The Mornington Peninsula in Australia is a newly developed wine region that has garnered a formidable reputation in a short period of time. The peninsula, just south of Melbourne, is surrounded by the Southern Ocean and has a cool maritime climate. Small scale commercial plantings began in a spotty fashion only in the 1970s, and what was a trickle became a flood.

This was due mainly to the region's initial success with Pinot Noir, a cool climate varietal that had proved difficult-at-best in Australia's historic regions. Additionally, the region's Chardonnay showed an entirely different, fresh, cool climate character and a capacity to develop in the bottle.

These two varietals form the vast bulk of plantings, with Riesling, Pinot Gris, and Viognier making increased appearances. There is now a long and growing list of boutique specialists to choose from, with much of the (frequently pricey) production being gobbled up by Melbourne's stylish restaurants. (Wine/Appellations)