mornington peninsula visitors guide 16 summer 2015 SUMMER HIGHLIGHTS A Deluxe Wine Experience SET TO CAPTIVATE VISITORS THIS SUMMER Garry Crittenden is a winemaking and viticulture legend on the Mornington Peninsula - a pioneer who planted and crafted cool climate varieties first in the early 1980s.
A few years ago, Garry decided to hand the keys to his winery over to his talented son Rollo, a previous winner of the Australian Young Gun of Wine award.
Winemaking runs deep in the blood of the Crittenden family along with a healthy dollop of entrepreneurial flair.
Hardly surprising that Rollo now runs the family business alongside his marketing-minded sister Zoe, and together they have launched a unique cellar door experience a deluxe new Wine Centre to complement the picturesque estate s 30-year old vineyard, luxury accommodation and superb Stillwater at Crittenden restaurant.
As Rollo and Zoe walk through the recently-completed addition at Crittenden Estate, they discuss their long- term plans for the business.
A new winery is being built alongside a fermentation area, lab and barrel room.
But the most dramatic change of all is the large and light- filled Crittenden Wine Centre that is now accessed via a redesigned and beautifully landscaped formal entrance.
Here, visitors are welcomed into an airy, ultra-stylish seated tasting room with adjacent private space for larger groups and big glass doors that look out onto a rustic courtyard, garden, lawn and ornamental lake.
For over two years Rollo and Zoe have meticulously planned the Crittenden Estate Wine Centre.
Here staff will greet guests at the door, seat them at a table and then, in a relaxed and informal way, present an opportunity to taste flights of wine , says Rollo.
In essence, we have identified an opportunity to better engage with wine lovers and visitors to the region and to break with the mould of the typical cellar door experience , Zoe added.
Having twenty-six different wines across five brands in the portfolio means they have a range of alternative varieties for people to taste something new and different.
We offer people a structured wine flight where they can taste five Pinot Noirs, or maybe a flight of Spanish style wines, Italian varieties or a mixture of all of the above.
It s about information, but more importantly, fun in a relaxed environment making the whole experience as rewarding and beneficial as possible .
Rollo added.
This is an opportunity for people to discover what we are looking to achieve with our wine styles how the wines are made, and the character to look for.
It s about information, but more importantly, fun in a relaxed environment making the whole experience as rewarding and beneficial as possible.
Zoe describes their approach as an extended wine experience - something quite original in the current market.
The cost of this experience is in no way be prohibitive, as we are only looking to cover costs.
Pricing is comparative to the cost of a glass of wine in a restaurant around 10 , with the added benefit of tapping into the knowledge and passion of the people behind the wines.
Wine Centre guests will come away with an experience, and a better understanding of a wine variety across a range of price points, which has always been a hallmark of the Crittenden Estate offer , Zoe explained.
When it comes to wine, Rollo and Zoe have a shared passion.
Together they have adopted the family tradition of making tried true cool-climate varieties alongside some cracking early-drinking Italian and Spanish varietal wines.