Only an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a great destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. The area is known for its exceptional sparkling wine, which is made from the chardonnay and pinot noir grapes that are grown there. Nebbiolo, Savagnin, and chenin blanc are not as widely available, but you can locate them if you know where to search.
There are about one hundred and sixty wineries in the area to visit, ranging in size from single-owner establishments to multinational conglomerates. Confused about how to get started? We highly recommend these Yarra Valley wines.
Check out our breakdown of all the top weekend trip destinations in Victoria for additional options. Stay in the city and visit some of Melbourne's top wine bars instead.
FAQs About Melbourne
Over eighty wineries span the Yarra Valley, each of which express the diversity of its terroir, the passion of its producers, a mastery of traditional practices and a rebellious instinct to push the boundaries.
With heaps of stuff to do, see, eat (and of course, drink), the Yarra Valley is still Victoria's ultimate city escape. You can get everything here: boutique hotels among the trees, some of Australia's best wineries, highly renowned cheese shops and some truly epic drives.
From Melbourne, travel along the Eastern Freeway and continue onto Eastlink tollway. Exit at Ringwood Bypass and turn left onto the Maroondah Highway and follow the road through Ringwood and Lilydale to Healesville. At Coldstream, leave the Maroondah Highway and turn onto the Melba Highway to Yarra Glen.
Helen and Joey Estate
Helen and Joey Estate is surprisingly difficult to discover for such a large winery. It's not near the Melba or Maroondah motorways, the two major wine routes through the Yarra Valley, and it's easy to miss the exit while following Google Maps instructions. The estate is one of the most beautiful in the valley, therefore it is well worth the detour to return to it.
There's a spacious tasting room and cellar within, but if the weather's nice, the finest seats in the house are on the terrace, where you can take in views of the vineyards and the gentle rolling hills beyond. You may be able to taste all of the wines available here if the winery isn't too busy. Enjoy your wine with some nibbles and charcuterie, and don't forget to pick up a few bottles to enjoy at home or take with you to this prime location.
The winery, like many in the Yarra Valley, takes great pleasure in its chardonnay, pinot noir, and sparkling varietals, and sells them at a variety of pricing ranges. Helen and Joey Estate's Wild Child collection is for the adventurous drinker looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
They are avant-garde, low-intervention, skin-contact, and exciting because of the winemaker's creativity and experimentation.
Pimpernel Vineyards
Chardonnay is the magic ingredient here. It's a Chardy for Chardy fans; fruity, smooth, and easy to drink. You won't hear any of the "oh, the chardonnay we produce is nothing like the others; it's more like a riesling in disguise..." nonsense that you may hear elsewhere in the Yarra Valley.
Pimpernel is owned by a husband-and-wife team, Mark and Fiona Horrigan, and its wines accurately portray the nuances of their grape sources.
Mark's mother stole a few of limestones out of a Burgundian pinot noir vineyard since the family takes terroir very seriously. After having the stones evaluated, Mark buried over 250 metric tonnes of comparable aggregated limestone in his Australian vineyard.
Above it are planted vineyards of pinot noir, which provide some of the finest wines in the Yarra Valley.
Hand-harvesting the fruit and little processing allow for a more authentic and flavorful end product. Because of this, the resulting wine is full-bodied, nuanced, and excellent. Very little of the wine sold here costs less than $40 a bottle, so this is hardly a bargain cellar.
We do not have a restaurant on site, and our basement door is not big enough to host more than 10 individuals at once, so large hen parties should search elsewhere. A visit to the Yarra Valley is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended for wine lovers who want to learn more about the region's winemaking process.
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Paringa Estate
On the Mornington Peninsula, Paringa Estate was one of the first commercial vineyards. Before Lindsay McCall bought the plot of property in 1984, it had been a neglected apple orchard. The winemaker, who taught himself the trade, spent the next several years cultivating 10 acres of land into vineyards before releasing his first vintage in 1987.
McCall and his son Jamie (who joined as assistant winemaker in 2012) have a few tricks up their sleeves to deal with the Peninsula's chilly temperature, which may be a challenge for local vignerons. The principal estate on Paringa Road is shaped like an amphitheatre, which allows sunlight to be concentrated in a gully and so organically warm the grapes.
