Yarra Valley offers the perfect blend of world-class wines and regional gourmet experiences paired with picturesque countryside. Here you will find welcoming farm cafes and regional restaurants serving local produce along with its famed cool-climate wine.
At monthly markets, browse stalls of fresh fruit and homemade delicacies. Try local cheese from artisanal producers, and purchase some Yarra Valley’s Kitchen & Butcher bread!
1. Fresh Vegetables
No matter your vegetable consumption goals or cooking abilities, there are numerous things you can do to make them shine in your dish. From choosing appropriate varieties of produce to mastering their preparation and even adding tasty touches that enhance their enjoyment!
Utilizing fresh herbs will add vibrance and aroma to any of your dishes, adding an extra boost of fresh flavor. Chopping parsley, basil, thyme or mint into your vegetables for more zest; alternatively you could split open a head of garlic and rub its contents over your produce before roasting or sauteing them for maximum effect.
If you don’t have much time or are cooking just for yourself, vegetables cooked in the microwave can still taste just as tasty as those grilled or roasted. Plus they save food waste by eliminating having to discard over-ripe or wilted produce!
Those seeking to avoid meat for health reasons should ensure they have an assortment of low-cost and long-lasting vegetables on hand, which will enable them to quickly prepare nutritious, protein-packed meals that satisfy. We advise exploring which vegetable varieties you find satisfying before slowly expanding your plant-based horizons.
2. Fruit
Yarra Valley is home to over 80 vineyards producing world-class wines, all benefiting from the region’s cool climate influenced by Southern Ocean weather patterns, topography and altitude differences. Grapes with distinct flavour profiles such as Chardonnay and Pinot Noir standout as standalone varietals; Shiraz is also highly esteemed along with Methode Traditionnelle sparkling varieties.
The Yarra Valley is known for its impressive array of fruit and berries. Cherry, plum and apricot produce is perhaps most well-known; however there’s much more to discover such as wild berry jams, dried fruits and chutneys. Family-run Yarra Valley Preserves specialises in creating tasty gourmet preserves with unique culinary traditions; one such product being their Tomato & Red Capsicum Relish which has proven an especially popular customer favorite!
Victoria’s Yarra Valley is known for its premier wine and gourmet food offerings, and foodies will find plenty to do this year in this renowned region, such as attending Mary Eats Cake’s Scone-Making Masterclass hosted by one of Australia’s beloved high tea venues and restaurants, Mary Eats Cake.
The Yarra Valley Farmers Market takes place every month on the picturesque grounds of Punt Road Winery and provides shoppers with fresh seasonal produce, locally-made bread and artisan products at a fantastic value. Food tastings, plenty of chatter and visual feasting make for an entertaining atmosphere, with dogs welcome if kept on leashes during their visit.
3. Fish
The Yarra Valley is famous for its fine dining experiences, but this region also boasts incredible produce. One great example is Yarra Farm Fresh which prides itself on offering only high quality locally grown ingredients in its store as well as seasonal offerings and offering a comprehensive selection of products.
Stop here during your campervan road trip for local vegetables, herbs and fruit to buy as well as delicious dips, chutneys and relishes made on-site from capsicums grown at their temperature controlled greenhouse.
Purchase locally-caught seafood such as salmon and trout that has been caught using sustainable and ethical fishing techniques. Yarra Valley Caviar is the region’s premiere provider of hand-milked Atlantic Salmon, Rainbow Trout and Brook Trout caviar harvested manually and certified BAP (Best Aquaculture Practice).
Yarra Valley is Australia’s premier cool-climate wine growing region and is famed for its award-winning chardonnay and pinot noir wines. Over 80 vineyards can be found scattered among Healesville, Coldstream, Yarra Glen and Seville and provide tastings, cellar door sales and picnic facilities – many are open for visitors with tastings available, cellar door sales available or picnic facilities provided. In addition to wine production the region is known for excellent cheeses, poultry products and ice cream production which can be enjoyed while traversing these regions on Food Trails such as Yarra Valley Food Trail or Dandenong Ranges U-Pick Trail or attending regional food festivals!
4. Meat
The Yarra Valley is home to an outstanding community of artisan producers, who transform local produce into exquisite gourmet products. From natural juices and nuts, free-range eggs, flowers and local handmade bread with cheeses and biscuits. cakes and chocolates – there is something here for all tastes! From jams, chutneys condiments olive oils vinegar salad dressing syrups cordials – something truly extraordinary is on offer in The Valley.
Yarra Valley is world renowned for its wines. Offering Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Shiraz along with Methode traditionnelle sparkling drinks to name just a few, its grapevines produce world-class drops in abundance.
Enjoy a hearty meal accompanied by wine at an inviting farm cafe or regional restaurant. Visit cellar doors and interact with winemakers who specialize in crafting these enticing drops – many are more than happy to share their passion, expertise and philosophy! Alternatively, pack up your picnic and relax amongst beautiful vineyards!
5. Herbs and Spices
There are countless locally grown herbs and spices used to add flavour to local food products, making a well-stocked spice cabinet an indispensable asset to a chef. When selecting which herbs and spices to buy, take note of their flavour profile; bold, medium or delicate options can all have distinct characteristics with regard to taste as well as aroma.
Cooking with herbs and spices is a wonderful way to add flavour while simultaneously adding color, texture and aromas. When adding herbs early in the cooking process so their oils have time to release and diffuse; depending on the recipe whole herbs may need to be added either early on or at the very end. Crushing or grinding herbs prior to adding them is another effective method for unlocking their oils before use in culinary creations.
Yarra Valley is known for more than just wine production; it also produces beer, chocolate and gin! A day trip to Yarra Valley is the ideal way to experience all that this unique region has to offer – be sure to book one of their many wine and food tours as a sure way to sample all that they offer as well as stop for lunch or dinner at some of Yarra Valley’s top wineries and vineyards as well as enjoying lunch or dinner in various eateries or restaurants in town!
6. Wine
Located just an hour outside Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is famed for its stunning natural and wildlife sights, world-class wines, and delicious gourmet produce – making it an ideal location for romantic day trips or girl’s weekend getaways.
Yarra Valley vineyards are well known for producing climate-sensitive Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines, but also produce outstanding Riesling. Established as one of Australia’s oldest winemaking regions in 1838, with first vines planted here. Winemakers in Yarra Valley prefer practical approaches over pretence when crafting wines here – they don’t tolerate pretense or any sort of posturing between grapes!
The region’s varied conditions are reflected in its wines, with producers experimenting with varietals while remaining true to their style. There is much talent here; cellar doors boast diverse offerings in size and personality that showcase them well.
Beer and cider have made a comeback along with microbreweries and distilleries in Yarra Valley. You can follow a cider & ale trail starting at Warburton Valley CEDA; sample cold-pressed juices and raw apple vinegar from Yering Orchards; or sample cheeses at Yarra Valley Dairy’s century-old milking shed – not just eating and drinking well but supporting local businesses too! Yarra Valley is home to passionate entrepreneurs that create innovative artisan products as well as passionate farmers that cultivate our food from local farms who grow it all the way to small businesses that produce them; all sharing this great event together!