Meet the Makers
Rahona Valley
Toby Pieters and Dianne Gardiner dreamed of owning a property on the Mornington Peninsula. In July 2014 they stumbled across Rahona Valley, a small vineyard in a secluded valley and fell in love immediately. Since then they have embarked on a journey into the world of wine, taken on several new vineyards, expanded production and built their own winery and specialised sparkling production facility and cellar door in Dromana.
They are dedicated to creating exceptional Methode Traditionelle Sparkling wine right here on the Mornington Peninsula. Exceptional sparkling wine finds its roots in cool climate regions and renowned for its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the Peninsula boasts ideal conditions for crafting exquisite beverages. Together they have set out to redefine the landscape, ensuring that the Mornington Peninsula becomes synonymous with outstanding sparkling wine.
Their passion drives them to blend provenance, precision, and patience, resulting in a truly unique and unparalleled product.
Olieve & Olie
Olieve & Olie began in 2000 when Andy and Jude Steel planted 2000 olive trees on a small property, 50km west of Echuca. With perfect climate and soil conditions, the olive trees flourished and soon after their first harvest, the first batch of olive oil soap was created.
In 2010, Andy & Jude sold their grove and moved to the Mornington Peninsula where Olieve & Olie continued to grow from their home studio in St Andrews Beach. They still source the olive oil from their old grove and return every year to prune, maintaining the same quality and connection with the region.
In April 2015 their daughter, Sarah, joined the team and they moved the business into a purpose built factory in Rosebud. In 2017, son Hal joined the business and they expanded into a second factory. Winning a Gift & Life InStyle Gala Award in 2016 and a finalist in 2017, and then a finalist in the Peninsula Business Awards in 2018, Olieve & Olie is a real 'kitchen to factory' success story.
Frank and Wendy Zantvoort emigrated from Holland to Australia with 4 children, purchasing their first block of land on the Mornington Peninsula in 1981. Initially it was growing citrus that caught their interest, but it was viticulture that won out and the family planted its first grape vines in 1989 in Moorooduc. Further plantings nearby at 1675 Stumpy Gully Road were established during the 1990s leading to a further 25 hectares, all planted to red varieties.Today Stumpy Gully Vineyard is into its second generation of Zantvoort family winemakers and viticulturists. Three distinct blocks produce 11 varieties of wine under the Stumpy Gully name. The classic Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are produced together with Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. More exotic varieties are grown, too, including Pinot Grigio, Viognier, Marsanne and, since 1998, the first Peninsula-grown Sangiovese.
Ridge Estate Olive Oil
Ridge Estate is an award winning supplier of extra virgin olive oil, kalamata olives, tapenade & tasty dukkah.
Since starting off as a small family business selling at local markets, Ridge Estate has earnt itself a fantastic reputation for quality products & good old fashion service.
Their sourced Olive Groves produce some of the finest Extra Virgin Olive Oils available in Australia. They currently supply the general public & a large number of Caterers & fine Restaurants.
Once you have experienced their award winning extra virgin olive oil you will never look back!
Cuvee Chocolate
In 2014, Maître Patissier, Chocolatier and Wine Connoisseur Deniz Karaca and his wife Kylie founded Cuvee Chocolate from their home kitchen, just on the fringe of the Mornington Peninsula.
Being a Master Pastry Chef, Deniz's achievements include Australian Patissier of the Year 2016, #1 Chocolatier in Australia and Asia in 2012 and 2013 and more recently he appeared as a guest chef on Masterchef Australia in 2017.
Together with a team of passionate chocolate makers, Deniz and Kylie dedicate themselves every day to making Cuvee Chocolate, Australia’s most exclusive and iconic range of chocolate designed to be paired with the finest drops of the worlds most esteemed vineyards and distilleries.
Red Hill Candles
Ebony Flett founded Red Hill Candles in 2016 from the spare bedroom of her home. In the beginning the focus was on building brand awareness, research and refining product quality and developing a plan to expand.
After building a loyal fan base, receiving numerous awards, attending countless craft markets and being stocked in many amazing stores and attractions, Ebony moved the business into a factory in 2020 in the Dromana Habitat, a space they could grow into and launch an experience from.
Red Hill Candles now offers a custom blend candle making experience at their Scent Library and host regular candle making workshops in their Scent Lab, inviting participants to join a journey of inventiveness unlike any other in Australia.
Bass & Flinders
Proudly the first distillery on the Mornington Peninsula, Bass & Flinders Distillery was born in 2009 from an admiration for hand crafted, premium aged spirits through the distillation of grapes, taking inspiration from traditional French Charentaise production methods. The specially selected Victorian grapes are double distilled into a bright and fruity eau de vie or grape- based spirit in small batches using an Alembic Pot Still and are used to create a range of award winning gins, liqueurs and brandy. This spirit is a reflection of the quality and craftsmanship that goes into every bottle. Second generation distiller Holly Klintworth continues the family passion to produce world class spirits that capture the essence of their home on the Mornington Peninsula. Like their namesakes, we they are committed to continually exploring the infinite possibilities to create unique small-batch, handcrafted drinks while staying true to the region through the use of local produce wherever possible.