Trellises in the form of a U are also used in a number of locations. This time-consuming layout is effective in reducing the likelihood of mildew while simultaneously increasing exposure to sunlight and crop production.
The estate's wine collection matured enough in 1999 to warrant the construction of the restaurant now known as Paringa.
The Estate series is made from lower yielding grapes, some of which are more than 30 years old, while the Peninsula series uses fruit from five locally leased vineyards. The grapes for the Single Vineyard series come from the oldest and most established vines at Paringa, located right below the restaurant.
It's a little restaurant, but the cuisine is well worth the trip. There is a set meal available, consisting of three or four courses, prepared by head chef Joel Alderson (Attica, Royal Mail Hotel).
There will be inventive sauces and stocks like eucalyptus stock and eggplant barbeque sauce to complement the high quality meats like duck from the Macedon Range and lamb from the Otway Range.
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TarraWarra Estate
The vegetable garden at Tarra Warra Estate is located on a little corner of the estate's 400 ha of land, further than the winery's tasting room, café, and art museum. Among the vegetables planted are potatoes, radishes, broccoli, cauliflower, kohlrabi, and Tuscan kale.
After beginning his career in the kitchen for development at The Fat Duck in the United Kingdom, current head chef Mark Ebbels moved to Singapore to serve as chef de cuisine at Bacchanalia for six years, during which time the restaurant earned its first Michelin star.
Tarra Warra serves up exciting and unexpected meals. Meat appears in six out of the twelve savoury options. All of the other options on the menu are cruelty-free as well.
Desserts like Jerusalem artichoke ice cream and ale custard are produced without milk and eggs, while even the butteriest sauces are created with chickpea-cooking liquid mixed with sugar in lieu of egg whites.
Served with a tarragon, parsley, and lemon gremolata and shaved truffles, this cauliflower nugget is breaded in Panko. Blackmore's boneless short rib of Wagyu beef has a score of 7+. The fat marbling is exposed when the meat is cut and served with a red wine jus created from cellar door scraps.
The short ribs are prepared using a combination of confit and sous vide techniques over the course of 48 hours. The meat is placed on a platter and dropped into the water, where it is covered with grapeseed oil. Sous vide circulators are submerged in water and maintain a constant 64 degrees, allowing for uniform cooking of the meat. To avoid using a plastic bag during the sous vide cooking method, this is done instead.
In addition, the kitchen recycles as much plastic as it can and has long-term goals of being a plastic-free establishment.
Mornington Peninsula Region
Quealy Winemakers
If you're unfamiliar with Australian wine, the wine here will immediately demonstrate why the Quealy family is a household name. The family has a number of well-known establishments on the Peninsula, notably T'Gallant (see below) and the recently launched Kerri Greens Winery, so this is a later endeavour for them. Quealy's basement door is tucked away in a quiet spot in Balnarring, about 70 kilometres from Melbourne.
Space for standing and tasting for parties or simply a couple is available in the all-timber room that is lined with tens of their bottles. Tom Quealy, the owner's son, oversees the winemaking operations and the sprawling vines at the property. His magnetism and erudition will have you checking off order forms before you leave.
If pinot noir isn't your favourite, you'll still like Quealy's since they offer a wide range of pinot noirs with varying degrees of body. Rageous is a Sangiovese, pinot noir, and shiraz mix to covet, while the Campbell & Christine strikes the ideal balance.
There are other whites, including a summertime pinot grigio and a sparkling white (Secco Splendido).
T’Gallant
Another hero of the Peninsula comes from the Quealy family. T'Gallant is located in Main Ridge, which is around 80 kilometres from Melbourne's central business district. For those living on the peninsula, this is a must-visit destination.
The winery's proprietors, the Quealy family, are widely credited with introducing high-quality pinot gris and pinot grigio to Australia in the 1990s. Their assortment takes its cues from European design but adds an iconic Australian spin, with regional variants. Is there such a thing as canned Prosecco or Moscato? That would be great for a picnic.
Pizza will be served onsite amid the vines, and mushroom fans may attend Mushrooms in May, an annual event that features a guided tour and lunch centred on the item. And wine, because duh.
