Popular weekend winery stop-off T’Gallant Vineyard has reopened after more than a year, showing off a reinvigorated Tuscan villa look befitting its vistas over the Mornington Peninsula’s hills.

Bergman & Co, which designed venues including Poodle Bar & Bistro and the Mount Erica Hotel, was selected to polish the winery’s five spaces, which had remained untouched while multimillion-dollar cellar doors such as Pt Leo Estate sprang up across the peninsula in recent years.

Still a casual, family-friendly destination – with rectangular pizzas still on the menu – any changes had to complement the rustic character of the estate, says designer Wendy Bergman.

An aubergine-and-terracotta palette now defines the La Baracca dining room, which has views over the property’s apple orchard and vineyard. The cellar door has a new copper bartop, high tables with Thonnet stools for longer visits, and fabric light fittings that cast a soft light. More greenery was added to outdoor areas, and new wallpaper displays harvest scenes in Cantina Felice, a more elevated dining area with new banquettes.

“It’s not over-curated; it’s not intimidating in any way,” says Bergman of the new design. “It just has this beautiful relaxed energy.”

The menu has also been expanded. Joining the winery’s signature Roman-style pizza al taglio (rectangular pizzas available by the slice) are new Italian-inspired dishes such as prawn linguine and beef ragu, crowd-pleasing desserts including bomboloni and tiramisu, and a range of snacks. Think wagyu bresaola, pizza fritta (puffy pockets of deep-fried dough) with sugo, and Italian fried chicken spiced with smoked paprika and dried oregano.

T’Gallant was founded in 1994 by winemakers Kevin McCarthy and Kathleen Quealy, who planted pinot gris and other Italian grapes. The estate was sold in 2003 and changed hands again last December, with Treasury Wine Estates selling to two fund managers, Ben Gray and Dion Hershan.

Open daily 10.30am-5pm

1385 Mornington-Flinders Road, Main Ridge, 03 5989 6188, tgallantvineyard.com.au