Spotlight on Australia: Mornington Peninsula & Tasmania
We’re excited to continue the 🌍🍷 “Wines of the World Series” with a spotlight on Australia. Over the coming weeks, we’ll explore key regions and varieties with resources from Wine Australia, who have generously agreed to share their content with the Berlin Wine School Community. One way to look at Australia’s wine regions is by climate type. Let’s continue exploring regions with a cool maritime climate: Mornington Peninsula and Tasmania.
📖Mornington Peninsula key facts:
Modern wine production started in the 1970s.
One of Australia’s “most maritime” wine regions, surrounded by three bodies of water: Port Phillip Bay, Western Port Bay, and Bass Strait, which significantly cools the climate and extends the growing season.
All vineyards are located max 7 km from the sea.
Rain and wind can pose challenges to wine growing. Despite high rainfall, the majority of vineyards are irrigated.
Past volcanic activity resulted in a diverse topography and microclimates, offering many options for viticulture.
It has 976 ha total vineyard area at altitudes between 10 to 296 m and diverse soils ranging from yellow and brown soils over clay, red volcanic to fertile, sandy soils.
It is called “Pinot’s Paradise” and internationally renowned for its Pinot Noir which thrives in the region’s cool climate.
The most planted varieties are: Pinot Noir (48%), Chardonnay (31%), and Pinot Gris/Grigio (14%).*
Whole bunch fermentation in red wines is common.
It has over 200 wineries, mostly small-scale and family-run.
*As of 2025 and the Wine Australia website.
📖Tasmania key facts:
Modern wine production emerged between the 1960s and 1980s.
As Australia’s southernmost region (GI), it consists of 7 distinct winegrowing areas (see below).
As an island, it is heavily impacted by ocean winds and experience high rainfall and humidity.
Rain, disease, frost, and drought during exceptionally dry years present a risk to viticulture.
It has a high vintage variation (difference in climatic and weather conditions between vintages).
Mountains protect the island from the worst climatic impacts. The use of windbreaks is common, and site selection is key.
Due to its southern latitude, it has an extended amount of sunshine.
It has a 2,084 ha total vineyard area at altitudes between 10 and 330 m and very diverse soils.
The conditions are ideal for cool climate varieties and various styles of sparkling wine, which accounts for up to 40% of total production.*
The most planted varieties are: Pinot Noir (43%), Chardonnay (28%), and Sauvignon Blanc (14%).*
*As of 2025 and the Wine Australia website.
🔎Did you know?
Mornington Peninsula is also known for its craft breweries, ciders, and boutique distilleries.
Many Mornington Peninsula producers has been experimenting with planting density, increasing the Australian standard of rows 2.5 to 3.5 m apart, to produce smaller berries with more concentrated flavour.
Kathleen Quealy, the founder of T’Gallant winery in Mornington’s Peninsula, was named the “Queen of Australian Pinot Grigio” for pioneering this variety in Australia.
Tasmania's climate is often compared to Champagne or the Rhine valley.
Tasmania is considered a fine dining destination.
Tasmania is named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman who discovered the island in 1642.
🎓Want to learn more?
Review the Mornington Peninsula snapshot including the latest vintage statistics.
Read more about the history of Pinot Gris/Grigio in Australia and the “Queen of Pinot Grigio”, Kathleen Quealy.
Review the Tasmania snapshot including the latest vintage statistics.
Discover Tasmania’s winegrowing areas.
💬Share your thoughts!
Have you ever visited Mornington Peninsula or Tasmania? Which other regions use whole bunch fermentation for red wines (as in Mornington Peninsula)? How would you describe their Pinot Noir? Do you know any places in Berlin to taste sparkling wines from these regions? How do they compare to Champagne? Share your thoughts!
All resources, maps, images, and data courtesy of Wine Australia.
➡️Coming up: Hunter Valley & Langhorne Creek