There’s a reason the Mornington Peninsula is the wine region Melburnians actually visit on a Saturday, not just talk about visiting. It’s an hour from the city, it’s ringed by two bays, and it happens to grow some of the best cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in the country. Chillout Travel has been running Mornington Peninsula wine tours for years, and we still don’t do them the way most operators do — we let you choose the wineries, we keep the groups small, and we hand you over to a driver who actually knows this region, not a script.

Whether you want a relaxed public day tour with a vineyard lunch, a fully private tour built around exactly the cellar doors you want to visit, or something bigger for a hens party, birthday or corporate day out, this page is your complete guide to touring the Mornington Peninsula with us — and to the region itself.

Why Choose Chillout Travel

Most Mornington Peninsula wine tour operators put you on a fixed itinerary and tell you where lunch is happening. We do it differently.

• You choose the wineries. Our tours are built around your preferences, not a rigid script — tell us the style of wine, the vibe, or specific cellar doors you’ve read about, and we’ll build the day around them.
• Public and private tours, side by side. Join a small public group tour from $179pp, or book a fully private tour for your group only — the choice is yours, not ours.
• You pay wineries and restaurants directly. We don’t mark up tastings or lunch — your tasting fees and lunch bill are paid straight to the venue, the same price you’d pay if you drove yourself.
• Door-to-door pickup, Melbourne and Peninsula. Multiple CBD pickup points (Grand Hyatt, Crown Promenade, Holiday Inn on Flinders) plus Frankston/Langwarrin and Peninsula pickups.
• Local, knowledgeable drivers. Our drivers live and work this region — ask them anything from “which winery does the best Pinot” to “where’s good for coffee before we start.”
• Small groups only. Public tours are capped, so you’re never herded through a cellar door with forty other people.
• Hundreds of five-star reviews from travellers, hens groups, corporate teams and couples who’ve toured with us across the Mornington Peninsula, Yarra Valley and Bellarine Peninsula.
• Flexible itineraries for every group — couples, families, corporate teams, hens parties, birthdays and solo travellers are all welcome.
• An established, trusted operator running tours across multiple Victorian wine regions, not a single-region pop-up.

Why Visit the Mornington Peninsula

Just over an hour southeast of Melbourne, the Mornington Peninsula is a narrow finger of land wedged between Port Phillip Bay and Western Port Bay, running down to Arthurs Seat, Cape Schanck and the surf beaches of the ocean side. It’s this position between two bodies of water — plus the elevation of the hinterland around Red Hill and Main Ridge — that gives the region its defining feature: a genuinely cool maritime climate, ideal for the grape varieties that made this region’s reputation.

You’ll find working vineyards, family-run cellar doors, farm-to-table restaurants, boutique olive groves, and some of Victoria’s best long-lunch dining, all within a compact enough area that a single day tour can comfortably cover four or five stops without feeling rushed. Add in the Peninsula Hot Springs, beach walks at Cape Schanck, and the lookout at Arthurs Seat — where on a clear day you can see the Melbourne skyline across the bay — and you’ve got one of the most complete day-trip regions in Australia.

What Makes the Mornington Peninsula Famous

Ask any Melbourne wine drinker what the Mornington Peninsula is known for and you’ll hear the same two words: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The cool maritime climate — cooler than the Yarra Valley, cooler than most of inland Victoria — produces wines with the acidity, elegance and restraint that cool-climate Pinot and Chardonnay are prized for internationally. Sparkling wine is the region’s quieter achievement; several producers make exceptional traditional-method sparkling from the same cool-climate fruit.

The region is also genuinely small-producer territory. Unlike some Australian wine regions dominated by a handful of large brands, the Mornington Peninsula is full of family-owned vineyards, some with only a few acres under vine, many with cellar doors attached to working farms, restaurants or accommodation. That’s a big part of why a guided tour makes sense here — knowing which of the 100-plus wineries is worth your limited hours is exactly the kind of local knowledge a good driver-guide should bring to the day.

Best Wineries on the Mornington Peninsula

There is no single “best” winery — it depends what you’re after — but here’s how we think about it when we’re building your itinerary.

Best Boutique Wineries

Small, family-run cellar doors where you’re often served by the winemaker or a member of the family, not a hospitality roster. These are the venues that reward a private tour, where we can build in extra time and a relaxed, unhurried tasting.

