At less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley boasts over 80 cool-climate wineries and around 60 cellar doors. Even regular visitors are likely to discover something new each time they go.
With so many wineries to choose from, there’s something for everyone. Wine lovers will enjoy family-run wineries with great reputations, while those who appreciate a good atmosphere can relax at stylish cellar doors from international names. Adventurous visitors can explore innovative new wineries, and daytrippers looking for a bit of history with their wine will be satisfied too.
As Victoria’s first wine-growing region, the Yarra Valley also offers excellent winery restaurants with stunning valley views, and a few upscale winery hotels. It’s the perfect place for a weekend getaway.
Check out the best wineries in Yarra Valley and more
HELEN & JOEY ESTATE
If you’re looking for a simple, no-frills winery experience, Helen & Joey Estate is the place to go. This family-owned winery focuses on great wine, but the beautiful sunsets are also a highlight. Relax on the large deck with string lights, enjoy the view of the vines, and sip a glass of their estate cabernet sauvignon.
Google Maps directions to Helen & Joey Estate
DOMAINE CHANDON
Sparkling wine lovers should head straight to this Yarra Valley winery from the folks at LVMH.
Since 1986, Australia’s branch of the famous French champagne house Moët & Chandon has been a top spot.
After a makeover in 2017, Domaine Chandon boasts dusky pink and muted sage colors, spotted gum timber floors, a dark marble tasting bench, and a kinetic sculpture above leather seating. Visit for a tasting or enjoy a long lunch at the French-inspired house restaurant.
Google Maps directions to Domaine Chandon
SEVILLE ESTATE
Named ‘Winery of the Year’ at the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, this hilltop spot is a must-visit for true wine lovers. James Halliday himself praised the 2015, ’16, and ’17 vintages as “an absolutely dazzling array of great wines.”
Winemaker and general manager Dylan McMahon, the grandson of Seville Estate‘s founders Peter and Margaret McMahon, follows a simple, natural approach in the winery’s four ranges. All the wines are fermented using native yeasts, allowing the true flavors of the fruit to shine through.
Google Maps directions to Seville Estate
COOMBE YARRA VALLEY
Once a 60-acre dairy farm, this estate was home to the famous opera singer Dame Nellie Melba. Today, Coombe Cottage is still privately owned by Melba’s family and is open for tours, including its beautiful gardens.
The highlight of the estate is the wine. Visit the cellar door to taste the estate-grown single vineyard wines or try some Melba Gin. You can also relax on Coombe Yarra Valley’s garden terrace with a wine flight and a charcuterie and cheese platter.
Google Maps directions to COOMBE YARRA VALLEY
HUBERT ESTATE
Once a modest tin shed known mostly to wine enthusiasts and tour groups, Hubert Estate is now poised to become a local landmark winery after a $13 million redevelopment.
Now, there’s a two-storey building that blends into the landscape with a concrete structure covered by a grass roof. Inside, you’ll find a semi-underground Indigenous art gallery and a wine shop.
Additionally, there are two modern buildings on site. One houses the Quarters restaurant, which features food cooked over charcoal and in a wood-fired oven. The other is designed for hosting events.
Google Maps directions to Hubert Estate
PANTON HILL WINERY
If you love discovering hidden gems, you’ll adore this little treasure. Located just outside greater Melbourne, down a leafy gravel path, you’ll find Panton Hill Winery.
The winery features a cluster of buildings that look like they’ve been transported from Southern Europe to the hills of regional Victoria. Picture rustic sandstone structures with gargoyles and heavy, weather-worn timber doors – it’s truly unique in the area.
Beyond its charming appearance, this Yarra Valley winery was awarded ‘Best Small Cellar Door’ in Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine’s 2022 awards.
Google Maps directions to PANTON HILL WINERY
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JAYDEN ONG WINERY & CELLAR BAR
A unique addition to Yarra Valley, this new spot in Healesville is bringing something fresh to the area. Located in an industrial estate, it offers a variety of interesting and organic wines for those willing to skip the usual valley views.
Since opening in January 2021, Jayden Ong has become known for great wine, delicious food, and a welcoming atmosphere.
Outside, picnic tables with frilly umbrellas are perfect for enjoying the evening, while inside, the large warehouse space features dim lighting and dark walls contrasted with bright floral arrangements.
