The Yarra Valley, some 40km east of Melbourne is known as one of Australia’s premier wine regions. It is also home to some wonderful local produce including beer, yes you read right! Chocolate, gin and cheese. So if you are a bit of a gourmet foodie, or not, come and enjoy the Yarra Valley on some of the best wine and food tours of the Yarra Valley has to offer.
Why go on a wine and food tour of the Yarra Valley I hear you ask? Well, the Yarra Valley is big, with limited public transport. And if you want to partake in drinking Yarra Valley wines, beer and gin and sampling the local produce, you will need to find a way to get to the places. Even though the best way around the Yarra Valley is by car, if you don’t have one, you can always rent one however, going on tour will mean you won’t be drinking and driving.
To help you decide on the best Yarra Valley food and wine tour I have divided this post into two sections. The first section advises on what wines and local produce is in the Yarra Valley. And the second section advises on the best wine and food tours of the Yarra Valley. There are tours for everyone. Even kids and dogs are welcome on some tours.
Table of Contents
Wineries and Local Produce of the Yarra Valley
Wineries of the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley has been around for a very long time, some 50,000 years or so with the local Wurundjeri people being the traditional owners. It was in the 1830s that the first vines were introduced. Since then, the Yarra Valley has grown to be home to some 80 or so wineries producing premier cool-climate wines of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, and méthode traditionnelle sparkling.
There are a number of world-renowned and award winning wine makers who call the Yarra Valley Home. You can get inspiration of a winery to visit from the list of wineries here.
Some notable wineries include but not limited to: Yering Station, De Bortoli, TerraWarra Estate, Domain Chandon, Balgownie Estate and Seville Estate to name a few.
Local Produce of the Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is more than wineries, it is a thriving home to some 17,000 people living, working and playing in the towns and on the land. And because of the fertile land other industries are producing fabulous local produce. You’ve got:
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery outside of Yarra Glen. It produces chocolate on site. You can watch the chocolate being made and sometimes there are chocolate making classes. There is a cafe you can enjoy much of the chocolate with a coffee. If visiting the Yarra Valley with family this is one of the best places to visit in the Yarra Valley with kids of all ages, as who doesn’t love chocolate or ice cream!
see the Polkadots be made
wall of chocolate
Yarra Valley Dairy
Yarra Valley Dairy producing great artisan cow and goat cheeses. Many of the cheese recipes reflect traditional farmhouse cheese of France and Italy. Come try a cheese tasting for yourself!
Coldstream Brewery
Coldstream Brewery in the centre of Coldstream has a range of craft beers to try. They also have a great restaurant serving burgers, snitzels and pizzas to go with your beer, or wine.
Four Pillars Gin
The Four Pillars Gin Distillery in Healesville has grown from humble beginnings to having award winning gins. Find out for yourself with a visit.
Fruit and Veggie Growers
Fruit and vegetable growers that allow you to come pick your own fruit such as strawberries. This is another kid-friendly Yarra Valley activity if visiting with family. Places to pick fruit include Rayners Orchards – U Pick Fruit. But get more picking options on this U-Pick trail map.
Best Wine and Food Tours of the Yarra Valley
Note: most of the wine tours to the Yarra Valley begin and end in Melbourne.
Yering Station Cellar Door
Yarra Valley Hop on Hop Off Bus
If you don’t have access to a car, the next best thing is the Yarra Valley Hop on Hop Off Bus. This bus has pick up points in Melbourne and Lilydale Train Station – Lilydale is known as the gateway to the Yarra Valley. The Hop on Hop off Bus has two routes – a red one and a green. Both routes take you to different wineries where you can hop off at, enjoy a wine or two and then hop back on the bus to the next stop. The green route will take you to Yering Station pictured above.
Get more details and to purchase your ticket on the Yarra Valley Hop on Hop Off Bus here.
Full Day of Wine with Lunch
Visit a number of wineries with lunch included. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a full day of wine with lunch here.
