Winter Wine Weekend 2026: Your Complete Guide to the Mornington Peninsula's King's Birthday Festival
Every King's Birthday long weekend in Victoria, the Mornington Peninsula hosts one of the country's most beloved wine events. The Winter Wine Weekend brings 37 Peninsula wineries under a single roof at the Red Hill Showgrounds, pours approximately 150 wines in one session, and opens the cellar door trail for two more days of independent exploration across Sunday and Monday. In 2026, the festival runs from 6 to 8 June.
This guide is part of our complete guide to Mornington Peninsula wine tours.
If you have been thinking about visiting the Peninsula and have not yet locked in a date, this is the weekend to build around.
The 2026 Dates
Saturday 6 June 2026: Main festival day at the Pavilions, Red Hill Showgrounds. Doors open at 11am, close at 4pm. This is the centrepiece of the weekend.
Sunday 7 June 2026 and Monday 8 June 2026 (public holiday): Independent cellar door trail. The wineries that participated in Saturday's main event open their doors for direct visits. This is your chance to revisit producers you connected with on Saturday and go deeper into the wines at a more relaxed pace.
All event details and ticketing for 2026 are available on the official Winter Wine Weekend website. The Mornington Peninsula Vignerons Association also publishes participant winery listings and event updates as the date approaches.
What Happens on Saturday: The Main Festival
The Pavilions at the Red Hill Showgrounds is a well-run indoor tasting hall that can hold several hundred visitors comfortably across the session. Your ticket includes entry, a RIEDEL tasting glass, and access to all wine tastings from the 37 participating wineries. Staff at each winery stand are a mix of cellar door managers, sales representatives, and in some cases the winemakers themselves.
With 150 wines poured across 37 producers, you are not going to taste everything. The most useful approach is to do one pass of the hall first without stopping, note the producers you want to spend time with, and then work your way through the shortlist. This stops you filling your glass at the first table and missing the wines you actually came for.
Masterclasses run at dedicated time slots through the session. In 2026, scheduled options include a Pinot Gris session at 11:30am, Pinot Noir at 12:30pm, and Chardonnay at 2:30pm. Masterclasses are hosted by wine industry presenter Ed Merrison and give you a structured conversation with the winemakers behind each variety, with the wines in your glass as the reference point. These book out quickly, purchase your masterclass ticket alongside your general admission.
What to Do on Sunday and Monday
Saturday is the concentrated tasting experience. Sunday and Monday open up a different kind of day: you now know which producers impressed you on Saturday and you can visit them directly at their cellar doors, tasting at your own pace and without the festival crowd.
This two-phase structure is the smartest way to use the long weekend. Use Saturday to survey the region and identify your priorities; use Sunday and Monday to go deeper with the producers who earned it. Many winery restaurants book out during this weekend, so make your Sunday or Monday lunch reservation before you travel.
For a guided cellar door experience on the Sunday or Monday, several Peninsula operators run tailored tours for the long weekend period, picking up from Red Hill or local Peninsula accommodation. Browse Mornington Peninsula wine tour operators for options active during this weekend.
Logistics: Getting There, Getting Around
Getting to the festival: The Red Hill Showgrounds is on Arthurs Seat Road, Red Hill. From Melbourne, take the Peninsula Link and exit at Red Hill Road. The drive takes around 80 to 90 minutes from the CBD. Parking is available at the Showgrounds but fills quickly after 11:30am on Saturday. Arriving at opening time is strongly recommended.
Shuttle options: A number of operators run dedicated shuttle services between local accommodation and the Showgrounds on the Saturday, removing the driving problem on the main festival day. Check local accommodation listings and the official event site for current shuttle information. [CONFIRM shuttle operators, list changes annually]
Getting around for the cellar door trail (Sunday and Monday): A designated driver, a private tour operator pickup, or a combination of walking and calling ahead to nearby wineries are the practical options. Do not plan to drive yourself between wineries if you are drinking, the roads between Red Hill cellar doors are narrow, and police presence on the Peninsula during the long weekend is significant.
