In my opinion, February is a good time to book yourself a wine tour. The weather is usually a bit more settled, the Mornington Peninsula has gone back to normal after the crazy holiday crowds and the venues you wish to visit are a little less busy.
Before my time at Uncle Dan’s and in addition to cellar door roles, I was also a tour guide for a well-established wine touring business called Elevate Wine Tours. Elevate was founded by Peninsula resident Ric Warren, who could also be your tour guide on the day. He has established himself as a small and private group tour specialist catering for up to 11 people.
The Peninsula wine region may be smaller than some other more well-known Australian wine regions, but what might surprise you is that there are now more than 50 cellar doors and 200 vineyards. In addition to cellar doors, there are well-established craft breweries and bespoke distilleries, as well as other places you can include in a tour that aren’t necessarily beverage related, such as Mornington Peninsula Chocolaterie at Flinders or Rocky Creek Strawberry Farm at Main Ridge.
Obviously you won’t be able to frequent all your many favourite places in a single day, and it can sometimes be overwhelming deciding where to go, so that’s where booking a tour is perfect. Let someone else do all the planning and driving for you, and you can sip away hassle-free.
Tours can be crafted to suit your interest and group, with a pick-up/drop-off around the Peninsula or Melbourne CBD. It’s a full day out that includes lunch and usually four or five venues, depending on your preferences.
There are multiple tour operators to choose from – some more established than others – that offer different experiences and group sizes. However, having played host to many different tours while working behind the cellar door bench, I have found the best experiences are usually the ones that are smaller and more personable, with knowledgeable tour guides who live locally.
So why not book a tour experience today and make a weekend of it on the best Peninsula this side of Port Phillip. Jump on to www.elevatewinetours.com.au or email info@elevatewinetours.com.au. I can also recommend www.grapeexplorationsaustralia.com.au where Michael will be your guide, or www.amourofthegrape.com.au and Paul will look after you there.
Until next time, enjoy your wine journey.
NIGEL STREET
Recent Comments