A Wine Tour Review by Matt Mickiewicz

The Bard on tour

“Oh, fair travellers who seek the nectar divine, lend thine ears to a tale most wondrous of Arthur, the noble steward of Plunge Wine Tours. Hark! For he is no mere guide, but a bard of the vine, and a maestro of merriment upon the verdant fields of Mornington.

Lo, upon thy arrival, thou art greeted not with common pleasantries, but with tasty strawberries fresh as the blush of dawn, to “awaken thy palate,” quoth he. Aye, forsooth, such is his wit that even fruit becomes a prelude to vinous splendor. And what sights dost thou behold! The sparkling bay doth shimmer as if kissed by Phoebus himself.

But mark ye this—Arthur’s true magic lies in his keys to the kingdom of hidden cellars and secret vineyards. Like Prospero conjuring spirits, he dost summon winemakers to share their craft. Amongst them stands his lady fair, Geraldine, whose vintages doth rival ambrosia itself. And should fortune favor thee, dolphins may dance upon the waves as thou sipp’st sparkling Chardonnay by Pt Leo’s shore—a spectacle so rare it might make Neptune weep with envy.

When midday strikes, thou art treated to a feast fit for kings—food paired with wines so fine they could make Bacchus blush. All the while, Arthur weaves tales and jests with comedic zest. Yet beneath his mirth lies wisdom profound, for he is both scholar and clown in equal measure.

So prithee, if thou seek’st an adventure most rare—a journey through vineyards where laughter flows as freely as wine—then tarry no longer. Arthur of Plunge Wine Tours shall lead thee on a quest both merry and sublime. Raise thy goblet high and toast this lord of libations; forsooth, he is Mornington’s very own Falstaff of the vine!”

A private wine tasting brings the bard out to write

WANT HAPPINESS? BUY EXPERIENCES!

Experiences bring people more happiness than possessions and spending money on experiences is more likely to bring lasting happiness than spending money on material goods.  People don't get sick of memories. On the contrary, as time goes by, they make people happier. A day galivanting around the Mornington Peninsula laughing and tasting wines brings joyous memories long after that new bracelet is lost at the back of your jewellery box.

A Plunge Wine Tour goes beyond a cellar door crawl as owner, Arthur fills your day with stories and laughter. Wine tastings become a one-on-one experience with the winemaker, a farmgate visit becomes a behind-the-scenes education and lunch becomes an inspired regional feast enjoyed with local wines. 

At Jackalope, Arthur visits his winemaker wife, Geraldine McFaul in her barrel room to taste wines of substance.  Up the road, Moorooduc Estate unleash fragrant, wild yeast fermented wines while around the corner the Quealy Winery pour organic wines bursting with flavour and personality.

Your day starts beside the lapping shores of Western Port Bay where on a picnic table you share a local sparkling, regional cheese and other treats. Here on Pt Leo Beach, you can hitch-up your skirt or roll-up your trousers and sip a crisp Blanc de Blanc while splashing about in the shallows. A chance sighting of dolphins may push a private Pinot Noir tasting into second place for the tour’s most memorable experience.

Arthur's focus is getting you to the heart and soul of the region, meeting artisans, dropping by private cellars and picking up a cache of the best local wines.

The tour provides far greater insight to the land, the produce and the people.  Just shed your working-day persona and become a curious traveller again- enjoying a full range of emotions and experiences. A day out like this will ultimately make you brighter and happier, so why spend your hard-earned money on anything else?

A top Wine Tour

After a highly entertaining Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour, Brittany Bennett (pictured ) wrote a five-star review saying; “Pretty much the best wine tour we have ever been on.”  The best wine tour is something we have always strived for. This fabulous review was given after Brittany has toured most major wine regions in Australia experiencing all manner of tours.

Quealy Winemaker, Tom McCarthy conducts barrel samples for guests (exclusive to Plunge Wine Tours)

The pursuit of excellence drives Plunge wine tours and the reason the business began back in 2017 was to create a stand-alone tour company that offers unique wine tasting experiences.  I collect guests from Melbourne and take them around the best local wineries before returning to Melbourne, everyone buzzing from the day’s activities.  My aim is to achieve the best private wine tours imaginable with exciting wine tastings for people wanting to go behind the scenes, avoid the crowds and meet winemakers. Now with almost one-thousand tours completed and over one-hundred-and-twenty reviews, Plunge Wine Tours can claim to be the most informative, inclusive and fun wine tour company in the Mornington Peninsula.

The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour - Tour Guide

As an ex-Global Brand Manager for Stonier Wines, I’m regarded as one of the most thoughtful, funny and knowledgeable tour guides in Australia. Having worked in the Mornington Peninsula wine industry for over twenty-five years, I’ve consulted to a number of wineries, written two books on the history of Elgee Park vineyard and continued to taste and purchase Mornington Peninsula wines. I design tours exclusively for discerning guests who love wine. I drive a stylish Mercedes Benz Viano and provide a rollicking day’s entertainment with fabulous wine tastings and stories. The tour ends once the last cellar door closes, arriving back at your pick-up address.

I take guests to beautiful winery sites all over the Mornington Peninsula. We visit: Mornington, Dromana, Tuerong and Moorooduc and also Merricks, Balnarring, Red Hill and Main Ridge. I offer an impeccable door-to-door service anywhere from a local address to the airport or the heart of the CBD and show expertise and deep knowledge when planning and executing an itinerary.

