Guide to the Yarra Valley wine region

The Yarra Valley is one of the most well known cool climate wine-producing regions. Situated just out of Melbourne, it is known as the first wine region in Victoria. Wines from the region tend to be classic styles made from a wide range of varieties, including sparkling wines, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz. Although the region is known for classic wines, the Yarra Valley is also home to make young, progressive winemakers producing cutting edge style wines. In this guide to the Yarra Valley, we dive into what makes the Yarra Valley so special, what you should look for and what to expect from their incredible wines.

Where is the Yarra Valley?

The Yarra Valley is located only about an hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD. This makes it a popular choice when visiting Melbourne as a wine tour destination, and there are so many tours it can be hard to know where to start! The region itself is massive with 6157 acres under vine. And with over 300 vineyards and 160 wineries, you’ll be spoilt for choice.

Because of its proximity to Melbourne, a trip to the Yarra Valley makes for an ideal day trip. You can easily knock off 4-5 wineries and lunch with a full-day tour, or pick and choose your favourites in your own car. There are also a range of accommodation options if you are looking to make a weekend of it!

A guide to the Yarra Valley history

The Yarra Valley was Victoria’s first wine-growing district. The first vines were planted in 1838 by the Ryrie Brothers at Yering Station and spread rapidly throughout the 1860s-1870s. However, due to the Great Depression and demand for fortified wines, the production ceased in 1921 and most of the land was converted to farmland. Replanting began in the late 1960s, with pioneers like Dr Bailey Coordus from Yarra Yering, Reg Egan from Wantirna Estate, Dr John Middleton from Mount Mary and Guill de Pury from Yeringberg. By the early 1990s, the area under vine passed the high point from the 19th century.

Today the Yarra Valley is home to some incredible cool-climate wineries, many of which still hold a rich history. You can still visit some of the original winery sites, but also sample different wines that still respect tradition from up and coming winemakers.

What makes the Yarra Valley special?

The Yarra Valley is a large and diverse wine region. Because of this, it has a lot of variety in terms of climate, elevation and soil type. These influences, in addition to things such as rainfall, temperatures and wind, mean that wines from the Yarra Valley are dynamic and varied. It means that many different varieties can be planted in different areas and yield a completely different wine. This unique and varied geology is part of what makes the Yarra Valley so special. From traditional areas with loamy sand and clay loam, to red volcanic soil that is deep and fertile, the Yarra Valley gets all the spectrums.

In terms of the temperature, it is cooler in the Yarra Valley than many of Australia’s viticultural regions. As a result, it is cooler than Bordeaux but warmer than Burgundy. The rainfall is usually in the winter and spring, with summers being cool, dry and humid.

All of this variety means that producers of this region can create a vast array of high-quality wines, impacted by where they are located in the region. This unique geography along with a rich history is what sets the Yarra Valley apart from the rest.

Key wine varieties of the Yarra Valley

Credit: Visit Melbourne

Because of the cool climate in the Yarra Valley, the focus tends to be on Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, as well as quality Sparkling Wines. However, there are also plenty of excellent Cabernet Sauvignons and Shiraz wines that come out of the region, thanks to the unique growing conditions.

The Yarra Valley is considered to be a pioneer of modern Australian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Chardonnay tends to be fine, textural and restrained with a focus on the expression of fruit. Their Pinot Noir is usually perfumed and mineral, ranging from light to medium-bodied. In the warmer areas, Cabernet Sauvignon and Shiraz also do well, and bold new winemakers are also experimenting with planting new varieties such as Nebbiolo, Arneis and Gamay.

Chardonnay

Chardonnay is regarded as the Yarra Valley’s premium grape variety, especially with the increased interest in less oaked styles. Typically you’ll find flavours of white peach, melon and fig in wines from the Yarra Valley.

As well as producing quality Chardonnay white wine, fruit from cooler sites is also used to create top-quality sparkling wines.

Pinot Noir

Pinot Noir thrives in the Yarra Valley. The grapes reflect the terroir more than most wine varieties, so expect a difference across wineries. Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley ranges from light to medium-bodied with flavours of plum, strawberry and cherry. Some of the fruit is also used in Sparkling Wine production.

Cabernet Sauvignon

Cabernet Sauvignon is most suited to the warmer sites of the Yarra Valley, and tend to be aromatic and less heavy than those wines from warmer regions.

Shiraz

Similar to Cabernet, Shiraz is grown in the warmer areas of the Yarra Valley. Smaller production wineries are often labelling their wines Syrah, especially as they tend to be softer than the bold Shiraz of warmer regions such as the Barossa.

Where to find Yarra Valley wines

So you are sold on Yarra Valley wines and now you want to find some to taste. Well, good news! Yarra Valley wines are widely available across Australia and also exported internationally. You’d be hard-pressed to find a bottle shop that didn’t stock at least one Yarra Valley wine. Larger bottle shops will tend to stock the larger wineries, but you can also pick up more boutique wines from smaller bottle stores.

