Yarra Valley, Australia - Wine Tasting

BASIC INFO:  Yarra Valley is renowned for cool climate wines like chardonnay, pinot noir, and sparkling wines.  
Located about 45 km/an hour drive east of Melbourne CBD, Yarra Valley is an easy day trip from Melbourne.  
FYI:  Tasting rooms are called “cellar doors” in Australia.

FEES:  Some places do not charge for tasting, others charge a small fee but will waive it if you buy wine.

FOOD:  Many of the wineries offer light food/platters and some, especially the larger ones, have well regarded restaurants onsite (as noted below).  There are also many stand alone restaurants throughout Yarra Valley.  The Restaurants Yarra Valley website is a good resource for research.  You can stop by Yarra Farm Fresh for local fruit and veggies as well as gourmet gifts to take home.  After wine tasting, check out Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery for a sweet way to finish the day.  

TRANSPORTATION: 

There are many tours (group or private) available that leave and return to Melbourne CBD.  Tours are convenient since you don’t have to worry about directions or drinking and driving.

Or you can rent a car and visit wineries at your own pace.  Each option has their pros and cons, depending on your interests and preferences.  We rented a car in the CBD which was a bit of a hassle but the drive to Yarra Valley was not too bad and it was nice to have the flexibility of a car since the wineries are very spread out.

WINERIES:

There’s a wide range of wineries here from large producers to small boutiques.  We visited four wineries and tried to pick a diverse sample to get a flavor of Yarra Valley.

TarraWarra Estate makes some very high quality chardonnays & pinots.  The entrance into the winery is quite dramatic.  The architecture seems both contemporary and classic, while the use of stone makes it feels very organic.  The tasting room is modern and serene, reminding me of an art gallery.  Appropriately, its neighbor is the TarraWarra Museum of Art.  Outside are breathtaking views of the vineyards.  Try their Single Block and Reserve wines.  There’s also a very nice restaurant onsite (make reservations in advance).

Coldstream Hills was established in 1985 by Australian wine writer James Halliday.  The tasting room was simple and laid back with nice views of the vineyards.  We tasted a number of Pinots and Chards along with other varietals.  They have a Pinot Noir Chardonnay sparkling wine which was interesting.

Dominique Portet is a charming winery with French roots. It was established fairly recently in 2000 but the Portet family has been making wine since the 1700s.  I would recommend their Fontaine Rosé which has received good reviews.  The tasting room was cozy and comfortable with a small café section. 

Domaine Chandon is a must visit if you like sparkling wine.  It feels like a large commercial operation from the moment you drive in but it's run very smoothly and provides a good experience.  Beautiful well-groomed grounds.  Tours are available if you'd like to learn more about the winery.  There’s a café with views of the vineyard.  We had some seafood for lunch before tasting.  The tasting bar was crowded but we were able to squeeze in for taste in a reasonable amount of time.  I recommend the sparkling pinot noir shiraz for something unique.  It's rich with a bit of spice notes and sweetness but still refreshing.  This would be a nice souvenir or gift to take back home.    

IF I HAD ANOTHER DAY IN YARRA VALLEY, I WOULD:

Stay overnight at a B&B or resort like Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort to enjoy spa time in addition to wine tasting.

Take a hot air balloon ride over the valley.

Thanks for reading!