Wine Tasting Experience
For wine lovers, it doesn’t get much better than sipping delicious drops straight from the cellar door. A wine tasting tour allows you to meet the winemakers, taste a range of local wines, and wander through the beautiful vineyards where the grapes are grown. It’s the best way to learn about wine and have a great day out in the countryside.
The Yarra Valley is Victoria’s best known wine region, with a cool climate perfect for producing wines like Chardonnay and Pinot noir. As well as an abundance of wineries, the region boasts an impressive array of restaurants and cafes, so you can linger over a long lunch full of delicious local produce.
How to Get Here
The Yarra Valley is an area north west of Melbourne, including towns such as Healesville, Coldstream, Yering and Badger Creek. It is less than an hour’s drive from central Melbourne, making it an easy day trip for those staying in the city. Follow the Eastern Highway to Ringwood and then continue of Maroondah Highway.Getting Around
The best way to move around the Yarra Valley is by car. There are lots of wine tasting tours available, which depart from city locations or can be organised when you arrive in the Yarra Valley. The advantage of a tour is that you can taste plenty of delicious wine without worrying about getting behind the wheel. If you are organising your own tour, make sure to nominate a designated driver.
Best Wineries
Struggling to choose the wineries to visit on your tasting? These are some of our favourites:
- Yilenna Park – a family-owned vineyard specialising in aged red wines
- Coombe Yarra Valley – once the home of Australian icon Dame Nellie Melba
- Helen’s Hill – beautiful outlooks and dog-friendly
- Domaine Chandon – the Yarra Valley home of the international brand
- Yering Station – the first vineyard in Victoria, first planted in 1838.
Things To Know
Opening Hours and Bookings
You don’t need to book for wine tastings – simply arrive and enjoy! While most wineries will be open when you visit, it might be worth calling ahead if you have your heart set on a specific one. For lunch or dinner, reservations are recommended.
Food
Need a meal to go with that wine? There are some beautiful restaurants in the Yarra Valley, serving modern Australian cuisine and using delicious, locally grown produce. And for something sweet, make sure you check out the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery, located on Old Healesville Rd.