Best Pinot Noir Wineries

The Mornington Peninsula’s signature red. We’ll route you toward cellar doors known specifically for their Pinot Noir programs — this is one of the most requested itinerary themes we build, especially for wine-focused groups who want to taste across styles from lighter, red-fruited Pinot through to darker, more structured examples.

Best Chardonnay Wineries

The Peninsula’s other headline variety, and arguably its most underrated. Cool-climate Chardonnay here tends toward citrus, stone fruit and tight acidity rather than the heavier, oakier styles some drinkers associate with the grape — a genuine surprise for first-time visitors.

Best Sparkling Wine Experiences

For a celebration day — birthdays, hens parties, anniversaries — we can build a tour around the region’s traditional-method sparkling producers, several of which rival Champagne-method wines from much better-known regions.

Hidden Gem Wineries

Some of our favourite stops are the ones most visitors have never heard of — small producers tucked into the Red Hill and Main Ridge hinterland that don’t advertise, don’t do cellar door tours themselves, and rely almost entirely on word of mouth. These are the venues that make private tours worth it.

Luxury Wineries

For groups after a more elevated day — architectural cellar doors, degustation-style tastings, sculpture parks and fine dining attached to the winery itself — we can build an itinerary around the region’s premium end, ideal for corporate hosting, special occasions or anyone who wants the full Mornington Peninsula experience in one day.

Winery Restaurants & Food and Wine Experiences

Lunch is not an afterthought on a Mornington Peninsula wine tour — for a lot of our guests, it’s the highlight. The region does farm-to-table better than almost anywhere in Victoria: working farms that grow their own produce and pair it with their own wine, grazing boards built from Victorian cheese and charcuterie, and full sit-down restaurant lunches at cellar doors with views back over the vines to the bay. On our public tours, lunch is included in your $179pp price at a working farm venue; on private tours, we can match the lunch venue to your group — casual grazing, a formal two-course sit-down, or a strictly wine-focused day with lunch kept light.

Seasonal Experiences

The Mornington Peninsula changes with the seasons, and so does the tour.

• Summer — long lunches outdoors, vineyard views at their greenest, the best time to pair a tour with a beach stop at Cape Schanck or Sorrento.
• Autumn — vintage season; if you’re lucky, you’ll see (and smell) the crush happening at working wineries.
• Winter — quieter cellar doors, cosy tasting rooms, and often the best access to winemakers themselves, who have more time to chat outside the summer rush. Pair a winter tour with the Peninsula Hot Springs for a genuinely indulgent day.
• Spring — new-season releases, budburst in the vineyards, and some of the most comfortable touring weather of the year.

Public Wine Tours

Our Mornington Peninsula Public Day Tour is the easiest way to experience the region if you don’t have a large group of your own. Running Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 9.30am–5.30pm approx, groups are capped small (max 10 people, max 6 per booking) so it never feels like a bus tour. The day includes four cellar door wine tastings and a two-course lunch at a working farm venue, all for $179 per person. Pickup is available from multiple Melbourne CBD locations plus Frankston/Langwarrin and the Peninsula Visitor Information Centre in Dromana.

Port Phillip Estate

Start the day at Port Phillip Estate, the home of Kooyong and Port Phillip Estate wines. Its bold award winning architecture, elegant tasting bar and spectacular views make it one of the most exciting cellar doors in Australia. Wine Tasting

Green Olive

Green Olive at Red Hill is a whole farm experience. They grow olives, grapes, herbs and veggies, raise sheep, chooks and pigs as well as use fresh produce from local farmers to create a range of tapas and wine you will love. Enjoy a selection of grazing plates inspired by their farm produce, whilst also tasting cheeses from Victorian farms, and other select produce from local farms that we support as part of the farm community on the Mornington Peninsula. Wine tasting paddles followed by lunch

Pier 10

After lunch we head to Pier 10. This is a must see on any Mornington Peninsula Winery Tour. Their Cellar Door provides a cosy and relaxed spot to enjoy a tasting of cool climate wines.  Pinot Noir, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay are among the delights produced from their local vineyard.  Wine Tasting

Mont Rouge Estate

Mont Rouge Estate and Cocoa Rouge Chocolaterie are located on the Mornington Peninsula hinterland in Red Hill. The 9 acre property features 4 acres of vines. The estate is family owned and operated and well known for its friendly hospitality. Wine Tasting followed by chocolate and ice-cream tasting.

