The Mornington Peninsula is one of Victoria’s best known wine regions, with most of its cellar doors clustered around Red Hill, Merricks and Moorooduc. The cool maritime climate suits pinot noir and chardonnay above all, which is what most cellar doors here are known for. If you’re planning a wine tour and want to know which wineries are actually worth the stop, here are some of the region’s most visited cellar doors, followed by how to put them together into a day.

Red Hill Estate

One of the longer established names in the area, with sweeping views over the vineyard toward Western Port. A popular first or last stop on a Red Hill loop, and an easy one to pair with the cellar doors around Red Hill South.

Montalto

A well known cellar door in Red Hill South combining wine tasting with a restaurant and sculpture walk through the vineyard, making it an easy stop for a longer lunch break. Groups often plan the whole day around a lunch booking here and fit tastings either side.

Ten Minutes by Tractor

Located in Main Ridge, known for pinot noir and chardonnay from separate vineyard sites, so a tasting is a good way to compare how the same grape changes from one patch of ground to the next. A favourite with visitors who want a more detailed tasting experience.

Port Phillip Estate and Kooyong Wines

Two labels sharing one striking cellar door in Red Hill South, with a restaurant on site and views across the vines. Tasting both ranges side by side makes it one of the more interesting single stops in the region.

Paringa Estate

A Red Hill South winery with a strong reputation for pinot noir, popular with visitors who want to combine tasting with a more relaxed, less crowded cellar door.

Polperro Winery

Set on Red Hill Road with a restaurant and cellar door, Polperro is a regular stop for groups wanting food alongside their tasting.

Pt. Leo Estate

Located toward Merricks, Pt. Leo Estate combines wine tasting with an outdoor sculpture park looking out over Western Port, making it one of the more visited stops in the region for groups who want more than just a tasting.

Moorooduc Estate

On the northern side of the wine region, Moorooduc Estate is a handy first stop if you are coming from Mornington or Frankston, with a focus on chardonnay and pinot noir. Starting here and working south toward Red Hill keeps the driving short between stops.

Grouping Cellar Doors Into an Easy Loop

Most of these wineries sit within a short drive of each other around Red Hill, Merricks and Moorooduc, roughly 20 minutes from Mornington. A loop works best when the stops sit close together:

  • Northern start: Moorooduc Estate, then up into the Red Hill area.
  • Red Hill and Red Hill South: Red Hill Estate, Montalto, Port Phillip Estate, Paringa Estate and Polperro are all close to one another.
  • Main Ridge and Merricks: Ten Minutes by Tractor and Pt. Leo Estate suit the southern end of the day.

Three or four cellar doors with lunch is a comfortable full day. Our winery tours run around six to eight hours from pickup to drop off, which leaves time for a proper lunch without rushing the tastings.

Tips for a Better Wine Tour Day

  • Book lunch first, since the winery restaurants fill quickly on weekends and in summer, then plan the tastings around it.
  • Groups of six or more should check ahead with each cellar door, as many prefer group tastings to be booked.
  • Some cellar doors charge a tasting fee, and some take it off the price if you buy a bottle.
  • Bring a bag or box for purchases. Bottles travel in the vehicle, so there is no need to carry them around.
  • Eat before the first tasting and drink water between stops.

Getting Around Without a Designated Driver

Since drink driving obviously isn’t an option, most groups book a private taxi or Maxi Taxi for the day so everyone can taste without one person staying sober to drive. Public transport does not reach the cellar doors in the hinterland, and rideshare pickups from a winery car park can mean a long wait. With a private booking, the vehicle and driver stay with you for the tour, waiting between cellar doors is included, and you can change the order of stops on the day. Couples travel in a sedan, small groups of up to 6 in an SUV, and groups of up to 11, including hens parties and birthday groups, in one Maxi Taxi.

See our Winery Tours page to book a private tour with pickup and drop off included, or view our full range of Mornington Peninsula tours for a longer day covering wineries and other local sights.