Victoria – Mornington Peninsula – experience Red Hill and Main Ridge
Sara Schwarz
The vineyard through Paringa Estate's famed window, Mornington Peninsula, Victoria
The Mornington Peninsula’s seaside towns of Portsea and Sorrento are famous for their beaches, million dollar real estate and views to match. Venture just up the hill to the hamlets of Red Hill and Main Ridge and you will discover an area equally renowned for its award winning pinots and chardonnays, top notch restaurants, orchards, galleries and the monthly Red Hill Markets.
With over 60 cellar doors to choose from you can easily spend a week or two happily wending your way along country lanes, however for those with a little less time, below are a selection of renowned award winners to tempt the palate and the wallet.
Red Hill Community Markets
Operating on the first Saturday of the month from September to May, the Red Hill Markets have become a bit of an institution on the Peninsula. Established 30 years ago, this is the ‘grand dame’ of craft markets. Here you will find over 100 stalls of locally grown fruit and veg, baked goods and honeys, exquisite jewellery, pottery and artwork along with plants, flowers and a children’s petting farm.
Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill VIC 3937
Phone: 03 5974 4710
Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove
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One of the Peninsula’s icons, the stunning Montalto property has captivated the heart of many a visitor. Explore the established vegetable garden and ‘borrow’ a cherry tomato or two along the way before wandering the paths to admire the inspiring sculptures dotted through out. You’ll be sure to work up an appetite, soon quenched by a visit to cellar door – the chardonnays are a must and the Montalto olive oils are fabulous.
The mouth watering menu at the Chef’s Hat winning Montalto restaurant is available seven days a week while on weekends the piazza comes alive with a more casual menu. We advise booking – especially when the sun shines.
33 Shoreham Road, Red Hill South VIC 3937
Phone: 03 5989 8412
Main Ridge Estate
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Nat and Rosalie White are true pioneers of the Mornington Peninsula’s wine industry. Returning from a holiday to the Burgundy region of France in the 1960s, they saw potential in the region and planted a number of vines when the Peninsula was nothing but dairy farms and apple orchards. Now, over 30 years later, their knowledge of grape growing and winemaking in the region is unsurpassed and their wines continue to be awarded world wide.
80 William Road, Main Ridge VIC 3928
Phone: 03 5989 2686
Paringa Estate
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Lindsay McCall, ex school-teacher turned winemaking guru, established Paringa Estate in 1985. His pinots and shiraz are some of the most awarded wines in Australia.
In the restaurant, new head chef Steffen Jensen is causing quite a stir and the semi regular winemaker dinners have become a hi-light on the calendar of many a wine aficionado.
Red Hill South VIC 3937
Phone: 03 5989 2669
Red Hill Estate & Max’s Restaurant
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With possibly the best view from any winery in Australia, and an award-winning restaurant to boot, a visit to Red Hill Estate is a must for anyone contemplating a trip to the Mornington Peninsula. The wines are superb, cellar door staff welcoming and a range of produce is available for purchase also.
Book a table in Max’s restaurant and if you have the inclination, perhaps book a night into Max’s Retreat as well – two luxury bed and breakfast cottages just nearby.
53 Red Hill-Shoreham Road, Red Hill South VIC 3937
Phone: 03 5989 238
Red Hill Brewery
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After all that wine tasting, a beer is most probably in order and what better way to end a Mornington Peninsula adventure than with a glass of the Peninsula’s finest from the Red Hill Brewery. A boutique producer of a range of ales, pilsners and stouts, grab a pint of your favourite and a ploughmans platter in the café.
88 Shoreham Rd, Red Hill South VIC 3937
Phone: 03 5989 2959
Regions
- Melbourne Surrounds (VIC)
- Mornington Peninsula (VIC)
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One of the first wineries on the Mornington Peninsula, discover Main Ridge Estate with an exclusive tour.
Montalto Vineyard (Vic): wine flights
The restaurant at the iconic Montalto offers VisitVineyards.com members a complimentary wine flight of either Montalto chardonnay or pinot noir.
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There's something unusual about the Paringa Estate. Winemaker Lindsay McCall says the steel frames and unusal methods of supporting the vines add to the quality of his wines.
Like explorers, Nat and Rosalie White trekked through the countryside - looking at orchards, but not to grow apples. Today a thriving wine industry has grown up ... their original three hectare vineyard on the Mornington Peninsula.
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At Main Ridge Estate the first vintage in 1980 was processed in the newly constructed winery, the first commercial winery to be established on the Mornington Peninsula. read more
Paringa Estate Winery was established at Red Hill on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula by owners Lindsay and Margaret McCall in 1985. The home property has 10 acres ... read more
Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove is a multiple award-winning winery, restaurant and sculpture garden complex, located at Red Hill in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, ... read more
Your Shuttle was born in November 2004 when Chris Gregory realised that the Hinterland Region of the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, needed a transport service of ... read more
Red Hill is the 'grand dame' of Victoria's craft markets. It began on the Red Hill Recreation Reserve in 1975 as a truly community event, where local producers and ... read more
The Red Hill Brewery is the first microbrewery on the Mornington Peninsula. Set amidst the hop vines, in a beautiful rural environment, taste the beers, stay for ... read more
Your Shuttle was born in November 2004 when Chris Gregory realised that the Hinterland Region of the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, needed a transport service of ... read more
The Montalto Sculpture Prize $20,000 acquisitive award and Pennon Hill people's choice award $1,000 (non-acquisitive). Is open to all artists working in any medium. read more
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