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Winter Insider · August 2026 Winter 2026

Access type · By appointment

Appointment-Only Producers

These are the producers that don't have a roadside sign and don't need one. Small yields, limited production, and a preference for visitors who arrive with intent rather than habit. Most require a booking - some several weeks in advance for popular releases.

The reward for the extra planning is disproportionate. Appointments at producers like Garagiste, Onannon, and Eldridge Estate mean time with the winemaker, access to library vintages, and wine that rarely appears in retail distribution. These visits are among the best Peninsula experiences for people who are serious about what's in the glass.

Contact each producer directly. Booking windows vary; some open seasonally. Most are happy to accommodate small groups.

Editorial ranking · 2026

10 producers

Ordered by editorial authority and Halliday score.

All producers →
Winery Mornington

Garagiste

20 Longview Crescent, Mount Eliza VIC 3930 · $$$

Barnaby Flanders' micro-production Chardonnay and Pinot project, rigour, restraint, and regular appearances in the Halliday Top 100.

cellar doorslow
Winery Tuerong

Onannon

110 Tuerong Rd, Tuerong VIC 3933 · $$$

Three winemakers, small-batch Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and cult-favourite status among Australia's best sommeliers.

cellar doorslow
Winery Main Ridge

Dexter Wines

210 Foxeys Hangout Rd, Red Hill South VIC 3937 · $$$

Tod Dexter's quiet, considered estate, appointment-only tastings for a small, serious pinot and chardonnay program.

cellar doorslow
Winery Red Hill

Eldridge Estate

120 Arthurs Seat Rd, Red Hill VIC 3937 · $$

David Lloyd's tiny cult estate, single-clone Pinot Noirs from individual rows, plus Gamay, made for the Burgundy obsessives.

cellar doorslow
Winery Merricks

Paradigm Hill

26 Merricks Rd, Merricks VIC 3916 · $$$

George Mihaly's fastidiously farmed single-site Pinot Noir estate, appointment-only tastings, often led by George himself.

cellar doorslow
Winery Flinders

Nazaaray Estate

266 Meakins Rd, Flinders VIC 3929 · $$

A tiny Flinders estate with naturally fermented wines and guesthouses inside reconverted 1930s railway carriages.

cellar doorslow
Winery Merricks

Baillieu Vineyard

51 Stanleys Rd, Merricks VIC 3916 · $$

A thoughtfully managed Merricks estate making elegant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir that rewards the drive to find it.

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Winery Balnarring

Elan Vineyard & Gallery

17 Turners Rd, Bittern VIC 3918 · $$

Selma and Jonathan Lowther's 1981 planting, one of the oldest on the Peninsula, with a cellar door that doubles as a small contemporary art gallery.

cellar doorslow
Winery Dromana

Phaedrus Estate

220 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Red Hill VIC 3937 · $$

A quieter Dromana-side estate making honest, characterful wines, Viognier, Sangiovese, and Pinot alongside the Peninsula classics.

cellar doorslow
Winery Balnarring

Hurley Vineyard

101 Balnarring Rd, Balnarring VIC 3926 · $$$

Kevin Bell's boutique single-vineyard Pinot project, three tiny blocks (Lodestone, Garamond, Hommage) and some of the Peninsula's most sought-after bottles.

cellar doorslow

Frequently asked questions

How do I book an appointment at a Mornington Peninsula winery?

Contact the winery directly - most have an email address or booking form on their website. Some use Cellar Door by Vinsight or similar booking systems. Lead time varies: popular producers in peak season (March–May, October–November) may be booked weeks in advance. Being specific about what you want to taste - a library vertical, a current release flight - helps the winery plan.

Are appointment-only wineries more expensive?

Not necessarily. Some charge a tasting fee, often refundable against purchase. Others charge nothing. The real expense is time: these visits reward you most if you set aside two to three hours rather than treating them as a quick stop. Confirm current rates with the producer when you book.

Curated by our editors.

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