ACTIVITIES MOOROODUC

Established in 1981 by Richard and Jill McIntyre, Moorooduc Estate is a small, family-run wine business that has developed an enviable reputation for complex and food friendly wines. Moorooduc Estate offers some of the finest of Mornington Peninsula wine and hand-crafted produce available for tasting and purchase at cellar door, as well as casual lunches on Saturday and Sunday. Their philosophy in everything they do is to make the most of top quality ingredients. Intensive, hands-on care in the vineyard, with minimal use of chemicals, produces the best possible fruit for their wines. Wild yeast ferments and minimal intervention winemaking, with a nod to traditional Burgundian techniques, allow their wines to express their site specificity, or terroir. Similarly, they aim to source ingredients that are seasonal, local and organic for the food that they offer in the cellar door, as well as for Jill's special luncheons and food events, promoted solely though their mailing list to their passionate food and wine customers. The wines are regularly praised in the press - most recently the 2008 'The Moorooduc' Chardonnay received 97 points from James Halliday, the top score for the variety, in his 2011 Australian Wine Companion, a guide in which Moorooduc Estate has held five star status for many years. Visit the website, or email them to sign up today! 'This is a serious winery that is certainly worth calling before you make your trip to the peninsula. The McIntyre family are well known in Melbourne wine circles and the wines are reserved, complex and very stylish, just as the McIntyres are in person. A host of Burgundian winemaking techniques result in a silky Pinot Noir and a very fine Chardonnay.' Stuart Gregor.

Established in 1973 and located in the 'Heart of the Peninsula', Devilbend course provides a great day's golf on a course that has couch fairways, automatic watering and excellent greens. It is a challenging 18 hole 6000m course set amidst a flora and fauna reserve. Over the past ten years the capital works program has been implemented with the result that the course has improved in all areas. Each hole provides magnificent views of undulating countryside and provides a variety of challenges for all golfers. The club and its players are widely respected in district and state competitions. Facilities include a driving range, practice nets and a large practice putting area. The clubhouse is renowned for its friendly atmosphere and the golf shop is equipped for all your needs. Lessons can be arranged with the professional staff. Bookings are required and dress standards apply.

The Mornington Railway (MR) is an operating railway museum, which recreates various Victorian Railways branch line activities "just as they used to be" for the education and enjoyment of the general public. The MR's longer-term vision is to offer a variety of services representing different methods of branch line operation in use from 1900 until the end of the branch line era in the 1970's. A feature of the MR is that original Victorian Railways heritage equipment and rollingstock is used to support and operate train services. The Mornington railway line is a heritage item in itself, having been opened in 1889. The main operational focus of the MR is the running of steam-hauled passenger trains, but original Victorian Railways diesel-electric locomotives are used on trains occasionally. Consideration is also being given to adding heritage goods vehicles onto regular passenger trains to recreate the era of the "mixed" train. Our trains run on a regular basis between Moorooduc and Mornington, a round distance of approximately 9kilometres. The remaining unrestored 4.5 kilometres section of the line between the main line junction at Baxter and Moorooduc is being restored as time and funds permit. The MR's main centre of activity is Moorooduc station (Melway 105 K9) conveniently located in the centre of the Mornington Peninsula, a popular holiday destination about 60 kilometres from Melbourne The MR is operated by the Mornington Railway Preservation Society (MRPS), a not-for-profit incorporated association, which is staffed by dedicated volunteers.

Stumpy Gully Block Established in 1989, this is the original home block and consists of 26 acres of vines. Stumpy Gully’s iconic Sauvignon Blanc is grown in the cool lower part of the gully. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are planted on west facing slopes protecting the fruit from over exposure, and Marsanne, Sangiovese and Cabernet Sauvignon are grown in the warmer spots.

Crooked Post Block So named for the family’s attempt to erect a line of nice straight posts for the vines when they couldn’t afford contractors to do it for them. This block is famous for its Shiraz, a variety which can be tricky in this region, but it’s been such a hit at Stumpy Gully that one year a group of international visitors purchased the entire vintage.

Black Night Block This 22 acre vineyard lies at the southern end of the original home block and was planted out in 2007 to Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Gris. This young vineyard shows much promise with its plantings of the different clones of Pinot Noir which seem to thrive on this cool site.