Google Maps directions to JAYDEN ONG WINERY & CELLAR BAR
Yarra Valley wineries with places to eat
OAKRIDGE RESTAURANT
Oakridge Restaurant in the Yarra Valley has long been famous as one of the best winery restaurants. In 2020, its renowned co-executive chefs, Jo Barrett and Matt Stone, departed.
Although Jo and Matt left behind big shoes to fill with their seasonal, minimal waste food philosophy, the restaurant is now led by Aaron Brodie.
Brodie has worked at top restaurants in London and Melbourne and spent three years as head chef under Jo and Matt at Oakridge. Expect excellent food with great attention to detail (everything from cheeses and breads to smallgoods and ferments is made in-house) along with beautiful valley views.
For those who haven’t booked in advance, lunch on the terrace is available for walk-ins.
Google Maps directions to OAKRIDGE RESTAURANT
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YERING STATION
Victoria’s first vineyard, Yering Station, was established in 1838 and is a must-visit in the Yarra Valley.
Rated 5 stars by the Halliday Wine Companion, Yering Station is popular with both day-trippers and wine lovers. Beyond the cellar door, the restaurant offers a Modern Australian lunch menu.
You can try dishes like semolina gnocchi with mushrooms, cabbage, and pecorino, or eye fillet with horseradish, beetroot, and pumpkin, all while enjoying the view through the large windows overlooking the green landscape. After your meal, take a walk around the winery’s gardens.
Google Maps directions to YERING STATION
TARRAWARRA ESTATE
TarraWarra’s head chef, Joel Alderdice, has come full circle. Growing up in the valley, he started his career here as an apprentice in 2011 and returned as head chef in 2022.
He has created two seasonal Mediterranean-inspired menus: one plant-based and the other with meat, fish, and cheese. Both menus are crafted with the same high standards and thoughtful flavor combinations.
Google Maps directions to TARRAWARRA ESTATE
Best winery tours in the Yarra Valley
AUSTRALIAN WINE TOUR COMPANY
If the cost of a winery tour in the Yarra Valley has been too high for you, try the Australian Wine Tour Company’s affordable tour for ~$175.
The trip visits four different wineries and includes an a la carte lunch at Balgownie Estate with a glass of wine. You’ll be with up to 23 other people, but usually, there are between 12 and 20 on the tour.
THE YARRA VALLEY TOURING COMPANY
If you want a luxurious Yarra Valley winery tour, check out The Yarra Valley Touring Company’s Decadent AF Tour.
On this tour, you’ll visit three top wineries and enjoy a progressive lunch. This includes a cheese tasting at Yarra Valley Dairy, a glass of bubbly with half a dozen oysters at Domaine Chandon, and a three-course meal with wine tasting at Dominique Portet winery.
Winery accommodation in Yarra Valley
YARRA VALLEY LODGE
Yarra Valley Lodge has almost everything you need in one place, located on the southern edge of the region.
The 120-hectare estate features two 18-hole championship golf courses, a restaurant, a bar, walking trails, and a day spa with an indoor pool, gym, sauna, and tennis court.
No matter if you choose a standard room or a suite, every room at this four-star hotel opens directly onto a garden terrace or private balcony – perfect for enjoying the fresh country air.
Google Maps directions to YARRA VALLEY LODGE
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BALGOWNIE ESTATE YARRA VALLEY
Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley is one of the few places to stay right on a winery in the Yarra Valley. This resort-style hotel offers a range of amenities.
You’ll find a new endota spa, which has been open since August 2022, a relaxed Mod Oz restaurant that started in late 2021, a heated indoor pool, a steam room, a gym, free wine tastings at the cellar door, and almost seven acres of beautiful vineyards.
The Deluxe Spa Suites are the best choice, with valley views, a private balcony, and a stylish neutral décor with navy accents. There are also wheelchair-accessible rooms available.
Google Maps directions to BALGOWNIE ESTATE YARRA VALLEY
THE FARMHOUSE AT MELETOS
The Farmhouse at Meletos is likely the most unique place to stay in the Yarra Valley. It offers 23 specially designed rooms, each decorated with a mix of global fabrics and vintage furniture.
With its big fireplaces and wooden shutters, this adults-only hotel has a cozy, rustic charm that feels like a blend of old-world France and rural Tuscany. Plus, you can enjoy stunning views of the surrounding vineyards
