The Best Yarra Valley Wineries (2024)

From dark horses to well-established industry players, and plenty more in between, plot your own escape to wine country with this guide to the best Yarra Valley wineries, winery hotels, and winery restaurants.

With more than 80 cool climate wineries to its name, plus some 60 cellar doors, even those who visit the Yarra Valley on the regular are practically guaranteed to find something new on their next trip.

The glut of great wineries also ensures there’s plenty of choice. Oenophiles will find family-run wineries with some serious credentials; bon vivants can lounge around in aesthetically pleasing cellar doors from international names with sparkling wine on tap; fun-seeking neophiles can uncover experimental newcomers, and daytrippers looking for a side of history and heritage with their rosé won’t be left wanting.

aerial shot of Yarra Valley, Australian Wine Tour Company — Yarra Valley is home to vibrant and scenic vineyards. (Image: Australian Wine Tour Company)

Victoria’s first wine-growing district is also awash with great winery restaurants – many boasting dramatic valley views – plus a smattering of smart winery hotels, so there’s really little reason not to hole up here for an entire weekend.

Read on for details of the best Yarra Valley wineries.

The best Yarra Valley wineries

At less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley’s proximity to the city is a definite calling card.

But this bucolic region, all mist-shrouded, undulating and verdant, promises plenty more than just convenience: it’s home to a raft of award-winning wineries that range from rustic and family-run to chic and internationally known.

While pinot noir and chardonnay are the valley’s key varietals, producers are harvesting more beyond, from shiraz and cab sav to méthode traditionnelle sparkling and riesling.

vineyard at Yering Station — The region is famed for producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. (Image: Yering Station)

Domaine Chandon

Sparkling wine lovers should make a beeline for this Yarra Valley winery brought to you by the bigwigs from LVMH.

Going strong since 1986, the Australian outpost of famous French champagne house Moët & Chandon, is impeccably styled.

Following a facelift in 2017, Domaine Chandon features a palette of dusky pinks and muted sage alongside spotted gum timber flooring, a dark marble tasting bench, and a kinetic sculpture suspended above aged leather banquette seating. Stop by for a tasting or linger over a long lunch in the French-inspired house restaurant.

Garden Spritz, Domaine Chandon — Taste the exceptional citrusy goodness of handcrafted chardonnay. (Image: Domaine Chandon)

Helen & Joey Estate

When all you want is a down-to-earth cellar door experience without any pomp and ceremony or bells and whistles, Helen & Joey Estate should be the destination you thumb into Google Maps.

Helen and Joeys estate — Helen & Joeys Estate boasts picturesque grounds.(Image: Hugh Davidson)

The wine is the protagonist at this relaxed, family-owned winery, but the sunsets also play a starring role. Pull up a pew on the sizable, string-light festooned deck and admire the sea of vines that cascades down the hill as you sip on a glass of fruit-forward estate cab sav.

Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar

A bit of a Yarra Valley wildcard, this Healesville newcomer is shaking up the well-established scene with a mould-breaking cellar door in an industrial estate, offering punters willing to forego valley views a number of interesting and organic, lo-fi wines instead.

Open since January 2021, Jayden Ong is a triple threat of good wine, good food, and good vibes.

Outside of its roller doors sit picnic tables with frilly parasols, perfect for sundowners, while inside the cavernous warehouse space you’ll find a moody interior, all dim lighting and dark walls juxtaposed with colourful floral arrangements.

signature wine, Jayden Ong — Try Jayden Ong’s signature wine. (Image: Jayden Ong)

Seville Estate

Named ‘Winery of the Year’ at the 2019 Halliday Wine Companion Awards (James Halliday himself called the 2015, ’16 and ’17 vintages an “absolutely dazzling array of great wines"), true wine enthusiasts should earmark this hilltop locale for future visits.

A lo-fi philosophy guides the winery’s four ranges, allowing for the purest expressions of the winery’s fruit, with all the wines fermented using indigenous yeasts.

The winery’s cellar door is only open on weekends between 11am and 4pm, or otherwise by appointment.

Chardonnay, Seville Estate — A glass of Chardonnay will lighten up your mood. (Image: Seville Estate)

Hubert Estate

Once an unassuming tin shed of a cellar door that was little-known outside of Australia’s wine cognoscenti and the occasional tour bus group, Hubert Estate is now a local landmark winery thanks to a $13 million redevelopment.

