The ultimate visitor’s guide to Melbourne’s Winery Regions – including the Yarra Valley and Mornington Peninsula.
The city of Melbourne is famous for it’s food and wine, but on just a short day trip you can discover some renowned winery regions. The cool climate and rich of Melbourne and surrounds provides ideal growing conditions. Because of this there are many winery regions close by the city.
The most famous is the Yarra Valley, where the first vines were planted in 1838. In addition, the Mornington Peninsula region is making a name for itself with many boutique wineries in the coastal region. Further afield you will find Heathcote, Macedon Ranges, Grampians and Rutherglen, as well as many other small and diverse regions.
If you want to take a day trip from Melbourne to taste some of the region’s fine wines, we have a few options for you. You can take our Yarra Valley Gourmet Tour to taste the food and wine, just a short drive from the city. Or ask us about a private tour to a wine region and wineries of your choice.
Visit Melbourne’s Winery Regions
Visit the Yarra Valley wine region
Melbourne’s closest and best known winery region is the Yarra Valley. It is just a 45 minute drive from the city. In addition to being a vibrant wine-making region, there are plenty of local producers creating gourmet delights. Think cheese, chocolate, ice cream and more. There are over 90 wineries in the region, from big names like Balgownie Estate, to smaller boutique wineries.
You are spoilt for choice with cellar doors to visit and the winery experiences are second to none in this region. The cool climate provides ideal growing conditions for pinot noir and chardonnay varieties. You will no doubt want to taste these when you visit. You can also enjoy the beautiful scenery, particularly in autumn when vine leaves change colour.
Take the Yarra Valley Gourmet Tour
Our Go West Yarra Valley Gourmet Wine Tour is designed to highlight the best wines and local produce in Melbourne’s most famous wine region. We guarantee you will have memorable day in this exciting winery region.
The tour includes an exclusive farm gate visit to Yarra Farm Fresh. This is where you will sample a range of seasonal fruits and other local produce just as relishes, jams and fruit juices.
Our first cellar door experience is at one of the valley’s true icons, Balgownie Estate. This is where you can taste their extensive range of cool climate wines.
Next is a tasting of the fresh dairy produce at Coldstream Dairy. The range of cheese, fetas and yogurts will have your taste buds working overtime!
Indulge in a gourmet lunch is at the renowned Rochford Wines. Each dish is made using fresh, in-season local produce and is accompanied by a glass of Rochford wine.
The second cellar door visit of the day is at Yering Station. This is where Victoria’s first grape vines were planted back in 1838.
To finish the tour we’ll visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie for an exclusive chocolate tasting from their range of premium chocolate creations.
You can sit back and relax on the return journey to Melbourne, knowing that you have enjoyed the very best that a day tour to the Yarra Valley has to offer.
Visit the Mornington Peninsula wine region
The Mornington Peninsula has established itself as a booming wine region in Victoria. Just a short drive from Melbourne, the region’s vineyards are located close to vibrant coastal communities. The region has more than 50 cellar doors to visit, in addition to trendy restaurants and cafes serving fresh local produce. The Mornington Peninsula wine region has many boutique wineries making for a more intimate experience. You can pair it with a tour of the spectacular coastal scenery for an excellent day out.
Visit Melbourne’s other wine regions
Victoria is home to 21 different wine regions, many of which can be visited in a day trip from Melbourne. The Grampians wine region has many small cellar doors. Most are located just a short distance from the spectacular Grampians mountain range. Rutherglen is another popular wine region that is known for it’s bold red and fortified wines. In addition, Heathcote is becoming known for its shiraz varieties and intimate cellar door experiences.
Take a private winery tour from Melbourne
If you want to visit one of the wine regions near Melbourne on a private tour – we can help you to tailor an itinerary. Discover the best food and wine of these regions with your own private tour guide and in the comfort of your own private touring vehicle. We can cater for small or large groups, and will therefore welcome your enquiry whatever group size you want a tour for. Our aim is to ensure that your experience is both unique and truly memorable.
Why you should take a winery tour from Melbourne
A tour is the ultimate way to enjoy a relaxing day out. You can taste great wines and fresh local produce, without needing to drive yourself. From choosing the best experiences – including wine tastings, local produce, gourmet lunches – to providing you with a great commentary on the region, we will ensure you have a fantastic experience.
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
