How appropriate that a column designed to point you in the direction of the best Peninsula wines should be written by the founder of Wine Compass.

Adam Nicholls, from Wine Compass, joins the Mornington Peninsula Magazine team from this issue as a regular wine columnist for our new section Peninsula Uncorked.

Adam turned his back on a successful career as a digital marketing manager to pursue his dream of owning his own business and to follow his two passions: food and wine. Adam loved wine tours but thought they could be run better, so he combined his skills in digital marketing, his knowledge of the Peninsula and Yarra Valley wine-producing regions and an acute focus on customer satisfaction to launch Wine Compass in 2013. Since then, with the help of Adam’s wife, Sara and the rest of the team, the business has grown substantially and has run more than 1000 tours.

Wine Compass focuses only on groups looking to organise events or days out with friends and/or family, as well as corporate events and special occasions such as birthdays and hens’ parties. The itinerary is individually tailored after a consultation with the group and can include any preferences the group might have. “We can even mix things up with breweries, cideries, dairies (for cheese), distilleries and chocolateries,” Adam says.

Wine Compass is a private company that’s not tied to any wineries, preferring small, boutique wineries that give guests a great experience, including behind-the-scenes access. The key, says Adam, is to make the tour fun and social.

So whether you’re an occasional tippler or a passionate connoisseur, let Adam show you the way to the best wines the Peninsula has to offer. Read his first Peninsula Uncorked column in our Food and Wine section.