Two modernist buildings occupy the site: one housing restaurant Quarters, which spotlights food cooked over charcoal and in a woodfired oven, the other built for events. But the estate’s piece de resistance is a sweeping two-storey building that merges with the landscape: a long sliver of concrete tucked into the terrain and shrouded by a grass roof that houses a semi-subterranean Indigenous art gallery and a cellar door/wine shop.

Watch this space, as an 80-room hotel with a spa and upscale restaurant is proposed to open onsite in the near-future too…

meal at Hubert Estate — A mouthwatering meal to satisfy your palate. (Image: Hubert Estate)

Panton Hill Winery

Those who relish off-the-beaten-track discoveries will fall for this little pearler. Just on the cusp of greater Melbourne, hidden away down a leafy gravel track, you’ll find Panton Hill Winery .

Comprised of a cluster of buildings that look as if they could have been plucked straight from the shores of Southern Europe and planted in hilly regional Vic – think rustic-looking sandstone buildings with gargoyles and heavy, weather-beaten timber doors – the venue is quite unlike any other you’ll find in the region.

Not just a pretty face, this Yarra Valley winery took home the medal for ‘Best Small Cellar Door’ in Gourmet Traveller Wine magazine’s 2022 awards.

wine sample, Panton Hill — Sample wine from Panton Hill. (Image: Panton Hill)

Coombe Yarra Valley

Reputation precedes this Yarra Valley winery, which is steeped in heritage.

Formerly a 60-acre dairy farm, the feted late opera singer Dame Nellie Melba once called this estate home. Today, Coombe Cottage is still the private residence of Melba’s family and can be viewed on a tour, as can the estate’s sprawling manicured gardens.

But the jewel in the crown of the estate is, naturally, the wine. Rock up to the cellar door and try the estate-grown single vineyard wines (or a nip of Melba Gin), or graze away the afternoon on Coombe Yarra Valley’s garden terrace while dabbling in a wine flight and a charcuterie and cheese platter.

wines at Coombe — Coombe features world-class wines with exceptional taste. (Image: Coombe)

Yarra Valley wineries with restaurants

Given its Italian heritage, the Yarra Valley has long had an affinity towards pasta and pizza, with solid options for both still in strong supply (hello Zonzo and De Bortoli ).

Following the continental theme, many of the region’s wineries dabble in platters, should you be in the mood for picky bits shared among friends.

Italian aside, you’ll find plenty of Yarra Valley winery restaurants heroing Modern Australian cuisine – many featuring show-stopping vistas over this hilly green pocket blessed with bountiful good looks. Note that most of the Yarra Valley’s wineries are only for lunch.

Levantine Hill

On the flashier end of the scale, it would be remiss not to highlight this well-established winery, where guests often drop in by helicopter for lunch. While Levantine Hill’s stark design is striking, there’s ample substance to match the style.

Those dining at the winery restaurant will savour refined, Levant-leaning dishes, dreamed up to harmonise seamlessly with the estate’s top-tier wines. Think barramundi paired with olive jam and a glass of aromatic Mélange Traditionnel white, or a venison carpaccio with lemon myrtle mayonnaise accompanied by a fruit-forward sparkling rosé.

A tip: dine between Monday and Thursday for a quieter experience and a chance to sample the restaurant’s wares at a cheaper price point (there’s a surcharge and more expensive set menu on weekends).

Yering Station

Victoria’s first vineyard, established in 1838, Yering Station is the Yarra Valley’s grand dame.

Awarded a 5 red star rating by the illustrious Halliday Wine Companion, Yering Station is a popular spot for day trippers and wine enthusiasts alike. Beyond the cellar door, the restaurant and its Modern Australian set menu lunch beckon.

Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Yering Station — Yering Station offers top drops. (Image: Yering Station)

Sample dishes such as semolina gnocchi with mushroom, cabbage and pecorino, or eye fillet with horseradish, beetroot and pumpkin while looking through double-height floor-to-ceiling windows onto the green landscape that spills out in front of you for miles. Walk off the rich pickings with a stroll around the winery’s gardens.

garden in front of Yering Station — Stroll along Yering Station’s well-manicured gardens. (Image: Yering Station)

Yarra Valley winery accommodation

While the region is swimming in great wineries and winery restaurants, big-name hotels of the same high standard are much less prolific in these parts. Instead, much of the mid-range accommodation in the Yarra Valley is still under the dominion of the holiday rental market.

The following hotels, however, are located in the thick of the action and deliver amenities aplenty as well as beautiful views, some overlooking the vines.

