H
ome to beautiful
beaches, world-class beaches, world-class
wineries, gourmet farm wineries, gourmet farm
gates and produce-driven restaurants, the gates and produce-driven restaurants, the
Mornington Peninsula may well be the Mornington Peninsula may well be the
ultimate Melbourne escape. Indeed, many ultimate Melbourne escape. Indeed, many
a Melbournian has a holiday house here, a Melbournian has a holiday house here,
drawn by the region’s coastal charms drawn by the region’s coastal charms
and proximity to the big city. and proximity to the big city.
The small towns – Dromana, Rosebud, The small towns – Dromana, Rosebud,
Rye, Portsea and Sorrento among them Rye, Portsea and Sorrento among them- that dot the region offer plenty of – that dot the region offer plenty of
country swagger. But being only an hour’s country swagger. But being only an hour’s country swagger. But being only an hour’s
drive southeast of the Victorian capital, drive southeast of the Victorian capital,
they’re also home to seriously savvy they’re also home to seriously savvy
operators across the hospitality spectrum. operators across the hospitality spectrum.
Which means you can check in to hotels, Which means you can check in to hotels,
villas and lodges that would not be out villas and lodges that would not be out
of place in glossy design magazines; sip of place in glossy design magazines; sip
award-winning wines in cellar doors that award-winning wines in cellar doors that
celebrate the environment; stroll through celebrate the environment; stroll through
jaw-dropping hedge mazes and sculpture jaw-dropping hedge mazes and sculpture
parks; visit orchards, olive growers and parks; visit orchards, olive growers and
cheesemongers; and sit down to meals cheesemongers; and sit down to meals
prepared by chefs who have one eye on prepared by chefs who have one eye on
the fields and one on the plate. the fields and one on the plate.
While there were attempts to establish While there were attempts to establish
vines on the Peninsula as early as 1886, the vines on the Peninsula as early as 1886, the
first commercial winery only opened in first commercial winery only opened in
- The cool-climate grapes – mainly 1978. The cool-climate grapes – mainly
chardonnay, pinot gris, tempranillo and chardonnay, pinot gris, tempranillo and
pinot noir – that have been bottled ever pinot noir – that have been bottled ever
since are known for their structure and since are known for their structure and
complexity, not to mention easy pairing complexity, not to mention easy pairing
with a variety of foods. There are now more with a variety of foods. There are now more
than 170 wineries and 50 cellar doors here, than 170 wineries and 50 cellar doors here,
many of them with restaurants attached, many of them with restaurants attached,
giving you plenty of reasons to linger.giving you plenty of reasons to linger.
This diversity and forward-thinking This diversity and forward-thinking
nature of producers is exactly what drew nature of producers is exactly what drew
Adam D’Sylva and his family – wife, Lauren, Adam D’Sylva and his family – wife, Lauren,
and three children Ava, Javier and Olivia – and three children Ava, Javier and Olivia –
to snap up a property in Rosebud. During to snap up a property in Rosebud. During to snap up a property in Rosebud. During
The World’s 50 Best, the top chef took us The World’s 50 Best, the top chef took us
for a tour of his second home, revealing his for a tour of his second home, revealing his
favourite ways to while away the weekend. favourite ways to while away the weekend.
1
ROOMS^
WWWITHITHITH A VIEW A VIEW A VIEW
Since bounding onto the scene in April, Since bounding onto the scene in April,
JackalopeJackalope (166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks (166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks
North; jackalopehotels.com) has taken North; jackalopehotels.com) has taken North; jackalopehotels.com) has taken
the peninsula’s hospitality offerings to the peninsula’s hospitality offerings to the peninsula’s hospitality offerings to
new heights. Named after a mythical new heights. Named after a mythical
beast that is part antelope, part hare, beast that is part antelope, part hare,
this design-savvy, art-filled establishment this design-savvy, art-filled establishment this design-savvy, art-filled establishment
is home to 46 rooms, fine-diner Doot Doot is home to 46 rooms, fine-diner Doot Doot
Doot, the Willow Creek cellar door, and Doot, the Willow Creek cellar door, and
casual eatery Rare Hare, which boasts casual eatery Rare Hare, which boasts
vineyard views and an open fireplace. vineyard views and an open fireplace.
“The hotel is very luxurious,” says Adam. “The hotel is very luxurious,” says Adam. “The hotel is very luxurious,” says Adam.
“It allows you to have that destination “It allows you to have that destination
experience by combining a top-end experience by combining a top-end
restaurant with deluxe accommodation.” restaurant with deluxe accommodation.”
