S.M. King sets her palate on Mornington Peninsula wines.
There’s a certain type of wine consumer I strive, and regularly fail, to become.
I’d like to be the sort of secure connoisseur who knows what to buy and knows what to cellar. I’d like to dart in and out of a wine shop. As it is, I dither and ask questions. And Partner doesn’t help.
“That’s a brawny depth.”
Or, “Jammy, chewy and delightful.”
Partner will say anything to prevent eviction from a wine tasting.
By my calculation, we spend 12 per cent of our conscious hours at wine stores. Something had to be done. And so, I suggested the Mornington Peninsula.
In the time it takes to ponce to the bottle shop and discuss the merits of this-or-that from here-or-there, we’re halfway to a Peninsula cellar door.
The benefits are manifold. It’s a straightforward day-trip that allows the leisurely collection of knowledge and wine. Further, no-one stops the trouble-and-strife from guzzling a vat of gratis wine.
Another big plus for the region is its development of Pinot Noir. I can wholeheartedly recommend the glossy Phaedrus 2007 Pinot Noir. The Moorooduc vintners have given us something plummy and a little festive. A Christmas-pud ripeness shows very well with food. Particularly duck.
Chardonnay is another mainstay of the peninsula. I’m dependably informed that Ten Minutes by Tractor is a great place to enjoy the grape. The favourably reviewed restaurant will often offer a Chardonnay flight featuring their drop alongside other Victorian stars.
We’re getting ahead of ourselves.
Perhaps a perfect Peninsula day starts at the Dromana Drive-In. The National Trust listed theatre still sees backseat frottage by night. In daylight hours on Sunday, however, it hosts a rather more wholesome market. You can purchase excellent local produce here and add bits and pieces from cellar doors and produce stores for a picnic.
A rash of estates spreads from Dromana on Port Philip Bay; through Red Hill in the centre and across to Shoreham; from Moorooduc in the north down to Merricks.
In Dromana, find Crittenden wines. They’ve a long reputation for the good stuff. Their vines are amongst the oldest in this modern wine region. These confer a distinct maturity. Their Pinot Grigio is glaringly good, particularly when paired with local seafood. Here, find a cellar door, Stillwater Restaurant and a produce store.
Heading inland just behind Arthur’s Seat is Bayview Estate Winery. It’s been here since 1975, and is another of the Mornington Peninsula’s oldest award-winning vineyards. If you visit on the weekend you’ll be sure to encounter live music.
Moorooduc Estate offers fine hand-crafted booze. The vinery specialises in ‘wild yeast’ fermented Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. A quaint rammed-earth building houses Jill’s Restaurant. Eggs are provided by Jill’s chooks. The kitchen garden is extensive: if you’re eating it, it’s fresh. Clearly, a compulsory stop for committed ethicureans.
End your tour of the region at The Flinders Hotel. The polished pub grub in the Dining Room at the Flinders is worth the few extra kilometres.
The annual Winter Wine Weekend is upon us in June. Look for me. I’ll be the designated driver prising a person away from the tasting table.
S.M. King sets her palate on Mornington Peninsula wines.
