A Guide to Mornington Peninsula Wine
Nestled in Victoria’s southeastern corner, the Mornington Peninsula stretches 100km from Frankston to Warneet. This coastal region boasts over 300 wineries and vineyards, with wine grape varieties including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and more.
About the Region
The Mornington Peninsula is a popular holiday destination and wine-producing area in Victoria, Australia. The Peninsula is located approximately 150 kilometers southeast of Melbourne, between Port Phillip Bay[1] and Western Port. It is on an extension of impermeable clay that traps rainwater in nearby Hobson’s Bay.
The area is part of what was once known as the ‘County of Mornington’, which stretched from Point Nepean to Frankston, now incorporated into Greater Melbourne. Over 500 wineries are located within a 40-minute drive, and their products can also be purchased at numerous cellar doors, aka winery tasting rooms. There are also several well-known restaurants producing food made with locally grown products.
The Mornington Peninsula is a beautiful site where vines grow in protected undulating valleys nourished by a mild marine climate, producing delicate, award-winning wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Shiraz.
The current era began with vineyards established in the 1970s. The Peninsula is known for its smooth and seductive wines, extracting beautiful and subtle varietal characteristics from the Pinot Noir farmed nearby. The region’s wines are loaded with intensity, structure, and texture.
Did You Know: The Mornington Peninsula is Victoria’s most spectacular and sought-after wine region.
History
The Mornington Peninsula region is located in Victoria, Australia, and has been producing wine since 1886, when Dromana wine was featured at the Intercontinental Exhibition. A Royal Commission on the Fruit and Vegetable Industry named fourteen Peninsula wineries in 1891.
Numerous vineyards on the Mornington Peninsula were deserted or removed during the 1920s. Seppelt and Seabrook had a vineyard at Dromana in the 1950s, but it burned down in 1967. The area’s wine industry encountered a renaissance in 1972 when the area was recognized for its climate and capacity for cool-environment grape varieties like those found in France.
A Guide to Mornington Peninsula Wines
- Pinot Noir
The region’s signature variety comes in various styles[2] and is defined by its distinguishing characteristics. Soft tannins along with cherry and raspberry flavors are characteristics of Pinot Noir grown in higher elevations with a cooler climate. Pinot Noir from lower elevations with hotter climates tend to be more tannic and powerful, with plum fruit flavors.
Pinot Noir grapes are picky and difficult to grow, and Mornington Peninsula winemakers know it. They treat the plants with great care, insisting on specific temperature, humidity, aspect, and ripening time combinations.
- Chardonnay
The Mornington Peninsula is home to an expansive scope of microclimates that are great for delivering excellent Chardonnay. Mornington Peninsula Chardonnay often features aromas of melon, citrus, fig, and mineral components with a fragile and smooth feel. Chardonnay benefits from the cold Mornington Peninsula climate and increased aging.
- Pinot Gris
With approximately 140 hectares already planted, Pinot Gris flourishes in the region’s rich soils and coastal environment. Pinot Gris makes delicate, fragrant wines that have remarkable depth and complexity.
A Remarkable Climate
The Mornington Peninsula is one of Australia’s incredible marine wine regions, surrounded by Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay, and Western Port Bay. Strong breezes combined with plenty of sunshine, and abundant precipitation make for the perfect grape-growing conditions in the region.
On This Day
December 17th, 1967: Prime Minister Harold Holt went bathing at Cheviot Beach in the Point Nepean National Park, now a public park.
July 7th, 1971: People living in this region experienced a 5.0 magnitude earthquake.
Want to read more? Try out these books!
References:
[1] https://www.australia.com/en-in/places/melbourne-and-surrounds/guide-to-the-mornington-peninsula.html
[2] https://www.australianwine.com/en-AU/our-places/victoria/mornington-peninsula-wine-region
[3] https://morningtonpeninsulawine.com.au/region-and-history
