: from Feta to Halloumi, there’s a cheese to please every taste. Fancy a tipple with your tasting? The friendly staff here all too happy to pour some of the finest local wines and brews to accompany your cheese platter, making for a perfect pairing indeed. Once you’ve filled-up on fromage, step outside onto the grounds of this sprawling 130-acre farm, and pet one of the 200 goats who are ready and willing to put on a show for guests of all ages.

Bass & Flinders Distillery

A small and unassuming shed nestled in the bushland and vines of Red Hill, Bass & Flinders Distillery is surprising to say the least. The interior is so impressive, you could easily mistake it for a slick Melbourne cocktail bar. That is until you take a seat amongst the barrels and taste the unique range of grain-based gin, vodka, grappa and limoncello being produced at this tiny distillery. The staff here are super knowledgeable and are all too happy to share the story of how the distillery started, and what makes their spirits arguably the best on the Peninsula.

Old Apple Shed

The charm of the Old Apple Shed is unparalleled anywhere on the Mornington Peninsula; rustic and unpretentious both in its fit-out and character, this is a casual old shed with a big heart, great wines, and amazing ciders. Whether you’re enjoying the sunshine in the outdoor tasting area, or inside picking a tune on the jukebox, one thing is for certain, you’ll always have a great time and tasting at the Old Apple Shed. With a pretty extensive range of wines on offer, the real draw-card here is the cider and ginger beer. Made with the freshest fruit and no artificial sweeteners, these ciders fly out the door by the case-load. Taste the full range which includes apple; pear; strawberry and passionfruit, as well as their crowd-pleasing alcoholic ginger beer.

Taste your way through the Mornington Peninsula with a private and tailored tour with Wine Compass.