MontaltoMontalto was established by John Mitchell and his family in 1998.
The recent addition of a modern new winery allows winemaker Simon Black the opportunity to make some seriously good award- winning varietal wines.
The 2010 Pinot Grigio has concentration and lovely aromaticity it finishes with snappy pear and lime flavours.
The cellar door, piazza caf and restaurant are located on the Shoreham-Red Hill Road and feature a striking rammed-earth building that provides views of the estate s vineyard, olive grove and Sculpture Park.
John Mitchell is a stylish, erudite man and his attention to detail is evident in everything that bears the Montalto name.
Merricks Estate A successful lawyer, family man and bon vivant, George Kefford purchased his property at the far end of Thompson s Lane in 1976 and soon after planted his first grapes.
Today Merricks Estate has received a five star ranking in the influential James Halliday Australian Wine Companion along with numerous show awards including the Best Pinot Noir Trophy from the Royal Melbourne Wine Show.
These awards are a testament to the wine s quality and pedigree.
The Keffords are committed environmentalists and a program of bush regeneration allows visitors the opportunity to purchase wine and enjoy one of the most beautiful natural settings imaginable.
George Kefford s ambition is to produce the highest quality estate grown Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Look out for them.
T Gallant Winemakers Noted for its innovative names and label designs, T Gallant Winemakers was established in 1990 by the energetic husband and wife winemaking team of Kevin McCarthy and Kathleen Quealy.
They were the first to realise that Pinot Gris and Pinot Grigio would perform well in the relatively high altitude volcanic soils of Main Ridge and over the years their reputation has grown as T'Gallant is now widely regarded as one of the true pioneers of these alternative cool climate varieties in Australia.
Kathleen has now established a family brand vineyard and winery, Kevin continues to push winemaking boundaries at T Gallant and more recently has looked to North-East Italy and Eastern European varieties for inspiration.
The T Gallant cellar door is housed in an original cool store and is all Italian rustic charm with one of the largest and most diverse ranges of wines on the Peninsula.
The place is a pilgrimage for lovers of European style whites.
On site, La Baracca Trattoria restaurant and the Spuntino Bar offer lots of Italian flavours to go with the wines.
Paringa Estate Lindsay McCall is one of the most influential figures in the Mornington Peninsula wine region and is widely regarded as one of Australia s most accomplished boutique winemakers.
His wines strike a chord with complex and beguiling flavours.
Since 1985, Paringa Estate s Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz have consistently garnered some of the most prestigious awards in the Australian industry.
A staggering number of trophies including Winery of the Year and Winemaker of the Year and medals are on display in the spacious cellar door.
Today, Lindsay continues to impress show judges and his legion of fans with wines of the highest pedigree.
Red Hill Estate Red Hill Estate s winemaker, Barry Kooij has an engineering degree along with a post graduate diploma in viticulture and oenology.
He oversees winery operations at one of the largest and most iconic producers on the Mornington Peninsula.
Since it was established in 1989, the philosophy at Red Hill has always been to capture the quality of the fruit produced in the vineyard, to create an outstanding range of wines showing intensity and freshness, and embrace the best of the Mornington Peninsula.
This philosophy has remained true with regular wine show medals and reviews.
The tasting room and Max s restaurant enjoy a breath-taking view across the vineyard to Westernport Bay.
The range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and sparkling wine including Ba lanc de Noirs and the Red Hill Estate Blanc de Blanc.
StonierA pioneer, visionary and champion of the region s cool climate varietals, Brian Stonier AO is widely regarded as one of the guiding lights behind the renaissance of the Mornington Peninsula wine industry.
From the moment he established his Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vineyard in the late 1970s, Stonier, now semi-retired in his 70s, belongs to that small, select group who has changed the course of wine Max Lake, Di Cullen, Len Evans , by championing the Mornington Peninsula and wines that immediately grabbed the industry s attention.
With a cabinet full of trophies and top national and international awards, the name Stonier continues to be associated with high quality Chardonnay and Pinot Noir available in the winery s cellar door in Merricks.
Throughout the year a number of special events include the prestigious Stonier International Pinot Noir Tasting which Brian Stonier initiated and which has now grown to international status.
Underground Wines Young, fast and modern the team from Underground winemakers display a great sense of fun with their quirky labels and a revolutionary attitude.
The wines are full flavoured and prove excellent value.
Look out for Dr Durif, a Durif from fifty five year old vines and Black and White Pinot Grigio.
Drop in and meet the boys who aim to make high quality wines without ridiculous price tags.
Meet them at the Red Hill Showgrounds over the Winter Wine Weekend, they are well worth having a chat to.
The cellar door is located on the Nepean Highway, between Mt Eliza and Mornington, where a roadside banner attracts hordes of wine savvy customers.
- Arthur O'Bryan Maximize your Enjoyment This Winter As winter descends, and it is dark and depressing outside, we instinctively look for the warmth of an open fire and spending quality time enjoying fine food and wine.
Winter sees the Mornington Peninsula adopt a slower and friendlier pace.
With fewer visitors, the cellar doors become a restful harbor- a retreat where the warmth welcomes, a seasonal menu entices and the Pinot Noir seduces.
Winter comfort food like tapas, shared platters, wood fired pizza and local cheeses are offered alongside a wide range of wine by the glass..
Winter weekends can involve a rolling lunch with fabulous morsels and wine enjoyed in the warm surrounds of some of the most hospitable cellar doors in the country.
There are so many great places to visit you are guaranteed to be inspired by the experience.
So get out there and explore the possibilities in your own backyard.
- Arthur O Bryan FOR MORE TURN TO OUR WINE COUNTRY FEATURE - PAGE 74