No vineyard site on Mornington Peninsula is more than seven kilometres from the ocean. Pinot Noir ranges from delicate wines with cherry and strawberry, vibrant acidity and soft tannins to richer expressions from particular sites. Chardonnay typically shows melon, citrus and fig. The contrast within Pinot Noir is one of the clearest features of the peninsula's wines.
Elsewhere in Victoria
Continue through the region
- Grampians1 producerGrampians is a Western Victoria region with a Mediterranean climate cooled by the Southern Ocean. Shiraz ranges from silky red-cherry and plum styles to concentrated, spicy wines, while Riesling shifts from tropical lime in warmer years to a reserved, toasty character in cooler vintages.
- Heathcote3 producersHeathcote's red soils over calcareous sodic clay are known as Cambrian Greenstones, and south-easterly winds keep summers cooler than nearby Bendigo. Shiraz is deep and velvety with dark cherry-plum fruit, while Cabernet can show blackberry and eucalyptus-mint character.
- Murray Darling4 producersMurray Darling spans north-west Victoria and western New South Wales along the Murray River. Its hot, sunny, low-humidity growing season relies on irrigation, and its Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon are soft, sweet-fruited wines for drinking within one to two years.
- Rutherglen4 producersRutherglen is known for sweet, concentrated fortified wines made from Muscat and Muscadelle. Its Durif is ripe and spicy, with balance and ageing potential. Warm days, cool nights and long dry autumns shape the growing season, with spring frost remaining a risk.
- Yarra Valley7 producersYarra Valley's altitude and aspect create substantial mesoclimate variation. Its long cool-climate identity sits alongside a fresher modern approach to Shiraz. Pinot Noir is light to medium-bodied, with plum, strawberry and cherry, while Chardonnay often shows white peach, melon and fig.