If you are after really specific wines, the best option would be to go to the winery direct, either online or via the cellar door.

Key wines of the Yarra Valley to look out for

Credit: Wine Australia

There is so much to discover when it comes to Yarra Valley winemakers. In addition to the second-wave of Pioneers who started up production once again, you’ll also find many winemakers who are revolutionising winemaking and pushing the boundaries. The winemakers of the region focus on the quality and flavour of wines, something which set them apart when the region was first booming. The cool climate region meant they couldn’t produce the intense wines that were wowing critics, so instead they embraced the difference. Now, this spirit of experimentation has created some of the most well-known winemakers in Australia.

Guide to the Yarra Valley: top winery picks

Here are some wineries to look out for when you are either visiting or at the bottle store:

• • Giant Steps – one of the Yarra Valley’s most celebrated and award-winning wineries
  • Seville Estate – One of the pioneer vineyards of the Yarra Valley who earned Halliday’s 2019 Winery of the Year
  • Tokar Estate – Utilising sustainable vineyard practices and a less-is-more approach to winemaking
  •  Punt Road Wines – Their vineyard has been growing grapes since 1862 and produces world-class wines rich in history
  • De Bortoli – With a history dating back to 1928, this family winery is producing some incredible wines at a large scale (I tried their Sparkling recently and loved it)
  • Oakridge Wines – A well-known and award-winning family winery
  • Levantine Hill – Producing limited qualities with a focus on wine quality, earning them Best Australian Red Wine at the prestigious Internal Wine and Spirits Competition
  • Yarra Yering – one of the region’s oldest vineyards producing unique, small-batch wines
  • Yering Station – The site of the first vineyard in the Yarra Valley, dating back to 1838
  • Yeringberg – dating back 156 years, this winery focuses on making premium wines intended for cellaring
  • Punt Road – Minimal intervention wines with a focus on quality
  • TarraWarra Estate – Well known for quality wines and also an incredible cellar door

Those are just a few of the incredible wineries on offer in the Yarra Valley. Next time you’re in a bottle store make sure you check them out! That being said, there are hundreds more to explore.

Visiting the Yarra Valley

A guide to the Yarra Valley wouldn’t be complete without putting a bit of my own experience in! I’ve been to the Yarra Valley twice, and since going I have realised I am missing so many of the famous wineries from my experience. I think this calls for another trip soon! The Yarra Valley has over 90 cellar doors to discover, and with incredible food, cosy accommodation and breathtaking scenery.

Whether you make a weekend of it or just travel out for the day, you’re sure to have a good time. It makes for the perfect day trip out of Melbourne due to its proximity to the city. However, if you want to truly discover the region I would recommend staying a night or two.

If you are all wined out, the Yarra Valley is also known for its quality farming, and so you’ll find an abundance of farm fresh produce and fine eateries to enjoy!

Cellar door highlights

Here are the places I enjoyed on our trips to the Yarra Valley:

• Domaine Chandon – no trip to the Yarra Valley would be complete without a trip to Chandon for their sparkling wines. Started by the Champagne house Moet & Chandon, this cellar door is stunning. You can either enjoy a glass or get a tasting flight, something I really enjoyed. There are so many sparklings to discover beyond their famous Chandon Brut. Plus you can also go on a self-guided tour to see how they make the wines.
• Coombe – this winery is set in the historic Melba House and is absolutely stunning. The tasting room is beautiful, the wines are great, and you can also tour the gallery to get a real sense of the history of Melba House. Definitely a destination in itself!
• Helen & Joey Estate – this winery has the most incredible views out over their vineyards. Also, if you’re into finding the best spot for your Instagram, they have a life-sized unicorn ready and waiting for your happy snaps!
• St Huberts – We went there on our first trip and I was blown away by their wines. I still have a few in our cellar waiting for the right moment to open. Established in 1862, this winery has a rich history and the great wines to match. Their cellar door may not be as impressive as some of the others you’ll find, but the wines speak for themselves!

The final word on the guide to the Yarra Valley

I hope this guide to the Yarra Valley has helped you learn more about this incredible wine region. The Yarra Valley is a great spot to start if you are after cool climate wines. The wines are widely available, and with a focus on quality, you’ll be sure to get something delicious. The great thing about the region is that there is a good mix of large and small producers. This means that you can usually find a wine that suits your budget. Whether you love Pinot Noir or Shiraz, you’ll be able to find it.

It also makes for the perfect destination if you are planning a wine trip. Whether you just want to do a day out of Melbourne, or you are wanting a weekend getaway, the Yarra Valley is a great option. Providing over 90 cellar doors, incredible food and beautiful accommodation, you’re in for a great weekend away exploring this region.