Global Ballooning’s unforgettable hot air balloon experience over Yarra Valley’s magnificent vineyards, lakes and mountain mist will leave you spellbound! Don’t miss this once in a lifetime opportunity – experience this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity now.
Enter an adventure of wine and food at Balgownie Estate. Their on-site restaurant features a rotating chef who prepares delicious seasonal cuisine paired with exquisite wines for you to experience an exquisite dining experience.
1. Maddens Rise
Although best known for wine production, the Yarra Valley has much more to offer visitors. Enjoy winery dining or cellar door tours or take in its beautiful natural scenery on a walk.
Four Pillars Gin stands out among Melbourne distilleries by offering an impressive range of premium gins that you can enjoy with cocktails or G&Ts. Their location in a Melbourne basement makes Four Pillars Gin an absolute must!
Visit boutique winery Payne’s Rise for distinguished vintages housed in an original 1860s homestead, or make time to enjoy Seville Estate where their chef-in-residence creates dishes to complement their minimal intervention wines.
Make sure to reserve in advance as many vineyard restaurants in the Yarra Valley double as cellar doors; Ai Fiori Trattoria of Healesville serves northern Italian fare while Meletos in Coldstream offers Euro-Australian dishes and Monroe’s Burgers of Healesville serves casual fare. Or visit Balgownie Estate with its hotel, restaurant, bar, cellar door and endota spa!
2. Innocent Bystander
Visit Yarra Valley without trying its finest wines and visiting one of its charming winery restaurants to pair them. One of our favorite venues in Yarra Valley is Domaine Chandon tasting room, where guests can sip bubbly while taking in breathtaking vineyard views from their seating.
Visit Innocent Bystander for something more casual; their long bar is designed like a brewery, offering their entire selection from their taps in glasses, carafes or even tasting paddles.
Oscar’s on the Yarra is an Oscarville classic that offers tranquil country charm with genuine family hospitality. Established in 1920’s retreat is well known for producing award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir wines.
3. De Bortoli Wines
De Bortoli Wines is a household name in Australia (and beyond), producing an array of wines at every price point. Their Healesville cellar door is worth visiting – their goal of sustainable farming through biodynamic farming practices, water conservation techniques and waste management processes is just one example of their commitment. You’ll also find expert fruit sourcing as well as minimal winemaking here; look out for delicious Pinot Noirs and Chardonnays made here.
The cellar door offers breathtaking views of rolling hills and vineyards, providing the perfect setting to sample their comprehensive selection of premium wines such as Brachetto and Nebbiolo from Northern Italy as well as classic Yarra Valley offerings like Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Additionally, you can dine at their on-site restaurant or book their Endota spa for some indulgent relaxation.
4. Soumah
Panton Hill Vineyard has quickly become a local favorite due to their exquisite Pinot Noir wines, particularly their rustic yet charming boutique vineyard setting and distinctive Australian identity. Instead of trying to emulate Burgundy, their cool-climate Pinot contains subtle eucalyptus and rose aromas that give its wine its Australian personality.
They offer an on-site restaurant that hosts limited time chefs to create menus to complement their wines perfectly. It has an informal yet refined ambience reminiscent of entering someone’s home for dinner.
Balgownie Estate’s 1309 restaurant stands out among Yarra Valley dining options with contemporary local cuisine and stunning panoramic views to match. Seasonal set menus pair perfectly with their estate wines for an exceptional dining experience.
Yarra Valley is home to lush Aussie bush, making it the ideal escape from city life for nature enthusiasts. Explore Marysville, Warburton or Kurth Kiln Regional Parks to witness diverse forest environments with unexplored flora and fauna.
5. Mac Forbes
Mac Forbes is an exquisite place for wine and food enthusiasts. Boasting vintage interior design and an intimate ambiance, the restaurant features both local and premium wines on its list, along with dishes reminiscent of home cooking reminiscent of its vintage atmosphere and refined soulfulness – it should not be missed by both residents and travellers.
Jayden Ong is an established cellar door manager in the region who founded this boutique estate to produce high quality wines that showcase his expertise. These include Moonlit Forest and One Block; enjoy tasting or lunch while taking in stunning views over vineyards and hillsides!
St Hubert’s is one of the oldest wineries in Yarra Valley and is best-known for their exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon and cool climate Shiraz wines. Their cathedral-ceilinged cellar door and outdoor deck boast spectacular views across a broad valley filled with bird song; all but distant highway noise can be heard only distantly. Enjoy wine tasting or long lunch and cheese platter paired with your glass of Yarra Valley wine.
6. St Hubert’s
Yarra Valley is the birthplace of Victoria’s wine industry, offering many ways to experience it. Be it sweets and wines or creating innovative drinks such as gin cocktails – there’s something here for everyone in this beautiful region.
Soak in an aerial view of the valley and surrounding bush on a hot air balloon ride, or explore its various forest environments via walking tours or horseback. Discover an abundance of fauna and flora at Yarra Ranges Wildlife Park including native plants and endangered animals.
Yarra Valley’s food scene is legendary, and many cellar doors and vineyards feature restaurants or kitchens where visitors can eat. Ai Fiori Trattoria at Soumah of Yarra Valley offers Northern Italian fare while Meletos in Coldstream provides Euro-Australian dishes. Balgownie Estate hosts 1309 Restaurant, Bar & Deck where seasonal local produce can be sampled alongside perfectly paired wines in their 1309 Restaurant Bar & Deck while guest chefs-in-residence ensure a unique and flavorful experience each time you visit!
7. Giant Steps
Yarra Valley is a beloved weekend retreat for Melbourne locals due to its picturesque vineyards, charming towns and winding roads. Situated on traditional Wurundjeri land, once it served as a hub for logging, mining and agriculture as key industries.
Giant Steps Wine Cellar Door is often the first stop when visitors arrive in Yarra Valley wine country from Melbourne. As one of Yarra Valley’s boutique wineries producing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines, its vineyard is an impressive sight – guests can choose between various tasting experiences while taking advantage of cheese platters and breathtaking views.
If you’re craving something extra bubbly, Healesville Sanctuary offers champagne breakfast balloon rides beginning early each morning – making the experience all the more opulent as the sun rises over vineyards!
Healesville Sanctuary is home to an abundance of Australian native animals such as kangaroos, wombats and platypuses – as well as being a popular spot for birdwatching.
8. Re’em at Helen & Joey Estate
Helen & Joey Estate set out to achieve this experience with Re’em, their experimental Chinese-influenced restaurant with 16 boutique hotel rooms that opened earlier this year.
Re’em Winery Dining Experience | Re’em is a winery dining experience like no other, situated on a 200-acre estate and offering diners an exceptional dining experience. Cosy up in booths next to floor-to-ceiling windows as you feast on Chinese inspired cuisine by Chef Abe Yang and Mark Ebbels of Re’em Restaurant’s 80 seat capacity restaurant that pays homage to Helen & Joey wines’ aromatic and fruit forward wines.
Discover premium varietals like sauvignon blanc, pinot grigio, chardonnay, and shiraz at Re’em’s tasting room, including 2020 Wayward Child HannaHanna Sauvignon Blanc and Eden Pinot Noir are particular stand-outs. After sampling Re’em wines you will be treated to an Australian-Chinese inspired menu including hand-made dumplings shumai Hainanese chicken vegetable noodles and grilled lamb belly.