Original Spirit Co
Original Spirit Co. is a family owned and operated distillery located in Somerville. Since it was established just a few years ago, their Classic Dry Gin has won three prestigious awards at the 2017 World Wine and Spirits Competition in New York including Double Gold, Best in Show Gin and Best in Show Un-Aged White Spirits. Original Spirit Co not only pride themselves on creating a wide range of international award winning premium spirits, but their latest creation, GINFUSION, allows you to create a premium cocktail with just the addition of soda water. Genius.
Mumma Made
Mumma Made is Louise Evenden, the creator of the Mornington Peninsula's finest preserves and fermented foods.
All products are hand made at home on the Mornington Peninsula in small batches, using traditional preserving methods.
Mumma Made showcases their range of handmade products at local gourmet markets across the Mornington Peninsula!
Endota Spa
The Endota Spa story began in 2000 when Melanie Gleeson pursued her dream to give back and inspire others to connect with themselves. The first day spa on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula paved the way for wellbeing to be considered a priority rather than a treat.
Endota is an indigenous word meaning 'beautiful' and the natural environment of the Mornington Peninsula became a guiding inspiration. The expansive light, the relaxing colours and the power of nature to heel is embodied in their spas, products and organic treatments.
What started as one small business is now Australia's largest day spa network with spas in over 100 locations and employing over 1000 people.
Jetty Road Brewery
As local boys, with a passion for all things craft beer and a childhood love for the Mornington Peninsula, the team combined their favourite things to create Jetty Road Brewery.
Jetty Road Brewery believe in creating an experience. Their passion for awesome local craft beer and great company has evolved into the dream of finding the best local produce and sharing it with friends.
The boys wanted to brew an awesome, hop-driven American Pale Ale, Amber Ale and IPA plus a range of craft beers, combined with industrial brewery surroundings and sensational food and wine that is predominantly locally sourced.
Put together with a love of the simple and natural lifestyle, synonymous with life on the coast.
Montalto Vineyard & Olive Grove
Montalto is a family owned and operated business set on a picturesque 50 acre property including 30 acres of vines, a dedicated cellar door, restaurant, piazza cafe, flourishing market garden, olive grove, 11 secret picnic spots and sculpture park. The restaurant first opened in 2002, since being awarded 14 chef's hats in its fine dining restaurant and numerous awards for its three wine labels. In fact this unique offering has been awarded Best Winery Tourism Destination by Gourmet Traveller and given a 5-star rating by Australian wine critic and vigneron James Halliday.
Jimmy Rum
Jimmy Rum is the first dedicated craft rum distillery in Victoria. Following a 20 year career at sea as a marine engineer, James McPherson started a ridiculous rumour of opening a rum distillery. The idea started to grow and before he knew it he was on a trip to North America, the Caribbean and Europe to do some deep and thorough research on craft distilling. Arriving home, well and truly bitten by the craft spirits industry, he was inspired by the incredible passion the distillers had for their product and the craft.
Now, Jimmy Rum just doesn't produce great rum, they are on a mission to share with you how diverse, unique and exciting rum can be with their Australian crafted distinctive and delicious rums produced at their unique distillery located in Dromana.
St Andrews Beach Brewery
St Andrews Beach Brewery is situated on a 38 hectare property formerly known as 'Markdel', the Freedman Brother's horse training facility where horse racing greats such as Makybe Diva, Mummify and Miss Andretti were once trained. Long time Mornington Peninsula resident and passionate brewer Darren Purchase saw a unique opportunity for the property and along with co-owner Michael Freedman and a team of business partners set about turning the former stables into a beautiful and truly unique world class brewery. The brewery's stable doors opened in 2017 and what once housed up to 80 thoroughbred horses is now home to 8,000 apple and pear cider trees growing alongside hops and a fully functioning farm and a new breed of champions in the form of some seriously good craft beer.
Two Bays Brewery
Richard Jeffares loved craft beer until he was diagnosed with coeliac disease in 2015.
On a strict gluten free diet, he couldn’t find the quality and variety of craft beer he’d fallen in love with in Australia. He feared he’d never do a tasting paddle with mates again.
On a road trip through America a year ago, Richard discovered brewers making gluten free beer that was just as good, if not better than the beers he remembered. Richard returned home inspired and launched TWØBAYS Brewing Co in 2017.
Their passion is creating modern beer using ancient grains. So everybody can explore a new world of flavour and enjoy a beer with friends – safe in the knowledge it’s always gluten free.
Red Hill Brewery
One of the first independent craft breweries on the Mornington Peninsula, Karen and David Golding established the brewery in 2005 amidst a hop garden on top of Red Hill. It was born out of a passion for amazing full flavoured brews enjoyed overseas, a love all things foodie and the lifestyle that the wonderful Mornington Peninsula offers.
Their philosophy is to brew beers that are sessionable and a pleasure to drink, even the most challenging beers which appeal to the true craft beer lover always feature balance and drinkability.
Their most sessionable beers are crafted all year round, and include Kolsch/Golden Ale, Pilsner, Wheat Beer, Scotch Ale and Pale Ale, which is featured in our Craft Beer Sampler Hamper.