Wine, Gin & Chocolate
Mix your day up with wine, gin and chocolate. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a full day of wine, gin and chocolate here.
Wine, Chocolate & Cheese
Eat your way through the Yarra Valley enjoying chocolate and cheese, oh, and a little wine! Get more details and purchase your ticket for a full day of chocolate, cheese and wine here.
Gourmet Tour with Lunch
Enjoy all the best food on a gourmet tour of the Yarra Valley. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a full day of gourmet food with lunch included here.
Winery Tour and Lunch @ Yering Station
Yering Station is one of my favourite wineries. Tour the facilities and then sit down for a great lunch with fabulous views over the Yarra Valley. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a winery tour with lunch @ Yering Station here.
see where all the magic happens at Yering Station
Yarra Valley Wine, Gin and Beer Tour
Tempt your taste buds with locally produced wine, gin and beer – lucky you’re not driving! Get more details and purchase your ticket for a full day of wine, gin and beer here.
Visit the Yarra Valley by Helicopter
That’s right – go in style on your day trip to the Yarra Valley by helicopter. Picking you up from Melbourne and landing you in the hear of the Yarra Valley. Get more details and purchase your ticket to be taken to the Yarra Valley by helicopter here.
Private Wine Tour in a ’56 Chevrolet
Got a special occasion coming up, or just love chevrolet, go on a private wine out in a ’56 Chevrolet. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a visit to the Yarra Valley in a ’56 Chevrolet here.
Pooches and Pinot Tour
Wanting to visit some wineries with your best friend? Pooches and Pinot Tours have tours of the Yarra Valley where you can visit wineries with your dog. How cool! You don’t need to leave your poor pooch behind, particularly if you are travelling Australia on your big lap.
Yarra Valley Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast
What better way to appreciate the Yarra Valley by seeing it from the air in a hot air balloon after a champaign breakfast. Get more details and purchase your ticket for a ride in a hot air balloon with breakfast over the Yarra Valley here.
Are You Ready to Eat and Drink Your Way Through the Yarra Valley?
As you have read in this post, the Yarra Valley is known for its wines plus local produce. I hope you get the chance to enjoy some of them!
If a day in the Yarra Valley isn’t enough, why not book into some accommodation and do it all again for a second day! There is plenty to see and do in the Yarra Valley, making it an easy day trip from Melbourne or a weekend Melbourne getaway. You could visit the towns of the Yarra Valley, go on a 2 day driving tour of the Yarra Valley or perhaps drive the Black Spur, a scenic road trip linking Healesville to Marysville.
The Pooches and Pinot tours sound great! We always struggle to find tours that we can take when traveling with our dog (and when he can’t be left alone).
Yes, I’m glad of this tour also as I took our Golden Retriever on it and having him there made the day special.
What an extensive roundup of the best wine tours in the region. My husband and I really enjoy indulging in local cuisine and wine when we travel so would love to experience tours like the ones listed here. Hot air balloon over the Yarra Valley sounds like a dreamy experience in itself. Thanks for sharing the details.
You are welcome. I hope you can go on your hot air balloon ride over the Yarra Valley when you visit!
Really enjoyed this – so many fun ways to experience the Yarra Valley. The Wine, Gin & Chocolate tour especially caught my eye!
You are obviously a wine, gin and chocolate lover like me! The Yarra Valley is known for its wine, but other foods and drinks are making a visit even more special!
Thanks for your intro to the Yarra – it’s been on my list for a while but just haven’t made it down that way yet. I love the idea of the Chocolate, cheese and wine tour
Yes, I think adding chocolate and cheese to a wine tour makes the day more complete.
Of all of these, I would try the Pooches & Pinot Tour. But if I drink too much wine, I will probably try and cuddle everyone else’s dog. But honestly, the combination of wine and dogs sounds so fun.
It does sound very fun. I’m taking our Golden Retriever on the tour – not sure he will last the whole day!
This sounds like a great area to visit! I love cheese!
Well, the cheese factory should be on your list when visiting the Yarra Valley. Yum!