Best wineries in the Yarra Valley
With over 175 wineries located an hour's drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is one of Australia's most accessible wine regions. It's also known for its artisan food and wine offerings, with a plethora of lauded restaurants and grocers that are worth seeking out, as well as its incredible scenery. As James Halliday says, "It is a place of extreme beauty, of constantly changing light, of colour and mood... Once you have seen it, you cannot help but love it."
Temperature-wise, the Yarra Valley is cool, with its climate markedly milder than other top wine-producing regions in Australia. Unsurprisingly, the stars of the region and chardonnay and pinot noir, but you can also find stellar examples of sauvignon blanc, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon.
Below, we spoke to four producers from the Yarra Valley: De Bortoli Wines, In Dreams, Medhurst and Yering Station. They provide some local knowledge, letting us in on their favourite spots – whether they be wine bars or walking trails – and we found out which wine of theirs you need to try.
Get to know the four wineries below.
De Bortoli Wines
De Bortoli Yarra Valley estate manager Leanne De Bortoli says: Our family owns three unique vineyard estates in the Yarra Valley. The estate vineyard at Dixons Creek, which is home to the winery, is in the northern section of the Yarra Valley. First planted in 1971, the vineyard now has over 170 hectares of predominantly chardonnay, pinot gris, pinot noir, syrah and cabernet sauvignon, with other varieties joining in recent years. The Abbey Vineyard at Tarrawarra is in the centre of the region where we have planted some newer clones of pinot noir that show amazing perfume and delicacy. Lusatia Park Vineyard at Woori Yallock is one of the most iconic single-vineyard sites in the Yarra Valley, with plantings of pinot noir and chardonnay.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
LDB. Our family purchased the original property in 1987, which was already an established vineyard, and Steve and I instantly fell in love with the region – the beauty, climate, seasons and, of course, its proximity to Melbourne. From here we make a range of interesting, often single vineyard, wines that reflect our belief that good wine starts in the vineyard. Steve’s mission statement is pretty simple: “to make wine with character and interest and have some fun doing it.”
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
LDB. Our Yarra Valley cellar door is a bustling, friendly place built on warm hospitality and the joy of sharing good food and great wine with family and friends. We offer wine tastings and private wine experiences as well as good old-fashioned hospitality, reflecting our Italian heritage. Everyone is welcome. Our restaurant overlooks the vines, with an ever-changing seasonal menu featuring Italian-inspired dishes that celebrate the abundance of local and seasonal produce. And our estate gardens are beautifully landscaped with picnic facilities and a children's playground.
Favourite local spot: Barrique is a charming wine bar and shop in the heart of Healesville run by husband-and-wife duo Mike and Claire Emmett. Always friendly, they showcase a range of interesting wines by the glass/bottle that can be enjoyed over a simple cheese platter or for takeaway. Well worth a visit.
Wine to try
NV De Bortoli Este Cuvée
A blend of mainly chardonnay (78 per cent) with pinot noir/pinot blanc/pinot meunier. A multivintage blend with 6g/L dosage. Good complexity at this pricepoint with its gentle toastiness, a little citrus and marzipan. The palate is flavoursome and balanced, finishing nutty and dry. – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 92 points.Best enjoyed: Perfect with an antipasto platter of cured meats, cured salmon or freshly shucked oysters. Premium sparkling always tastes better in a posh glass like the Riedel Veloce Champagne Glass: a super elegant glass which holds the super fine bead until the glass is empty.
RRP $27.95 | Drink to 2026 | debortoli.com.au | Shop this wine
In Dreams
Winemaker Anthony Fikkers says: Our winery is situated in Healesville in the heart of the Yarra Valley. It has been designed specifically to cater for small batches of wine. This allows us to keep small batches separate through the winemaking process and also allows us to split larger batches to try new things, such as a bit more whole bunch or longer maceration times. We always try to keep the wines quite pure, so they speak of the place they were grown. In the case of In Dreams, that’s the Yarra Valley as a whole, as it’s a multi-vineyard blend. We achieve this through moderate extraction and subtle use of new oak.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
AF. I love making wine in the Yarra Valley because the climate is very suitable for pinot noir and chardonnay. I feel that balance can be quite easily achieved in these varieties when grown in the Yarra. There’s also a wide variety of subregions that produce slight differences in the wines that are grown there.
H. How do you approach the winemaking process?
AF. At In Dreams, it's all about balance and purity of fruit. We select most of our parcels from cool-climate vineyards in Seville and Yarra Junction for their minerality and vibrancy and complement the blend with small parcels from slightly warmer vineyards in Coldstream and Yarra Glen. We Keep the winemaking process quite simple – our aim is to grow and purchase good grapes, the rest takes care of itself. I'm always looking for balance in a wine; that is our goal.
