A highlight of any visit to Melbourne’s renowned wine region is the delightful Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery.
For food lovers planning a visit to the Yarra Valley, the Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery is a must-visit destination. Because it’s the perfect place to indulge and satisfy your sweet tooth.
The Yarra Valley is renowned for its cool climate wines, beautiful vineyards and award-winning wineries. Amongst all this is the Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Set on 40 acres of picturesque orchard with manicured gardens and the main visitor centre and kitchen.
The Chocolaterie was first set up by passionate foodies Ian and Leanne Neeland. But it is now a popular destination to indulge and learn about chocolate making in this special are of Victoria.
Visiting the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
All visitors are welcome on-site with free chocolate and ice cream tastings. You can explore the showroom and see the European Chocolatiers hard at work in the kitchen making chocolate creations. On a summer day, grab some chocolate, ice cream or a drink from the cafe and sit outside to enjoy beautiful views of the valley.
Taste the chocolate
Three big bowls of chocolates are at the entrance of the Chocolaterie. They are the white, milk and dark chocolates used by the chocolatiers to make their wonderful creations. However – best of all – they are there for you to taste! Start your visit with a delicious sample – its sure to leave your tastebuds wanting more.
Grab a scoop of ice cream
If the chocolate is not enough, there is ice cream on offer too! Sample some of the flavours on offer and your tastebuds will be asking for more. The icecream is made on site from local produce and they are a perfect treat for any day. Particularly when the sun is out, it is a great chance to purchase a scoop and head outside to sit on the garden lawns and enjoy the views.
Stock up on goodies
This is the place to stock up on a whole range of tasty chocolate treats. From gourmet blocks of chocolate to decadent balls, and cocoa creations. You will be like a kid in a candy store. Particularly if you are visiting around Easter or Christmas, there are many wonderful options for gifts.
Indulge at the Café
The Chocolaterie café has many delicious chocolate treats and more savoury goods on offer. Pair this with a coffee of hot chocolate and you’ve got yourself a great snack any time of day. From the cafe, you can see out to the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley. All items on the menu are made using produce from the kitchen garden and orchards, or local produce from local farms around the Yarra Valley.
Watch the Master Chocolatiers at Work
Once inside, head to the big glass windows to take a look at the chocolatiers hard at work. These chocolatiers have been trained in Europe (there are no accredited courses in Australia). They use their skills to create the array of treats on offer. The hardworking team make more than 250 different chocolate-based products including special items for occasions such as Christmas and Easter.
Exclusive chocolate tasting – only on tour
Visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery on our Gourmet Day tour from Melbourne and you’ll have the chance to indulge in an exclusive chocolate tasting session. In addition to all of the things mentioned above, you can try chocolate tasting as well. In the Chocolateries private tasting room, one of the friendly staff will take you through a tasting of the gourmet range of chocolates. These chocolates are made using ingredients from the kitchen garden. Because of this, they are flavours you might not expect. This chocolate tasting session is a fun way to indulge and learn more about the chocolate making process.
Take a tour to the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery
If you want to take a day tour from Melbourne to the Yarra Valley, we recommend joining in our Yarra Valley Gourmet Tour. It is a day filled with food and wine tastings and a whole lot of fun along the way. Try wine, cheese, fresh fruit and of course chocolate! Plus, you will be treated to a gourmet winery lunch.
Here’s what to expect on our Yarra Valley Gourmet Tour:
Start the day with an exclusive farm gate visit at Yarra Farm Fresh. At this boutique, third-generation orchard, you can sample a range of seasonal fruits and other local produce. In addition you can learn about the wide range of farm-fresh fruits grown on the property.
Following this, travel to one of the valley’s true icons, Balgownie Estate. This is where you can enjoy a tasting from their extensive range of quality wines. Learn how to swirl, sniff, and slurp like a true connoisseur while tasting some of the very finest cool climate wines.
Next, the amazing produce at the Coldstream Dairy will truly melt in your mouth. The cheeses here are truly stunning and will have your tastebuds working overtime!
Gourmet lunch is at the renowned Rochford Wines where you can choose from four different main meals – each using fresh, in-season local produce – with a glass of wine and tea or coffee. After lunch, take some time to explore the gift shop, or climb the spiral staircase to enjoy the panoramic views from Rochford’s lookout tower.
Next up, visit Yering Station, where Victoria’s first grape vines were planted back in 1838. This winery is a member of the Australian Tourism Hall of Fame and a tasting of their exceptional wine range is a highlight of the tour.
To finish, visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery where you’re welcomed with an exclusive chocolate tasting. Afterwards, you can explore the displays of thousands of premium chocolates, and view the expert chocolatiers hard at work handcrafting their chocolate creations. Then grab a scoop of ice cream to finish off the day!
Written by: Leah Furey – Digital Content Coordinator @gowest.com.au
