Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove

The Verdict

Who knew that a literal food and wine paradise was only a ninety-minute drive from the CBD? We did.

Nestled in the rolling plains of Red Hill, this gorgeous winery is every foodie, wine connoisseur and sculpture enthusiast’s flat-out heaven on earth. Not only is the Montalto estate possibly the most beautiful slice of land to have graced this earth since Machu Picchu, it literally screams ‘wedding location of my dreams’.

Featuring both a fine-dining restaurant with a panoramic view of the vines and a casual-dining piazza café right next to the flourishing veggie garden which is tended to lovingly by Wendy—the owner of Montalto—and which supplies much of the fresh produce in season. Head chef Gerard Phelan ensures there’s no shortage of authentic Italian pizzas, smoked duck breast, and grilled octopus to round off your first class food education.

If it’s a personalised, private wine tasting that you’re after that there’s a swish new tasting room with a helluva view.

Montalto is, of course, a prominent name in the Australian wine scene, making wine from their own seven vineyards across the Mornington Peninsula by Winemaker, Simon Black. So you can rest assured you’ll be drinking/tasting/buying a damn good drop.

If you’re not already sold on this incredible winery, with its jaw-dropping landscape, delicious menu and its award-winning wine, then maybe the 20+ permanent sculptures scattered throughout the grounds will change your mind, or perhaps the option of a picnic at one of the eleven lush private (and VERY romantic) locations scattered throughout the estate.

Make sure you try the Pinot (we bought a box)!

Image credit: Griffin Simm for The Urban List