If you're looking for the best cellar doors for simple wine tastings, extensive wine tours, and everything in between, then you must explore Yarra Valley's finest vineyards and wineries. In terms of the number, there are currently well over 90 Yarra Valley Wineries, and counting, as more open every year.
Today, we will guide you on the Yarra Valley wine region, specifically focusing on some of the most stunning Yarra Valley wineries and their offerings. This cool climate region is well-known for producing many varietals, with exceptional pinot noir and cabernet sauvignon being at the forefront, among others. Keep reading to find the best wineries in the Yarra Valley region, and to find out exactly what kind of wine you'll find here.
How Many Wineries Are in Yarra Valley?
At this time, the Yarra Valley is home to well over 90 different wineries, although the actual number is quite likely much higher than this. The Yarra Valley region is well known for its variety of cool climate wines, particularly varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay.
Interesting to note is that many of the wineries found in the Yarra Valley are small, boutique producers and family run operations, each featuring their own tasting experiences, cellar doors, and their own unique stories.
Another interesting fact is that this region's winemaking history dates all the way back to the 1830s when Yering Station became the first official vineyard in Victoria. Today, you can visit massive estates such as Hubert Estate, Levantine Hill, Oakridge Wines, and many more. These locations are all ideal for casual tastings and larger wine tours alike. The majority of these wineries, especially the ones we're about to discuss below, also feature in-house restaurants with everything from casual to high-end dining.
If you're looking for a cellar door and restaurant in one, Yarra Valley's cool climate and the surrounding mountain ranges are perfect for wine enthusiasts coming from far and wide.
The Best Wineries in Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley is home to one award winning winery after another, with Balgownie Estate, Oakridge Wines, and Levantine Hill Estate standing out among the rest. Let's take a look and find an award winning vineyard for you to visit!
De Bortoli Wines
- Address: 58 Pinnacle Ln, Dixons Creek VIC 3775, Australia
- Phone: +61 3 5911 6900
- Website: https://debortoli.com.au
De Bortoli Wines is one of the most famous and celebrated cool climate wineries in the Yarra Valley region, headed by a small family. This estate features an award winning Noble One Botrytis Semillon, a popular dessert wine that is known around the world. Guests can enjoy the full range, with options such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah. De Bortoli also features Locale, an Italian-inspired restaurant with a sophisticated dining experience that highlights handmade pasta and seasonal produce.
Balgownie Estate
- Address: 1309 Melba Hwy, Yarra Glen VIC 3775, Australia
- Phone: +61 3 9730 0700
- Official Website: balgownie.com
Founded in 1969, Balgownie Estate is a five star Halliday-rated winery, known for producing some of Yarra Valley's best Shiraz and Cabernet Sauvignon. There is a cellar door which offers a curated tasting experience that is led by knowledgeable staff, showcasing both innovative and classic vintages across their Sparkling and Black Label ranges. The on-site restaurant, Restaurant 1309, is also worth visiting, where executive chef Aidan Gallagher creates high end dishes using locally sourced ingredients.
Oakridge Wines
- Address: 864 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream VIC 3770, Australia
- Phone: +61 3 9738 9900
- Official Website: oakridgewines.com.au
One of the most popular wineries in Yarra Valley, Oakridge Wines is celebrated for its single vineyard expressions and its commitment to sustainable winemaking. Founded all the way back in 1978, Oakridge Wines has won various awards, including Best Value Winery of the year in the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards. Oakridge has several standout wines, mainly Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. The restaurant is hatted, meaning it has also won accolades, plus it features a four-course degustation menu that changes with the seasons. All of the dishes made here are designed to pair perfectly with their wines.
Levantine Hill Estate
- Address: 882 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream VIC 3770, Australia
- Phone: +61 3 5962 1333
- Official Website: levantinehill.com.au
If we are talking about flagship wineries in the Yarra Valley, we can't ignore Levantine Hill Estate, which is known for its luxury cuisine and wine making. Their varietals include many award winning Cabernet Sauvignons, Syrahs, and Pinot Noirs, all of which are made on a small batch basis. Guests can visit their cellar door for a premium wine tasting, and then go to the restaurant where a five-course shared dining experience awaits. For the five-course dining experience, a specific wine is paired with each dish.
Rochford Wines
- Address: 878–880 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream VIC 3770, Australia
- Phone: +61 3 5957 3333
- Official Website: rochfordwines.com.au
A small boutique winery and family owned estate, Rochford Wines is known for its cool climate varietals and its French-Mediterranean inspired dining experience. It features three separate vineyards which produce many varietals, and Isabella’s Restaurant features some of the best food in the area. Chef Ryan Frost produces a seasonal menu that features fresh and innovative dishes. The estate itself features floor to ceiling glass walls to provide excellent views of the vineyards. The cellar doors are also available, so guests can explore the full range of wines.
What Types of Wine Can Be Found in a Yarra Valley Cellar Door?
The Yarra Valley is most well known for producing some of Australia's best cool climate wines. Let's take a look at the various types that you'll find here.
Pinot Noir
If we're talking about a flagship variety found in the Yarra Valley, it has to be Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir grapes just to grow really well in these elevated vineyards and in the cool climate. The Pinot Noir found in this area is generally light to medium bodied, with a good deal of acidity, soft tannins, as well as notes of earthy spice, raspberry, and red cherry.
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is yet another one of Yarra Valley’s best offerings, as the cooler temperatures help preserve its acidity while allowing various types of stone fruit and citrus flavours to really shine through. Modern Yarra Valley Chardonnays are generally lightly oaked, providing a balance of subtle creaminess and minerality, along with hints of nut or almonds to be specific.
Shiraz
Shiraz, often called Syrah, from this region tends to be quite restrained and peppery, unlike its full-bodied cousins from warmer regions. This type of wine generally has flavours of dark berry fruits along with floral undertones. These wines also tend to be fairly savoury due to their refined tannins.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Another type of wine that the Yarra Valley region is well known for is its Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon from this region tends to be quite refined, with flavours of cassis, black cherry, and herbs. Due to the region's elevation, the grapes tend to ripen quite slowly, and this helps produce wines with balanced acidity and fine tannins.
Sparkling Wines
The other type of wine that Yarra Valley is best known for is sparkling wine. Here, you'll find plenty of crisp, citrusy, and fruity sparkling wines that are absolutely perfect for dessert.
How to Get to Yarra Valley - Just an Hour's Drive from Melbourne or an Elegant Helicopter Flight
If you're looking to get to the Yarra Valley, driving is of course always an option, as it's about an hour out of Melbourne. With that being said, if you're going for a day of wine tasting or on a full wine tour, you might not want to drive.
Instead, Yarra Valley offers the option to fly to many of its wineries by helicopter. For instance, Rotor One offers a variety of helicopter flights and winery tours to Yarra Valley, all of which start in Melbourne and let you see the Yarra River and Yarra Valley from a whole new perspective.
This way, you can travel to and from many different wineries in the region in style and luxury, in fully air-conditioned and high-end helicopters that get you there fast and allow you to enjoy the stunning scenery below.
