T’Gallant Vineyard
T’Gallant Vineyard is one of the Mornington Peninsula’s most storied. Kevin McCarthy and Kathleen Quealy established the winery in the 1990s, when they first started experimenting with pinot grigio. The pair are credited with popularising the grape in Victoria and beyond, and the restaurant and cellar door has long been one of the region’s most popular attractions.
Treasury Wine Estates bought the vineyard in 2003, and sold to Melbourne fund managers Ben Gray and Dion Hershan in 2022. The duo enlisted Melbourne design firm Bergman & Co (Poodle Bar & Bistro, Mount Erica Hotel) for the design, which is inspired by the surrounding rolling hills and vines.
This is seen throughout, but particularly in the use of wooden panelling in the restaurant space and in the cellar door’s dark green hues. There are five zones for visitors to explore, including a family-friendly restaurant with banquette seating spilling onto a sheltered outdoor dining area, and a second shed-like dining area with sweeping vineyard views. There’s a cellar door fitted with copper benchtops and a cosy fireplace, plus tables and benches spread across the sprawling 100-acre grounds.
The menu features antipasti, cheese boards and the rectangular Roman-style woodfired pizzas that have been a crowd-pleasing staple at T’Gallant for years. The pizzas can be made vegan or gluten-free, and toppings include salami and caramelised onion, or mozzarella, gorgonzola and mushroom. Small plates run the gamut from mushroom and sage arancini to crispy Italian-spiced cauliflower, and pasta dishes include a prawn linguine and a hearty beef ragu.
The dessert menu follows the same theme, with Italian doughnuts and a honey and yoghurt panna cotta, which are both served with strawberries from neighbouring Sunny Ridge Farm when the fruit is in season.
The famous pinot grigio, and other styles, are available at the cellar door or the restaurant, along with beers and ciders.
Contact Details
Phone: (03) 5989 6188
Website: tgallantvineyard.com.au
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