Make a booking Click here to make a secure online booking by Visa/Mastercard @ $179 per person with instant confirmation 24/7.  Or ring the office to pay by Visa/Mastercard during office hours 0428 161 662

Private Wine Tours

If you’d rather have the vehicle, the driver and the itinerary entirely to yourselves, our private Mornington Peninsula wine tours are fully customisable — you choose the wineries, the pace, the lunch venue and the stops. Private tours are ideal for groups of 2 and up, and they’re the right choice whenever your group is larger than 6, or when you want access to the boutique, appointment-only cellar doors that don’t take public groups.

[Explore private tour options →]

Corporate Wine Tours

A Mornington Peninsula wine tour is one of the most popular team offsites and client entertainment days we run. We handle transport, timing and venue coordination end to end — you tell us the group size, the vibe (relaxed vs premium) and any dietary requirements, and we build the day around it. Ideal for team celebrations, client hosting, EOFY events and staff rewards.

[Explore Corporate tour options →]

Birthday Wine Tours

Celebrating a milestone? We build birthday-specific itineraries with a little extra polish — sparkling wine stops, a standout lunch venue, and flexibility to add a cake or decorations if you’d like to surprise the birthday guest.

[Explore Birthday tour options →]

Hen’s Parties

Hens parties are some of our favourite days on the road. We keep the itinerary flexible, prioritise venues with good photo opportunities and relaxed tasting rooms, and can help you sequence the day so energy builds toward a great lunch rather than fading by 2pm. Groups of any size are welcome — for larger hens groups, a private tour is almost always the better fit.

[Explore Hens tour options →]

Small Groups

If you’re a tight-knit group of friends or family, our small-group public tours are built exactly for you — genuinely capped numbers, no filler stops, and a driver who’ll happily adjust the pace of the day if your group wants to linger somewhere.

[Explore Small Group tour options →]

Family Friendly Options

Not every winery is set up for kids, but a good number on the Peninsula are — think open lawns, farm animals, and relaxed cellar doors where a family can spread out. Tell us you’re touring with children and we’ll build the itinerary around family-friendly venues.

[Explore Family Friendly tour options →]

Melbourne Pickups & Door-to-Door Service

We pick up from multiple Melbourne CBD locations — including the Grand Hyatt on Russell Street, Crown Promenade, and the Holiday Inn on Flinders — as well as Frankston/Langwarrin and the Mornington Peninsula Visitor Information Centre in Dromana, with flexibility for other pickup points on route. Hotel pickup elsewhere in the CBD may also be available — just call to confirm.

Public vs Private Wine Tours — Which Should You Choose?

Self-Drive vs Guided Wine Tour — Which Should You Choose?

Self-driving the Mornington Peninsula is possible, but most visitors quickly realise it defeats the purpose — you either designate a non-drinking driver for the day, or you limit tastings significantly. A guided tour means everyone in your group gets to taste properly, you don’t need to navigate an unfamiliar region between cellar doors, and you get local recommendations you wouldn’t find by searching alone. It’s also simply safer: driving after tastings on the Peninsula’s winding hinterland roads is a real risk many visitors underestimate.

Wine Tasting Tips

• Eat something substantial before your first tasting — most cellar doors pour generous measures across four or more wines
• Ask your tasting host which vintage they’d recommend if you’re planning to buy — current release isn’t always their pick
• If you love a wine, ask about shipping — many boutique Peninsula cellar doors will post purchases home for you
• Pace yourself across a full-day tour — the best wineries are often the ones later in the itinerary
• Bring a jacket even in summer — coastal weather on the Peninsula can shift quickly

Booking Information

Booking our public day tour is instant online via the Book Now button above — secure payment by Visa/Mastercard with 24/7 confirmation. Private tour quotes are arranged directly with our team; call 0428 161 662 or email social@chilloutwinetours.com.au and we’ll confirm pricing and availability based on your group size and preferences.

Cancellation Policy

Full cancellation terms are set out in our Terms & Conditions. If you have a specific date or group-size concern ahead of booking, call our office and we’ll talk you through your options before you pay.

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Ready to see the Mornington Peninsula the way locals do? [Book your public tour now] or [enquire about a private tour] and we’ll build your day around exactly what you’re after.

Join a tour today!