Montalto
Montalto, 90 kilometres from the city centre, is the most upscale of the peninsula vineyards. Make a reservation for lunch and take in the breathtaking views of the rolling hills dotted with vineyards, olive trees, and statues. The vineyard also presses its own olive oil, and the restaurant's cuisine changes with the seasons to include locally produced ingredients. In a large gathering of 10 or more people? Make a reservation in the Wine Room above the tasting bar to enjoy a pre-made meal while gazing out over the vineyards and orchards. Yet again, Pinot is the star, and award-winning Chardonnays are also included. You may buy some of their delicious olive oil, which they squeezed themselves, to take home. Indulge in a leisurely long meal in the sun or have a large party in the beautiful setting that is Montalto.
PT Leo Estate
This classy vineyard has sweeping views of Western Port Bay, with a restaurant, winery, and sculpture park. In order to get up an appetite for the taste, you should stroll around the sculptures.
This is not your aunt's chardonnay; rather, it is a surprising variation that is clear and crisp. It's interesting to note that the 2017 vintage is even better than the 2015 vintage. The pinot noir is back as a hallmark wine with the chardonnay. The main restaurant features regional cuisine with a modern twist, and the property is also home to Laura, which was named Best New Restaurant by the Good Food Guide.
Located 80 kilometres outside the city centre, it was truly a leisurely day.
Red Hill Estate
Red Hill is an attractive woodland region on the peninsula, located around 90 kilometres from the city centre. The Red Hill Estate is yet another hidden treasure that is well regarded in the community. The chilly environment is often credited by local vintners as the main reason why their wines are so highly regarded.
RHE has partnered with Vue de Monde, the fifth finest restaurant in Australia, to provide a unique evening matched with their wines. While pinot noir and chardonnay are their most famous wines, they also provide a wide variety of other varieties at prices that won't break the bank. Max's Restaurant is an upscale event with fish, steak, and fresh veggies, and the wine is mixed and matched with each course.
Find out more at https://www.goget.com.au/
Yarra Valley Region
Domaine Chandon
You've certainly heard of Mot & Chandon, a French sparkling wine producer that has set up business in Coldstream, 55 kilometres outside of the CBD, to make its Australian batches. Domaine Chandon, with its ideal growing conditions, is a favourite venue for celebrations such as bachelorette parties, birthdays, and weddings.
You may, however, take a day trip or weekend getaway up here by car and marvel at the grandeur of the finest sparkling wine the world has to offer. Whatever your drink of choice, you'll have a great time sampling the offerings and exploring the grounds.
Traditional whites and rosé (both cuvée and brut) are part of their selection, as is a sparkling pinot shiraz that is sure to pique your interest. The menu at this restaurant features fresh, regional Yarra Valley vegetables prepared in a French style and served with a well matched wine suggestion. Especially if you also use GoGet, all the legwork has been done for you.
Yering Station
Yering Station has a gorgeous design that is sure to wow any art or architecture buff who takes a look at it. One of the oldest vineyards in the state may be found at Yarra Glen, surrounded by farmland and pine woods; grapes were originally planted there in 1838. Consider a bottle of that vintage if you will.
Yering Station is known for its chardonnay, shiraz, and pinot noir, as well as its sparkling white and rosé wines, which thrive in the region's milder temperatures. Additionally, there is a gallery showing modern art from a variety of local and international artists. Their arts programme includes an annual spring exhibition of sculptures, and any commissions from sales related to the exhibition are given to a leukaemia charity.
Rochford Wines
Rochford Wines is ideal for both wine and music enthusiasts, since it hosts the popular yearly music event A Day on the Green. Coldstream, sixty kilometres outside the city, is where you'll find the winery. You may find out about future concerts and festivals on their website; they often host one-off events at various times of the year.
To be sure, just taking a stroll around the breathtaking grounds, with the distant hills as a backdrop, is enough to pique your interest. Many people stop at the lakeside terrace, the amphitheatre, or the conservatory to take in the scenery. To try their signature chardonnay, shiraz, and cabernet sauvignon, please return to the main house. Isabella's Restaurant, also on the premises, serves up delectable charcuterie and substantial meals, all of which are prepared using ingredients sourced from nearby farms.
Giant Steps
Giant Steps is a beloved vineyard located in Healesville, 65 kilometres from Melbourne's central business district. For the last six years in a row, Wine & Spirits Magazine (US version) has rated it one of the world's top 100 wines. Explain its enticing qualities.