Favourite local spot: My favourite local spot in the Yarra Valley is the national park up around Maroondah dam. There’s a heap of great walking tracks to explore the wonderful forests our region has.
Wine to try
2023 In Dreams Pinot Noir
A blend focusing on the township of Seville East in the Upper Yarra Valley but also incorporating fruit from Coldstream and Yarra Glen. A small percentage of whole bunches. A bright, ruby red. An aromatic bouquet of ripe red cherries, wild strawberries and a little briar. Just as good on the medium-bodied, crunchy-fruited and energetic palate. Pliant tannins round out a wine that will still be drinking well a decade from now. – Philip Rich, Halliday Wine Companion, 96 Points.Best enjoyed: Pair with barbecued pork and fennel sausages or grilled portobello mushrooms. Best served in a pinot noir or chardonnay glass such as Plumm Three No. 3.
RRP $35 | Drink to 2034 | indreams.com.au | Shop this wine
Medhurst
Winemaker Rohan Smith says: Medhurst is a family-owned winery, located in a bushland setting overlooking the Yarra Valley. Our passion is to ensure that our wines are a true reflection of place and season. Our varieties include chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. Our signature rosé is recognised as one of the best in Australia. The winding driveway leads to our recently extended, architecturally designed cellar door, where you will be welcomed by our friendly and passionate staff.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
RS. The Yarra Valley is such a wonderful place to grow and make wine due to the incredible diversity of varieties that thrive in the Valley. We are so lucky to have a climate that allows us to make such a wide range of wines, from chardonnay to pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon and shiraz, which gives us significant creative licence in both the vineyard and winery.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
RS. Guests to the cellar door can choose from a variety of tasting experiences. These have been developed to showcase the estate-grown and made wines. There is also a small food offering which is the perfect accompaniment to the wine.
Favourite local spot: There are so many amazing places to visit in the Yarra Valley so it is very hard to choose! Healesville is such a great hub to come together and enjoy great food and wine and I highly recommend visiting Mike at Barrique Wine store or Jayden at Jayden Ong Winery and Cellar Bar for a fantastic Yarra Valley experience.
Wine to try
2024 Medhurst Estate Rosé
Brilliant and clear in appearance with a pale copper blush and a vibrant salmon hue. The nose opens up with delicate jasmine florals, candied orange and wild strawberries with just a hint of bay leaf. The palate is brimming with fresh cassis, juicy redcurrants, strawberry and a touch of passionfruit pith and is fine and textured with lovely fruit weight. The trademark long, chalky line and a delicate, dry finish will leave you salivating for more.Best enjoyed: Best paired with platters of fresh produce in great company. Serve in a big wine glass, nicely chilled.
RRP $30 | Drink to 2026 | medhurstwines.com.au | Shop this wine
Yering Station
Chief winemaker Brendan Hawker says: Yering Station has been core to the Yarra Valley wine story for almost two centuries. Our site was home to the very first plantings in the state of Victoria in 1838, marking the birth of the region we call home today.
Our winery is set up for pinot noir production in that we have lots of small open fermenters, which allows us to keep individual parcels of fruit separate, and even break up larger blocks into smaller sections. Our fermenters are also all serviced by gravity, so we don’t have to use a pump to move any pinot noir skins around the winery – avoiding extraction of any harsh, astringent tannins.
H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
BH. Being a cool-climate region, the Yarra Valley is ideal for producing premium wine, with the continental climate influence of cool nights and the maritime influence of Port Philip Bay buffering the severity of heat events when they occur. When it comes to site selection and microclimate, a plethora of unique aspects and soil types allow all the beautifully unique shades and personalities of pinot noir to shine through.
H. What can guests expect from a visit to your cellar door?
BH. Housed in the original winery building c.1859, our heritage cellar door brims with rustic charm and original finishes – from exposed, white-washed brick to towering wooden beams. After your tasting, enjoy a memorable dining experience in our signature restaurant, feasting on local, seasonal produce while overlooking the expansive Yarra Ranges.
Favourite local spot: The Yarra Valley is a wine and food lover's dream, overflowing with quality cellar doors, providores, restaurants, markets and more. It’s hard to choose one! My favourite spot would be Barrique Wine Store or Jayden Ong Winery & Cellar Bar, both in Healesville and run by absolute legends with top-quality wine and food offerings.
Wine to try
2023 Yering Station Pinot Noir
An attractive, perfumed nose offering scents of raspberries, cranberries and gentle spice and rose petal. The palate is plush and complex, full of seductive dark cherry fruit and spice, with ultra-silky tannins on the flavorful, long finish.Best enjoyed: Porcini mushroom tagliatelle. Enjoy with good food, in good company.
RRP $40 | Drink to 2029 | yering.com | Shop this wine
Top image credit: In Dreams