Accommodation: Book Early
Accommodation in the Red Hill area and on the wider Peninsula books out for this long weekend months in advance. Seriously: if you are reading this in March or April, the best properties are likely already gone for June. Check availability now and book something you are prepared to pay a cancellation fee on if your plans change.
Red Hill and surrounds: The closest to the Showgrounds, and the fastest to sell out. Boutique B&Bs, farm stays, and self-contained cottages in this area fill in January or February for the June weekend.
Sorrento and Portsea: Approximately 30 to 40 minutes from Red Hill, these coastal towns have more accommodation stock and retain some availability later in the season. Good dining options that take the pressure off needing a restaurant booking at a winery.
Melbourne base: If Peninsula accommodation is unavailable, staying in Melbourne and driving or taking a tour on the Saturday is a workable fallback. Several Melbourne tour operators run day-trips specifically for the festival. Budget for 90-minute transit each way.
Visit Mornington Peninsula maintains an accommodation directory and regional planning guides that are useful for first-time visitors to the area.
One Important Note: No Dogs at the Festival
The Winter Wine Weekend main festival at the Red Hill Showgrounds does not permit dogs on the grounds during the Saturday event. If you are bringing a dog to the Peninsula for the long weekend, plan dog-friendly cellar door visits for Sunday or Monday and leave your dog at your accommodation on the Saturday. For a full guide to which Peninsula cellar doors welcome dogs, see our article on dog-friendly wineries on the Mornington Peninsula.
What to Wear
Red Hill in June is genuinely cold. The Pavilions are partially covered but not fully enclosed, and the wind off the surrounding hills arrives without warning. Wear a proper coat, not a light jacket. Boots rather than heels if you are visiting on the Saturday or exploring cellar door gardens on the Sunday. A scarf. Layers you can remove if the room heats up inside.
Is the Winter Wine Weekend Worth It?
For anyone who has been meaning to visit the Mornington Peninsula wine region, this is the most efficient single day available. You taste 37 producers, talk to the people making the wine, identify the estates worth returning to, and leave with a shortlist for the Sunday and Monday cellar door trail that no amount of research beforehand could produce. The cost of the festival ticket, accommodation, and a tour operator for the weekend adds up to a serious investment, but it is one of the state's great wine weekends, and it earns its reputation every year.
Browse wine tour operators for the Winter Wine Weekend
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Winter Wine Weekend 2026? The main festival day is Saturday 6 June 2026, at the Pavilions, Red Hill Showgrounds, from 11am to 4pm. The cellar door trail extends through Sunday 7 June and Monday 8 June (King's Birthday public holiday in Victoria).
How much are Winter Wine Weekend 2026 tickets? Your ticket includes a RIEDEL tasting glass and access to all 37 participating winery tastings. Masterclass sessions are ticketed separately and have limited capacity. For current pricing and to book, visit the official Winter Wine Weekend website.
Do I need to book accommodation in advance for the Winter Wine Weekend? Yes, and as early as possible. Red Hill accommodation sells out for this long weekend by February or March in most years. Book your accommodation before you book your festival tickets.
Can I bring dogs to the Winter Wine Weekend? No. Dogs are not permitted at the Red Hill Showgrounds during the festival. You can bring dogs to many Peninsula cellar doors on Sunday and Monday, see our guide to dog-friendly wineries on the Mornington Peninsula for specific properties.
Is the Winter Wine Weekend suitable for non-wine drinkers? The festival is wine-focused, and the value proposition for a non-drinker is limited. That said, the cellar door trail on Sunday and Monday includes food producers and estate restaurants that offer a broader experience. If one person in your group does not drink wine, the cellar door days are more enjoyable than the main Saturday session.
What are the best masterclasses to book at the Winter Wine Weekend? In 2026, the Pinot Noir masterclass at 12:30pm is likely to be the highest-demand session given the variety's centrality to the Peninsula's identity. The Chardonnay session at 2:30pm tends to attract a more wine-experienced crowd and generates detailed discussion. Book early regardless of which you choose, all three sessions sell out ahead of the event.