After a degustation dinner in Doot Doot After a degustation dinner in Doot Doot
Doot, retire to your room for a soak in Doot, retire to your room for a soak in
the sumptuous black stone bath. the sumptuous black stone bath.2
FRESH
OOUTLOUTLOOOKK
Following a hugely sleek revamp of the Following a hugely sleek revamp of the
cellar door and dining room, cellar door and dining room, Paringa Paringa
Estate Estate (44 Paringa Rd, Red Hill South; (44 Paringa Rd, Red Hill South;
paringaestate.com.au) is at the top of paringaestate.com.au) is at the top of
its game. “I recently had a fantastic meal its game. “I recently had a fantastic meal
there” says Adam. “Julian’s serving some there” says Adam. “Julian’s serving some there” says Adam. “Julian’s serving some
really tasty dishes and has developed the really tasty dishes and has developed the
level of food on offer.” That would be chef level of food on offer.” That would be chef level of food on offer.” That would be chef
Julian Hill, whose menu includes beautifully Julian Hill, whose menu includes beautifully
composed French-accented dishes, such composed French-accented dishes, such
as Aylesbury duck breast with duck leg as Aylesbury duck breast with duck leg
baklava and blush-pink quince, which pairs baklava and blush-pink quince, which pairs
perfectly with Paringa Estate Pinot Noir. perfectly with Paringa Estate Pinot Noir. perfectly with Paringa Estate Pinot Noir.
From the lofty dining room, take in views From the lofty dining room, take in views
of the working winery, where geese and of the working winery, where geese and of the working winery, where geese and
sheep wander among the vines. sheep wander among the vines.33
ROOM TO ROAMROOM TO ROAM
A short drive down the road, A short drive down the road, A short drive down the road,
MontaltoMontalto (33 Red Hill-Shoreham Rd, Red (33 Red Hill-Shoreham Rd, Red
Hill South; montalto.com.au) is a D’Sylva Hill South; montalto.com.au) is a D’Sylva
family favourite thanks to its sprawling family favourite thanks to its sprawling
sculpture park, bountiful kitchen garden sculpture park, bountiful kitchen garden
and kid-friendly Piazza Cafe, where you can and kid-friendly Piazza Cafe, where you can
order snacks and pizzas to enjoy at shaded order snacks and pizzas to enjoy at shadedtables. For a more refined Montalto tables. For a more refined Montalto
experience, book lunch in The Restaurant, experience, book lunch in The Restaurant,
where bold flavour combinations include where bold flavour combinations include
Jerusalem artichokes with ginger, sea Jerusalem artichokes with ginger, sea
urchin and shiitake. A range of wines can urchin and shiitake. A range of wines can
be sampled at the Cellar Door, while a be sampled at the Cellar Door, while a
tutored tasting of top-tier releases is tutored tasting of top-tier releases is
available in the private wine room. available in the private wine room.44
FRENCH ACCENTFRENCH ACCENT
Another Peninsula favourite Another Peninsula favourite
is is Ten Minutes by TractorTen Minutes by Tractor (1333 (1333
Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge; Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge;
tenminutesbytractor.com.au). Sample tenminutesbytractor.com.au). Sample
award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay award-winning pinot noir and chardonnay
before dining on Stuart Bell’s produce-before dining on Stuart Bell’s produce-
driven dishes: hay-smoked mussels straight driven dishes: hay-smoked mussels straight
off the boat at Flinders, perhaps, or off the boat at Flinders, perhaps, or
Berkshire pork with pumpkin, quince Berkshire pork with pumpkin, quince
and pistachio. Just a minute’s drive and pistachio. Just a minute’s drive
away, sister restaurant away, sister restaurant Petit TracteurPetit Tracteur
(1208 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge; (1208 Mornington-Flinders Rd, Main Ridge;
petittracteur.com.au) serves French bistro petittracteur.com.au) serves French bistro petittracteur.com.au) serves French bistro
classics – charcuterie, duck confit, and classics – charcuterie, duck confit, and
tarte Tatin – in a light-filled dining room tarte Tatin – in a light-filled dining room tarte Tatin – in a light-filled dining room
surrounded by gardens and grapevines. surrounded by gardens and grapevines.5
BUBBLES OR
NNOOTHTHININGG
For a casual lunch or afternoon snack, call For a casual lunch or afternoon snack, call
in to in to Foxeys HangoutFoxeys Hangout (795 White Hill Rd, (795 White Hill Rd,
Red Hill; foxeys-hangout.com.au), where Red Hill; foxeys-hangout.com.au), where
winemaking brothers Michael and Tony Lee winemaking brothers Michael and Tony Lee
pour crisp sparkling wines, textural pinot pour crisp sparkling wines, textural pinot
gris and perfumed pinot noir. From the gris and perfumed pinot noir. From the
blackboard menu, choose chargrilled blackboard menu, choose chargrilled
quail, a tangy tomato salad or a wedge quail, a tangy tomato salad or a wedge
of triple-cream cheese. Love bubbles? of triple-cream cheese. Love bubbles?
Sign up for a personal blending session Sign up for a personal blending session
to create your own bottle of sparkling to create your own bottle of sparkling
wine to take home. wine to take home.@adamdsylvachef@adamdsylvachef146 delicious.com.au