Wine tasting on Phillip Island

Phillip Island is best known for its penguin parade and Grand Prix racing circuit… but did you know this beachy getaway also has wineries?

That’s right – there are two wineries on Phillip Island. Plus, there’s a third one you could visit while you’re there if you’re really dedicated… read on for details of this off-the-beaten-track option!

After a year of me organising regular regional trips around Victoria that just happened to be well-known wine areas, my partner decided to take the reins and plan a short summer break on Phillip Island. (I’m pretty sure his main motivation was go-karting at the Grand Prix track.) Naturally, when I discovered there are two wineries on the little isle, hitting them both up for tastings became my top priority.

The two venues, Phillip Island Winery and Purple Hen Winery, both offer lovely, laid-back experiences – albeit quite different in style.

Phillip Island Winery

Phillip Island Winery is located towards the southwest of the island, five minutes’ drive from the Grand Prix Circuit and 10 minutes from both the Nobbies Centre (i.e. penguin central) and Cowes (the main town). This makes it a perfect spot for lunch in between activities. Or it could just be your hangout for a lazy afternoon.

If you’re booking for lunch, try to allow time beforehand to do a tasting, which is in a separate area called The Yards, with outdoor and covered tables. Their $15 tasting paddle includes 6 wines. Found a favourite? You can pick up bottles to take home at The Yards cellar door. They also have a small range of books and homewares.

The winery is quite new and their vines were only recently planted, so for now, they’re making wines with grapes from mainland Victoria (like Gippsland and the King Valley). My tasting paddle was a wonderful rainbow of white, rosé, red and sweet wines – lots of variety, and the reds were the standout to me.

In the restaurant, either order your new favourite or take the opportunity to try a wine that you haven’t already sampled by the glass. A light red washes down their woodfired pizzas very nicely. The food menu also includes a tempting range of small and large dishes that would make a great sharing-style meal.

They also have plenty of grass for picnicking and lawn games to play with, so make the most of a sunny summer afternoon enjoying good food, wine and ambiance.

Phillip Island Winery is open from 11am to 5pm daily (until 5.30pm on weekends).

Purple Hen Winery

Located towards the east end of the island off the Rhyll-Newhaven Road (about 10 minutes from Cowes), Purple Hen Winery is a smaller site, with a little cellar door and tables spilling out across the lawn.

Their vineyards date back to 2002 and being very close to the ocean, have a cool, maritime climate ideal for pinot noir. That’s the main grape they grow, followed by shiraz. They also grow sauvignon blanc, riesling, pinot gris, chardonnay, viognier and cabernet sauvignon.

From these, they have 20+ wines on offer. A tasting costs $20, and you can select six wines from this extensive list. Then sip a glass on site or stock up on bottles to take home. Light nibbles are also available until 4pm.

My friendly host, Jenny, had a personal touch, remembering visitors’ names as she kept multiple tables supplied with wine and water on a busy summers’ day. This warm welcome made for an enjoyable afternoon in the sunshine.

Speaking of names, what’s the deal with “Purple Hen”? It’s a reference to the purple swamphens you will spot all over the island. (They are less abundant than the grey Cape Barren geese… but I guess Grey Goose is already taken as a booze brand! Plus, purple hens sound rather more interesting.)

A bonus Phillip Island winery tip: French Island

French Island is located just north of Phillip Island, and is actually larger, but much more untouched. It has no local government, two thirds of it is a national park, and its 100-odd residents live completely off the grid.

But despite the teeny population, there’s a winery! French Island Vineyards grow pinot noir, pinot gris and shiraz grapes. All the wines are handmade and bottled on-site.

They are open on weekend afternoons from November to April only.

You can get to French Island via a short ferry from Cowes. Only residents’ vehicles are allowed, so once you’re there, you’ll need to get around by foot – or bring your bike. It’s about 10km to the winery from the ferry. There’s a small range of accommodation and campsites on the island if you want to stay overnight.

You can also book a French Island wine tour with Naturaliste Tours. It includes transport, wine tasting, lunch, and photo stops to enjoy the island’s scenery and abundant fauna.

Tips for visiting the wineries on Phillip Island

You only need one afternoon to visit both Phillip Island Winery and Purple Hen Winery. Allow an extra day on your trip if you want to visit French Island as well.

There’s plenty more to do on the island, so I’d suggest going for at least two nights if you can. The main attractions are:

• Animal encounters at the Koala Conservation Reserve, seal rocks (which you can visit on a cruise) and Penguin Parade
• Short walks and hikes including the Rhyll Inlet walk, Cape Woolamai trails, and various viewpoints
• The Phillip Island Grand Prix circuit (where you can race go-karts on a mini replica of the track)
• Several beaches for swimming and watersports (book a kayak tour)

The island can get very busy, particularly during Victorian school holidays, long weekends and Grand Prix time. So, book ahead for accommodation and any activities and restaurants you have your heart set on! In particular, the famous penguin parade can sell out weeks in advance. Also allow time for travel delays: there’s only one road to get on and off the island, so an accident or heavy traffic can cause traffic jams.

The wineries of Phillip Island are worth a visit along with the many other attractions of this holiday hotspot.

Looking for more wine day trips or weekend escapes near Melbourne? Explore more Victorian wine regions.