Things to do in Sorrento
Sorrento is the gateway to one of Australia’s finest cool-climate wine regions. The Mornington Peninsula has more than 50 cellar doors, most of them in the hills of Red Hill and Main Ridge, 30 to 40 minutes’ drive from the village through farmland and orchards.
Last updated October 2026
The peninsula is best known for pinot noir and chardonnay, with pinot gris close behind, grown in small vineyards cooled by sea breezes from two bays. Montalto, Port Phillip Estate, Ten Minutes by Tractor and Crittenden Estate are among the well-known names, and Pt. Leo Estate pairs its wine with a large sculpture park overlooking Western Port.
Many cellar doors have restaurants with long lunch menus built around local produce, and some of the region’s best dining happens among the vines.
Make lunch the destination and book it ahead, especially on weekends and through summer. Two or three cellar doors is plenty for a relaxed day. Book a driver or a winery tour so that nobody has to count glasses, and check opening days: some smaller producers open only on weekends.
Closer to home, St Andrews Beach Brewery at Fingal is about 20 minutes from Sorrento, and craft breweries, cideries and gin distilleries are scattered across the peninsula, many with food and a garden to sit in.
Between the vineyards, roadside stalls and farm gates sell what grows in the red soil of the hinterland: berries, apples, cheese, olive oil and preserves. Sunny Ridge at Main Ridge is a long-standing pick-your-own strawberry farm in season. Then come back to the village, where many of the venues on our where to eat guide pour peninsula wine by the glass.
Getting here
Drive from Melbourne in about 90 minutes, cross on the ferry from Queenscliff, or take the train to Frankston and bus route 788 down the peninsula. Once you arrive, the visitor information centre on the foreshore has maps and local advice. Find where to stay, and read more about getting here and around.