The Mornington Peninsula vineyards...and a slice of the Andes

The Mornington Peninsula is about an hour's drive south of Melbourne, and since it is surrounded by the sea, the climate is cooler and less variable...ideal for vineyards. We visited three wineries: Paradigm Hill, Yabby Lake Vineyards, and Port Phillip Estate. We were surprised to find some nice, crisp, and clean Sauvingnon Blanc wines...and even a well made and not too sweet Riesling. The area is also known for Pinot Noir; indeed, we found two or three that we enjoyed. Certainly different from the Burgundies that we are used to drinking, but well balanced. Our main take away is that many of the Australian wines in the US are from big producers from some of the hotter climates of Australia, and are light years away from these small producers in cooler climates. 

During our foray into the countryside, we were always on the lookout for kangaroos, but instead, we sighted some  Alpacas! 

Photo: The Port Phillip Estate