Five Yarra Valley wineries to visit this weekend
Just 90 minutes drive from the middle of Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is beloved by day-trippers and weekend wine-lovers serious about tasting some of Victoria’s premium drops.There are bountiful choices when it comes to wineries, from multi-million dollar entertainment complexes to glorified farm sheds, but which to choose? We’ve got it sorted – you just sort your designated driver!
Pimpernel Vineyards, Coldstream
Amid some of Yarra Valley’s sprawling wine-themed edifices, it’s good to find a small winery like Pimpernel dedicated to one thing only: making the best wines they possibly can. No restaurants or main stages here: just 16 acres of non-irrigated grapes and a sublime little tasting room where you can book a flight of fancy through their outstanding Rhone Valley, Burgundy and Loire Valley-inspired tipples. Take a table on the terrace, enjoy the view and prepare yourself for some fabulous wines.
Hubert Estate, Coldstream
The long-established St Huberts winery has had a massive makeover, with the addition of a 220 seat restaurant, art gallery and a whole new look that makes Hubert Estate a must-visit part of the Yarra Valley wine scene. Quarters restaurant focuses on modern Australian tucker that complements the winery’s excellent cool climate drops. The architecture of the place – partly underground, but with sweeping winery views – mixes modern with rural-chic. Check out the gallery of indigenous art, stay for a superb sourdough pizza, sample the Shiraz and Chardonnay and be consumed by the vision.
Oakridge, Coldstream
Turn off the Maroondah Highway and amid acres of sun-soaked vines you’ll find Oakridge’s imposing yet friendly and accessible winery. The cellar door is its hub, and vinophiles can choose between tasting five of Oakridge’s best, through to a Chardonnay Masterclass or a flight of its top-end 864 single block wines. The restaurant is renowned for its innovative use of local produce and native ingredients and if you’re looking for one winery that epitomizes the serenity and glamour of the Yarra Valley, this could be it.
TarraWarra Estate, Yarra Glen
TarraWarra is another Yarra Valley blockbuster: established in 1979 as a family retreat, it has grown into a fully fledged winery with some 28 hectares of vines on the 400 hectare property. The sprawling cellar door, winery and restaurant building overlooking a cool gully is where visitors can enjoy a tasting flight, then maybe move on to lunch at the hatted restaurant. Check out the kitchen garden, the beautifully landscaped grounds and the art gallery for a memorable visit.
Soumah of Yarra Valley, Gruyere
South of the Maroondah Highway (get it?) at the end of a narrow farm road, Soumah welcomes visitors to its hillside retreat that combines a tasting room, restaurant and sun-filled terrace in deceptively rustic simplicity. There’s an Italian flavour here, from the grape varietals such as Brachetto and Nebbiolo that complement the Pinots and Chardonnays of the region, to the glorious Ai Fiori Trattoria restaurant that champions pasta and pizza with a local twist. The ambience is hearty and happy and the wines are excellent so be prepared for a longer stay than you’d imagined.
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