Polish Your Palate with a Wine Adventure at These Yarra Valley Destinations

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Almost every Aussie state has its wine region, with the Hunter Valley in NSW and the Barossa in SA being some of the most popular destinations for wine weekenders on this side of the equator. But the star of the show is down in Victoria, with the Yarra Valley being one of Australia's finest options for a quick getaway.

It's less than an hour's drive from Melbourne, and these verdant fields couldn't be a better break from the hustle and bustle of the big smoke. That's why we've teamed up with Visit Yarra Valley to show you how to swap the office desk for a midweek vineyard escape, and to recommend some local wineries for you to hit along the way.

Chandon

The first entry on our list might not be immediately what you're expecting. Chandon might be a global sparkling wine brand spread across four continents and five countries, but it does indeed have a branch in our very own Yarra Valley. It was during the 1980s when then Chandon bosses visited Victoria to inspect it as an area for a potential expansion into Australia; the cool climate and varied terroir of the Yarra led it to become the winner, a moment that really put the region on the global wine stage.

Sparkling wine works best in a cool climate, so Victoria was well-suited for sparkling wine specialists like Chandon. Today, visitors to the property can enjoy guided and à la carte tastings, hands-on winemaking experiences, tipples in the lounge bar, multi-course meals in the restaurant, sparkling brunches, outdoor picnics and more.

Anitra Wells

Oakridge Wines

Oakridge set up shop in its current Coldstream property in 1998, but has been growing in the Yarra Valley since the late 70s. Oakridge's attention to detail has taken it to the forefront of Australia's cool-climate wine scene and made it a must-visit location in the Yarra Valley, highlighting everything that makes the area a great destination: city-level luxury with countryside scenery and world class cuisine.

The winery looks as good as its wines taste with its panoramic windows and vineyard-to-mountain scenery, and visitors to the cellar door can take part in five tasting experiences, ranging from a tasting of its most awarded wines to luxurious barrel tastings, tours and helicopter flights. Oakridge also boasts two dining experiences: the fine-dining restaurant and, for more casual bites, the Terrace. Both of which use produce sourced from their own kitchen garden or a network of small, ethical producers, all served with a side of vineyard to mountain views.

Lauren Bertaccini Photography

Punt Road Wines

Nestled in Coldstream, Punt Road Wines is all about offering good times and great drops with everyone — from seasoned sippers to wine-curious beginners. With 160 years of growing grapes under its belt, the 58-acre vineyard estate produces crowd-favourites like pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet sauvignon alongside rarer finds like gamay and the experimental Airlie Bank range of wines.

Visitors to the cellar door can enjoy all of them in tasting flights with or without matching charcuterie and cheeses. Either way, you can browse through a mix of local and international nibbles in the Picnic Pantry before you take a seat to enjoy them in the Marquee Bar or — if the weather is cooperating, pick out a grassy slice of the garden grounds for a proper picnic.

Sharyn Cairns

Giant Steps

What happens when a massive jazz fan trades the Margaret River for the Yarra Valley in search of his perfect winery? Giant Steps, that's what. The jazz fan in question was Phil Sexton, and his bold new venture was fittingly named after his favourite John Coltrane album. From the first plantings in 1997 to being named the Halliday Winery of the Year for 2025, Giant Steps has garnered a reputation for its standout pinot noir and chardonnay, grown across single sites throughout the valley.

The use of single sites ensures that the wine never stays the same, aside from the fact that it stays excellent. Fret not; you don't need to hit multiple wineries to try it all; just head to Healesville and the Giant Steps tasting room. There are four tasting experiences on offer, from a seasonal selection to a deep dive into the single-vineyard wines they do best. As always, walk-ins are welcome, but bookings are best.

St Huberts

St Huberts is another Yarra Valley mainstay, having been established way back in 1862, but a 162-year-old winery has never looked so damn good. Led by acclaimed winemaker Greg Jarratt since 2006, St Huberts specialises in cabernet sauvignon but takes advantage of the Yarra environment that drew winemakers here all those years ago. Beyond cab sav is a whole host of cold-climate wines that find their way to shelves, cellars and glasses across Australia.

St Huberts also boasts a gorgeous cellar door, launched with a contemporary makeover in 2022. Think smooth stone, dark wood panels, leather couches and stags aplenty (in keeping with its seventh century namesake, St Hubert: the patron saint of the hunt). All that makes for a luxe and comfortable environment for tastings and charcuterie. Otherwise, a full dining experience can be found at onsite restaurant Quarters, which serves seasonally selected modern Aussie favourites and European-inspired dishes.

Chateau Yering

All this drinking wine is bound to really take it out of you, it's a hard life sipping chardonnay and eating cheese in the sun, after all. If you're to do the Yarra justice, you need to make it an overnight adventure. Our advice? Go all out. Go to Chateau Yering. This five-star Victorian-style (era, not state) mansion sits on a spacious 250-hectare property. 32 Luxurious and uniquely appointed suites? Check. Yarra Valley views? Heritage garden? Check.

Whether you fancy a leisurely stroll by the flowerbeds, a cup of tea as you watch the sunset on your private balcony, or just collapsing into a plush bed, you can do it here. Get dinner at the lavish Eleonore's Restaurant and breakfast at the conservatory-style Sweetwater Cafe before you head out for another day of tastings and adventures among the rolling green hills of the Yarra Valley.

Is your interest piqued? Do you fancy wetting your whistle the Yarra Valley way? We've also teamed up with Visit Yarra Valley to give one lucky reader and a guest the chance to score a two-night stay at Chateau Yering with all sorts of extras — including a $400 voucher to spend at any of the above wineries. To find out more and put your name in the running to win, check out the competition here.

For more information on the Yarra Valley and to start planning the rest of your adventure, head to the Visit Yarra Valley website.