Sunday lunch: Ten Minutes by Tractor, Main Ridge

THIS curiously named winery, with signature tractor parked out the front, has been kicking goals since it opened its doors five years ago. It is so named because the label comprises three vineyards on Main Ridge that are all 10 minutes by tractor apart — the McCutcheon vineyard up the road, the Judd vineyard to the west and the Wallis vineyard nearby.

We're tempted to start with a wine-tasting at the warm, welcoming cellar door but decide to proceed to the glassed-in space overlooking vineyards and another lovely old, faded red 1943 Aliss Chalmers tractor.

There are five choices each for entree, main course, cheese and dessert — your choice of two for $65 or three for $85 and a six-course degustation menu for $110 — with matching estate wines ($65) or others ($75). Check out the award-winning doorstopper wine list, a veritable tome of exceptional international wines, including a 2000 Romanee Conti Grand Cru — a snip at $12,500.

I settle on a 2008 chardonnay from the Wallis vineyard ($18 a glass, $70 a bottle) to complement my entree of Mooloolaba tiger prawns on a garlic shoot puree with Flinders tomatoes and fennel and topped with a Bloody Mary foam. My husband is mighty pleased with his choice — Red Hill goat's cheese on a bed of black rice, with heirloom beetroot and vegetables from the restaurant kitchen.

Being a dampish early winter's day, I plump for the Cape Grim eye fillet cooked sous vide with beef cheek tortellini and autumn vegetables with a beef consomme poured over at the table — with a Wallis vineyard pinot noir ($22 a glass, $85 a bottle). My husband opts for the Port Lincoln tuna with peppered pancetta, aioli, freekah and leeks and is not disappointed.

Chef Stuart Bell's presentations are outstanding and we can't go without having at least one dessert. We share caramelised pears with honey ice cream, beignet, liquorice and cinnamon espuma — a perfect finale.

Reviewed by Tricia Welsh, who was hosted by Mornington Peninsula Tourism.

Ten Minutes by Tractor, 1333 Mornington-Flinders Road, Main Ridge, 5989 6080. Open Wed-Sun noon-3pm, Thu-Sat 6.30pm-late. See tenminutesbytractor.com.au. Melways 190 E11. To stay: nearby options include Stony Creek Cottages (peninsulapages.com/stonycreek), Georges on Arthur's (georgesonarthurs.com.au), Morning Sun Vineyard (morningsunvineyard.com.au).