Reém Hotel

This hotly anticipated Gruyere newcomer is just the breath of fresh air the Yarra Valley was crying out for. A boutique hotel, open since early 2024, Re’em sits on the 200-acre Helen and Joey Estate. Each of its 16 rooms overlook the gentle slopes of the surrounding countryside, and the winery’s ornamental lake, with some offering a private patio and others a balcony.

Re'em Hotel Yarra Valley — Each of the 16 room overlooks the vineyard.

All of Re’em’s suites promise lashings of natural light and a mellow palette of neutrals, as well as a freestanding bathtub, and a king-sized bed.

Re'em Restaurant Yarra Valley — Book a table at the onsite restaurant for Chinese meets modern Australian fare.

The Farmhouse at Meletos

The Farmhouse at Meletos promises 23 individually designed rooms that feature a carefully curated collection of worldly textiles and vintage furniture.

With its grand fireplaces and panelled window shutters, there’s an inviting warmth and a rustic yet elegant simplicity to this boutique, adults-only hotel, that harks back to provincial France or rural Tuscany. Best of all, vast vineyard views are on offer here too.

outdoor dining, The Farmhouse at Meletos — Dine beside a picturesque landscape. (Image: The Farmhouse at Meletos)

Yarra Valley Lodge

You’ll find almost everything under one roof at Yarra Valley Lodge , on the southern edge of the region.

The 120-hectare estate is home to two 18-hole championship golf courses (including one originally designed by Jack Nicklaus), as well as a restaurant, a bar, walking trails, and a day spa with an indoor swimming pool, gym, sauna and a tennis court.

Bella Restaurant Yarra Valley Lodge — Onsite Bella Restaurant showcases the freshest local, farm-to-table ingredients.

Regardless of whether you opt for a standard room or a suite, each and every guest room at this four-star hotel opens directly out onto a garden terrace or private balcony – perfect for drinking in that fresh country air.

Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley

One of the few Yarra Valley accommodations within the grounds of a winery, Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley is a resort-style hotel with a solid collection of amenities to its name.

You’ll find a schmick new endota spa, open since August 2022, a smart-casual Mod Oz restaurant that welcomed its first guests at the end of 2021, plus a heated indoor swimming pool, a steam room and gym, complimentary wine tasting at the cellar door for all guests, and nearly seven acres of vineyards to gaze out over.

The Deluxe Spa Suites are the pick of the bunch here room-wise, featuring valley views, a private balcony, and a sophisticated neutral palette with navy flourishes. Wheelchair-accessible rooms are also available.

The vineyards at Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley — Balgownie Estate has nearly seven acres of vineyards to gaze out over. (Image: Balgownie Estate Yarra Valley)

Top winery tours in the Yarra Valley

Given that the focus of most visits to The Valley is to sample the fruits of local winemakers’ labour, it’s little surprise that touring is one of the most enjoyable ways to explore.

You’ll have your own designated driver who just so happens to know the Yarra Valley inside out, meaning minimal planning and maximum fun.

The Yarra Valley Touring Company

If you’re looking for a Yarra Valley winery tour that dials up the luxury factor a little, then try The Yarra Valley Touring Company’s Decadent AF Tour (their description, not ours).

Aside from visiting three of the region’s standout wineries, guests are treated to something of a progressive lunch that includes a farmhouse cheese tasting at the Yarra Valley Dairy, a glass of bubbly and half a dozen oysters between two at Domaine Chandon, and a three-course meal plus wine tasting at Dominique Portet winery.

To polish it all off, you’ll end up at regional icon Four Pillars for a gin flight. Bliss.

lush greenery at Yarra Valley — Yarra Valley boasts some of Australia’s most iconic wineries. (Image: The Yarra Valley Touring Company)

Australian Wine Tour Company

If the cost of a winery tour in the Yarra Valley has previously put you off, then sign up for the Australian Wine Tour Company ’s satisfyingly economical jaunt that rings in for $175.

The trip takes in a cross-section of four different wineries and includes an a la carte lunch at Balgownie Estate with a glass of wine to boot.

At most, you’ll be rubbing shoulders with 23 other daytrippers, though typically tour numbers average between 12 and 20.

lush winery landscape, Australian Wine Tour Company — Stroll along Yarra Valley’s lush wineries. (Image: Australian Wine Tour Company)

Discover the top things to do in the Yarra Valley.

Just over an hour from Melbourne, spectacular walking and hiking trails encompass ancient landscapes, forested ridgelines and volcanic peaks.

Just a short drive from the city, the urban sprawl gives way to rolling hills, mineral springs, and lush forests that will have you feeling like you’re in the bucolic countryside of France. Encompassing Daylesford , the Macedon Ranges, Castlemaine and the Central Goldfields, this pocket of Victoria is a region where nature, art, and wellness intertwine. Heritage towns hum with creativity, good food and wine, and welcoming locals. While Daylesford hikes, and those nearby, offer the chance to take a pause and reconnect with nature.

