DRINK - Avani Wines, Red Hill
Avani’s biodynamic Syrah is the wine to open in winter. The 2023 Amrit Syrah is lean, cool-climate, and nothing like a Barossa bottle - it tastes like Red Hill actually smells in July: earth, pepper, a little iron. The skin-contact white makes a sharp contrast if you want to understand what the estate is doing across the board.
The cellar door is family-run and quieter on weekday mornings, which is when the conversation gets good. Book ahead rather than dropping in - the sessions are unhurried and that is entirely the point. Ask specifically for the Amrit single-vineyard range; they do not always lead with it. Take a bottle of Syrah home. It ages quietly and keeps improving for three to five years in a decent rack.
Book ahead via avaniwines.com.au. Allow ninety minutes. Stony Creek Road, Red Hill.
Pair the visit with lunch at Red Hill Cheese before heading back down the ridge.
EXPERIENCE - Elgee Park, Merricks
The Mornington Peninsula wine industry started here in 1972, when Baillieu Myer planted the first vines. That fact is easy to overlook because Elgee Park does not advertise it. The property sits on Merricks Road with Western Port visible through the tree break, and in winter the vines are bare and the light across the bay is clear and low all afternoon.
The Viognier is the variety to ask about - one of the oldest continuous plantings of the grape on the Peninsula, and still one of the most consistent. The cellar door runs at the pace of Selma and Jonathan Lowther, not at a hospitality schedule. Winter is when that unhurried rhythm actually suits the place best. Come prepared to talk, not just taste.
Phone ahead to confirm winter hours. Merricks Road, Merricks. Allow two hours including the drive in from the highway.
Pair the visit with a stop at Merricks General Wine Store on the way home.
DISCOVERY - Country Day at Tar Barrel, Mornington
Tar Barrel is running a Country Day on Sunday 2 August from 12pm. That means live country music, the full tap list, and an afternoon that leans firmly toward sitting still rather than sightseeing. It is a format that suits July well: warm inside, the taps rotating, no particular agenda.
Tar Barrel opened in Mornington as a dedicated craft venue and has quietly become one of the more reliable Sunday afternoon options on the northern end of the Peninsula. Country Day is a recurring format rather than a one-off festival, which keeps the crowd manageable. The kitchen is running alongside the music, so this works as a full afternoon rather than a drinks stop.
Bookings via tarbarrel.com.au. Sunday 2 August, from 12pm. Tar Barrel, Mornington. Allow two to three hours.
If you are driving up from Red Hill after a cellar door run, this works well as a final stop before heading back to the city.
Quick Reference
| Venue | Address | Practical | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🍷 | Avani Wines | Stony Creek Road, Red Hill | Book ahead; avaniwines.com.au |
| 🌿 | Elgee Park | Merricks Road, Merricks | Phone ahead to confirm winter hours |
| 🎵 | Tar Barrel - Country Day | Mornington | Sunday 2 August, 12pm; book at tarbarrel.com.au |
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Questions readers actually ask
FAQ
When is Avani Wines open and do I need to book?
Avani Wines is on Stony Creek Road, Red Hill. Cellar door hours vary in winter - book ahead via their website before making the drive.
What is Country Day at Tar Barrel and do I need to book?
Country Day at Tar Barrel runs Sunday 2 August from 12pm at Tar Barrel, Mornington. Check tarbarrel.com.au for bookings and the full programme.
Is Elgee Park open for drop-in visits in winter?
Elgee Park is on Merricks Road, Merricks. Phone ahead to confirm winter hours - it runs on its own schedule, not the weekend crowd's.
