Mornington Peninsula is a cool, maritime corner of south-eastern Australia located less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne. Home to 200 small scale vineyards, the region’s unique maritime climate provides ideal ripening to produce world-class Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris wines.
Is the Mornington Peninsula an old wine region?
The Mornington Peninsula has a history of wine production dating back to the 1880s, with modern commercial viticulture growing significantly since the 1970s. Today, the district is home to over 50 boutique wineries with 700 hectares under vine.
Why does the Mornington Peninsula make good wine?
Thanks to its unique maritime climate, the region enjoys plentiful sunshine and coastal breezes providing the ideal blend of good warmth in a cool climate. A long ripening season is one of the benefits of the region which helps to grow grapes with outstanding fruit purity, high natural acidity and fine tannins. Complemented by a variety of sandy soils, duplex clays and fertile red volcanics, the resultant wines are concentrated with complexity and structure.
What wine is Mornington Peninsula known for?
The Mornington Peninsula has forged a reputation for producing world-class cool-climate wines, particularly Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is the brightest star and comes in a range of styles from citrus and mineral aromas to more in the stone fruits and fig spectrum - all featuring natural acid balance and finesse thanks to the cool maritime climate.
Pinot Noir
Famed for its Pinot Noir, Mornington Peninsula accounts for over 9% of Australia’s total Pinot Noir plantings - the third largest region for the variety. It has wide variations in style with, cooler sites displaying fresh red fruits and soft tannins whilst hotter areas, seen are wineries such as Yabby Lake, producing fuller-bodied wines with deep plum fruits and spice.
Pinot Gris
Thanks to the fertile soils and maritime climate, Mornington Peninsula has forged a reputation for soft, perfumed Pinot Gris with natural acidity and complexity reflective of the Alsatian style.
With gorgeous seaside resorts such as Portsea and picturesque rural villages, Mornington Peninsula is a popular getaway for Melbournites. For those unable to explore the wineries and surrounding coastal waters, The Wine Collective has made it easy to discover its producers with a range of award-winning wines.