1. Hanging Rock Summit Walk

Etched into folklore, few places in Australia carry as much mystique as Hanging Rock. Rising dramatically from the plains near Woodend, this volcanic mamelon offers a beautiful nature walk. The walk begins at a gentle pace, weaving through shaded woodland before it gets a little steeper as the path starts to climb and twist to the summit. From here, you’ll have views that stretch across the Macedon Ranges. The walk is roughly 1.8 kilometres return, but the real reward lies in standing among the weathered boulders, feeling the age and energy of the earth beneath your feet.

2. Macedon Ranges Walking Trail

Macedon Ranges Walking Trail camel's hump lookout — Walk to Camel’s Hump. (Image: Clair Derwort)

The Macedon Ranges Walking Trail traverses around 19 kilometres of forest and mountain landscapes. The full trail is a six-hour circuit, with most of the walk being a grade three; however, you don’t have to tackle it all at once. There are shorter walks that will take you through the tall mountain ash forests, to tranquil picnic areas, and sweeping views from Camels Hump and the Memorial Cross. The best times of year to head out are autumn, when the mountain turns into a tapestry of crimson and gold, and spring, when wildflowers brighten the trail.

3. Mount Alexander Traverse

Towering above the goldfields near Castlemaine, Mount Alexander is a granite giant that offers some great bushwalking trails. The Mount Alexander Traverse winds along the mountain’s rocky spine through dry eucalypt forest that opens up in sections to reveal beautiful panoramas across Loddon Valley and all the way to the distant Grampians. Once a site of ancient volcanic activity (and later a gathering place for the Dja Dja Wurrung people), the mountain’s granite tors are now quiet and create a beautiful, serene atmosphere for a moment of reflection while walking.

4. Murmuring Walk

Murmuring Walk daylesford hikes — Circle the picturesque Sanatorium Lake.

Located an easy drive from Daylesford, Murmuring Walk offers something a little different. Circling Sanatorium Lake, this free audio-guided walk aims to immerse you in the rhythms of Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country by blending the sounds of nature with a multi-layered soundtrack. There are two routes to explore while you listen: a shorter loop around the lake itself and a longer circuit that extends deeper into the woodland.

5. La Gerche Forest Walk

Located in Creswick, the La Gerche Forest Walk honours the legacy of John La Gerche, a 19th-century forester who championed the regeneration of the then gold-rush-ravaged land. Today, over 100 years later, his replanting efforts have grown into a living cathedral of towering pines, oaks, and native gums. As you meander along the 2.2-kilometre circuit, you’ll find interpretive panels along the way that help tell the story of La Gerche’s vision, so you can learn as you wander.

6. Sailors Falls Loop

Just outside Daylesford, Sailors Falls tumbles through a fern-lined gorge, fed by mineral springs. Thought to be named after the sailors who jumped ship to seek gold in the area during the 1850s gold rush, the loop walk begins at the car park and descends through a cool, shaded gully to the base of the falls. From here, you’ll make the climb back via the mineral springs. It’s a short but enchanting walk – about 1.5 kilometres in total, so make a day of it by packing a picnic to sit by the springs; you’ll feel worlds away from the city.

7. Paddys Ranges Loop Walk

Further north, the Paddys Ranges State Park loop reveals a different side of Victoria’s Heartland – dry forest, golden light and hints of a gold-rush past. This protected reserve is a stronghold of box-ironbark woodland, providing vital refuge for endangered species. In spring, the forest floor is awash with the colour of over 230 species of wildflowers, so a springtime walk is a must-do. As you walk the 4.5-kilometre loop trail, keep an eye out for remnants of old mine shafts and rusted relics from the prospectors who once sought their fortunes here.

8. Mount Franklin Summit Walk

An extinct volcano turned picnic ground, Mount Franklin (known as Lalgambook to the Dja Dja Wurrung people) is one of the region’s quiet marvels. The summit walk follows a narrow, winding path through native forest to the crater’s rim, where you’ll get glimpses of farmland and forest below. It’s a moderate climb – just over an hour return, so it can easily be done if you’re camping in the surrounding reserve for a weekend nature retreat.

The trails of Victoria’s Heartland offer a chance to reconnect with the landscape, local history and yourself. Start planning your next adventure at daylesfordmacedonlife.com.au.

The essential guide to Yarra Valley wineries