Plunge Mornington Peninsula Wine Tours are all about you the customer and customized experiences.  I’m a local resident (I live in Somers with my winemaker wife, Geraldine McFaul) and have been involved in Marketing the local wine industry for over two decades so you can be assured that you are in experienced hands. I will curate a personalized day based on informed requests and find you wine styles that you prefer while visiting wineries and meeting winemakers along the way.

Organic Mornington Peninsula strawberries available on every wine tour

 The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour - Sparkling wine on the beach

The start of every Mornington Peninsula wine tour begins with a bowl of delicious local strawberries organically grown and bursting with flavour. Guests get to enjoy this yummy treat as you learn about the history of the wine region while being whisked around to Pt Leo Foreshore and a private picnic table by the seaside where you perch overlooking the splendour of Western Port Bay. On the water, yachts, boats and surfing are all enjoyed while tasting wheels of Gippsland and Main Ridge cheeses, local olives, and a cold bottle of Elan Vineyard Blanc-de-Blanc sipped from Riedel champagne flutes.

A gourmet lunch at the Studio and Co. Delicious food and most memorable experience

The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour - Gourmet Lunch

Guests then taste Mornington Peninsula wines that have been carefully selected for their guided Mornington Peninsula wine tour. All five tour options provide location pick-up and drop-off along with stops at some of the best Mornington Peninsula wineries. These may include Moorooduc Estate, Baillieu, Yabby Lake, Quealy Wines, Merricks Estate, Hurley Vineyard, Eldridge Estate, Rare Hare Wines, Stonier Wines, Montalto, Avani, Kerri Greens, Polperro, Foxeys Hangout, Port Phillip Estate & Kooyong, Nazaaray, Main Ridge Estate, Elgee Park, Ocean Eight, Principia, Prancing Horse Estate, Pt Leo Estate, Kyberd Hills and Paringa Estate. Lunch is at the charming Merricks General Wine Store that serves a delicious two-course meal along with a glass of local Elgee Park or Baillieu wine. Guests sit in a bright and airy dining room with views over paddocks to the sea or, to the rear. a lush garden and courtyard that guests rave about!

The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour - Private Winery visits

I have been showing visitors and locals alike a lovely time in the Mornington Peninsula for almost two decades. I’ve built great relationships with winemakers, so you know you’ll be getting a behind-the-scenes tour where delicious Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are on tasting. The Wine Lovers Mornington Peninsula wine tour includes visiting small-batch winemakers who craft their wines in wineries away from cellar door crowds. These wineries include Principia, Hurley, Ocean Eight and Avani wines. The above video is a wine tasting with Michael Kyberd, Chief Winemaker at Kyberd Hills Wines in Red Hill. Michael makes a range of wines from vineyards across the Mornington Peninsula and this beautiful setting, outside his winery, is the ideal place to sample them in a picturesque and relaxed environment. On this tour, the final destination is the cellar door at Rare Hare, where my wife, Geraldine McFaul, is the Winemaker. Geraldine has been making wine in the region for over twenty-seven vintages.  Guests are provided access to her winery and the Barrel Room, the perfect place to learn how wine is made on any Mornington Peninsula wine tour.

The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tour - Luxury Accomodation

The sophistication, style and luxury of Jackalope makes your decision where to stay in the Mornington Peninsula relatively simple. It can be overwhelming to decide where to stay with so many fantastic Mornington Peninsula locations to choose from and it takes time to organize and plan a wine touring day, and it’s always best to be driven and have all the major decisions made for you. Thankfully, Plunge wine tours are an easy solution for the best wine tasting adventures partnered with the prestigious Jackalope Hotel. All you need to do is sit back, relax, and focus on enjoying all that the Mornington Peninsula offers. For a local home base full of luxury, gourmet food and cutting edge design, look no further than Jackalope, the ultimate luxury and relaxation retreat.

Jackalope features guest rooms that are a perfect blend of modern art, cutting-edge design, huge designer beds and modern amenities including a massive stone bath where you can enjoy stunning vineyard views. The Lair Suite is an extraordinary room, perfect for romantic getaways to the Mornington Peninsula. The softest linens dress the King-size bed with giant floor-to-ceiling windows framing the vineyard, hillsides and neighbouring paddocks. An infinity pool and spa can be seen below from the privacy of the Lair bedroom and the cozy couch on the balcony. The private en suite bath is equipped with scented bath bomb and a bottle of Rare Hare vintage sparkling wine and there’s also a double vanity and a rain shower. It’s a transformative experience to stay there, smack bang in the middle of Mornington Peninsula wine country.

 The Best Mornington Peninsula Wine Tours

Art loving women get to experience the best Mornington Peninsula sculpture parks and the best wines

Before you go ahead and book your Mornington Peninsula wine tour, check out Plunge Wine Tours’ range of offers. Each tour cater for different interests. I cover wine lovers, art lovers, bush walkers, interest in local history, biodynamic and organic wines, vineyards soils and wine styles. I partner with Jackalope, one of the most luxurious boutique hotels in Australia with Mornington Peninsula wine tasting tours, and half day tours combined with the ultra luxurious accommodation. Call me directly to arrange this exceptional experience, or if you’re looking for a more traditional wine tour, We have a selection of Mornington Peninsula wine tours to choose from all with a specific focus to maximise your enjoyment of the region.