For each product, they dedicate a separate vineyard, or "single vineyard," to growing the specific varieties of grapes used in that particular wine. Soil and sunlight have been able to fully enrich their chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah, and LDR (a combination of the latter two), resulting in wines with more pronounced aromas and flavours.
Get your lunch or supper at the cellar door and taste the finest seasonal vegetables, and be sure to take some home for later. Their vines often only yield 200 cases, therefore each bottle is highly sought after.
Why not take a weekend and go to one of Melbourne's two major wine regions? All around the scenic countryside and on the peninsula's cliffs above the bay, you'll find a wide variety of unique B&Bs and Airbnbs. Why not reserve a GoGet for a weekend of wine tasting with your significant other or a bunch of friends? Never drink and drive, and always plan ahead by getting rides to and from vineyards.
Conclusion
Only an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a great destination for a day trip or weekend getaway. There are about one hundred and sixty wineries in the area, ranging from single-owner establishments to multinational conglomerates. Helen and Joey Estate is not near the Melba or Maroondah motorways, but it's easy to miss the exit while following Google Maps instructions. You won't hear any of the "oh, the chardonnay we produce is nothing like the others; it's more like a riesling in disguise..." nonsense that you may hear elsewhere in the Yarra Valley. Helen and Joey Estate's Wild Child collection is for the adventurous drinker looking for something a little out of the ordinary.
The wines are full-bodied, nuanced and excellent; very little sells for less than $40 a bottle. Above it are planted vineyards of pinot noir, which provide some of the finest wines in the Yarra Valley. Some dishes are made with chickpea-cooking liquid mixed with sugar. The fat marbling is exposed when the meat is cut and served with a red wine jus created from cellar door scraps. Quealy Winemakers is located in Balnarring, about 70 kilometres from Melbourne.
The winery's proprietors are credited with introducing pinot gris and pinot noir to Australia in the 1990s. Their assortment takes its cues from European design but adds an iconic Australian spin, with regional variants. Red Hill Estate is yet another hidden treasure that is well regarded in the community. Max's Restaurant is an upscale event with fish, steak, and fresh veggies, and the wine is mixed and matched with each course. Find out more at https://www.goget.com.au/Yarra Valley Region This is not your aunt's chardonnay; rather, it is a surprising variation that is clear and crisp.
Yet again, Pinot is the star, and award-winning Chardonnays are also included. Domaine Chandon, with its ideal growing conditions, is a favourite venue for celebrations such as bachelorette parties, birthdays, and weddings. Yarra Valley's oldest vineyards may be found at Yarra Glen, surrounded by farmland and pine woods. Yering Station is known for its chardonnay, shiraz, and pinot noir, as well as its sparkling white and rosé wines. Giant Steps is a beloved vineyard located in Healesville, 65 kilometres from Melbourne's central business district.
For the last six years Wine & Spirits Magazine (US version) has rated it one of the world's top 100 wines. Soil and sunlight have fully enriched their chardonnay, pinot noir, syrah, and LDR wines.
Content Summary
- Only an hour from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is a great destination for a day trip or weekend getaway.
- Very little of the wine sold here costs less than $40 a bottle, so this is hardly a bargain cellar.
- After beginning his career in the kitchen for development at The Fat Duck in the United Kingdom, current head chef Mark
- Ebbels moved to Singapore to serve as chef de cuisine at Bacchanalia for six years, during which time the restaurant earned its first Michelin star.
- If you're unfamiliar with Australian wine, the wine here will immediately demonstrate why the Quealy family is a household name.
- The winery's proprietors, the Quealy family, are widely credited with introducing high-quality pinot gris and pinot grigio to Australia in the 1990s.
- While pinot noir and chardonnay are their most famous wines, they also provide a wide variety of other varieties at prices that won't break the bank.
- You've certainly heard of Mot & Chandon, a French sparkling wine producer that has set up business in Coldstream, 55 kilometres outside of the CBD, to make its Australian batches.
- Yering Station is known for its chardonnay, shiraz, and pinot noir, as well as its sparkling white and rosé wines, which thrive in the region's milder temperatures.
- Giant Steps is a beloved vineyard located in Healesville, 65 kilometres from Melbourne's central business district.
For the last six years in a row, Wine & Spirits Magazine (US version) has rated it one of the world's top 100 wines.