Best Wineries in the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley became Victoria’s first wine region when Yering Station planted its first grapevines, back in 1838. And though wineries have since proliferated across regional Victoria, the Yarra Valley – with its world-renowned cool-climate cabernet sauvignon, chardonnay and sparkling wine – remains a vital part of Australia’s wine discussion.

It also helps that the valley’s just a cruisy hour’s drive north-east of Melbourne’s CBD. That proximity to the city has given the area a flourishing array of refined eateries, slick bars, and countless artisan producers supported largely by enthusiastic daytrippers.

The Yarra Valley’s wineries are, for the most part, versatile spots for many purposes. In addition to fantastic drinking, dining and wine tasting, many also host gigs, movie nights and other outdoor activities. They’re also popular for weddings, being booked solidly from September onwards each year. Some even have on-site boutique accommodation, enticing you to turn your daytrip into a weekender. Go on, do it.

Words by Callum McDermott
Updated on 14 December 2022

Restaurant

Seville Estate

Four generations. That’s how long this family has been perfecting the art of exceptional wine and homegrown produce. Enjoy a drop of its revered barrel-fermented chardonnay, or complex old-vine shiraz in the bright and spacious dining room.

Restaurant

Yering Station

Victoria’s first vineyard is still one of its finest, and an absolute Yarra Valley essential. Enjoy a meal with panoramic valley views in the main building, or head to the heritage-listed cellar door for a tasting.

Restaurant

Oakridge Wines

Undulating hills planted with pinot noir and chardonnay, and a restaurant on par with the city’s best. This is a winery worth travelling for.

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Restaurant

Levantine Hill

From the helipad to the high-profile architect, no expense has been spared at Levantine Hill. At the restaurant, a Levant-inspired menu that leans into the owners’ heritage. Settle into a wine-barrel-shaped booth for Middle Eastern snack plates, Beluga caviar for an eye-popping $340, three-wine flights and more.

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Bar

Pimpernel Wines

A small, family-run winery named for the pimpernel flowers that grow among the vines. The grapes are dry-grown and hand-picked, and the family bottle and label every wine themselves. This is one of the most intimate – and unhurried – tastings you can have in the Yarra Valley.

Restaurant

Innocent Bystander

This bar, restaurant and wine shop is the public face of Innocent Bystander wines. Stop by here to try the label’s signature moscato, or opt for a tasting paddle of wines poured straight from the barrel. There’s also beer; cider; and crowd-pleasing food such as pizza and hearty helpings of paella.

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Restaurant

Zonzo Estate

A sleek and spacious Italian restaurant and wine bar in the Yarra Valley. Rustic features like the old milking shed and barn make it a picturesque spot to enjoy a diverse range of wine varieties, mostly French. Plus, there’s a sharing menu that includes arancini, burrata and pizzas.

Restaurant

Yarrawood

A relaxed, friendly winery that’s perfect for a family day out. Bring your picnic rug, order a grazing platter and find a patch of space out on the lawns. Then, take in the sweeping views out over the valley.

Shop

Rob Dolan Wines

Rob Dolan played footy for Port Adelaide before he fell into winemaking in the 1990s. His namesake winery and cellar door is a peaceful place to pass the time. Sit out on the porch and enjoy his easy-drinking wines alongside charcuterie (which includes Stone & Crow cheese made on-site).

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