Yarra Valley: Winery Tour with Lunch at Yering Station

The appeal of this full-day Yarra Valley tour is its contrast: a historic winery, small-batch producers, cheese with wine, and an a la carte lunch at Yering Station, all within an hour or so of Melbourne. The wine is the main event, but the scenery and the guide’s commentary give the day more shape than a run of tasting rooms.

I like two things in particular: the mix of four vineyards, which lets you compare different styles and scales of winemaking, and the proper sit-down lunch, with a choice of main course and a glass of wine. Guides including Paul, Rob, Adrian, and Cam have been praised for making the drive informative and the stops feel personal.

The trade-off is time. Four tastings plus lunch make a full, pleasantly busy day, but if you want to linger over every pour or spend hours at one winery, the schedule may feel brisk. And, as with any wine tour, you need to be at least 18 to drink.

• Cheese starts the day: De Bortoli pairs selected wines with a cheese platter.
• Lunch is at historic Yering Station: Taste estate wines, then choose an a la carte main course and enjoy a glass of wine with it.
• The wineries have different characters: The route combines established names with smaller producers such as Payten & Jones and Medhurst.
• The guide adds local context: The drive through Melbourne’s northeastern suburbs and into the valley comes with commentary on wine, history, and the region.
• The day runs about 10 hours: City pickup and drop-off are offered from four central areas.
• The route can change: Medhurst is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when the tour visits another winery instead.

Four wineries, four different tastes of the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is known for chardonnay, pinot noir, and sparkling wine. This tour gives you a broad introduction without asking you to arrange a car, plan a route, or choose wineries on your own. Its standard itinerary visits De Bortoli, Yering Station, Payten & Jones, and Medhurst, with substitute wineries when Medhurst is closed.

That range matters. A large, established winery and a small producer may approach the same grape in very different ways. Comparing the wines in one day helps you notice those differences, even if you arrive knowing little about Australian wine. The tour is not built around a single style or a formal wine course. It is an accessible tasting day, with a guide to help put what is in your glass into context.

The countryside is part of the draw, too. The trip heads northeast through Templestowe, Eltham, and Kangaroo Ground before reaching the vineyards. The bus ride gives the day a gradual change of scene, from the city and bush-lined suburbs to the valley’s winery country.

De Bortoli opens with wine and cheese

The first stop is De Bortoli’s vineyard at Dixons Creek. A selected wine and cheese pairing makes a friendly start: you get a chance to taste how food can change the way a wine comes across, without needing specialist knowledge to join in.

The cheese platter is included, as are morning nibbles and bottled water. Those small provisions help, because the first tasting comes before the long lunch and the day includes several pours. Take your time rather than treating each tasting as a race. You will have more chances to try different wines later.

De Bortoli is an elegant opening, but it is also one of the larger, established names on the route. That provides a useful contrast with the smaller wineries later in the day. If you are expecting every stop to be a tiny family cellar door, this tour is deliberately more varied.

Yering Station makes lunch a destination

Yering Station has a special place in the valley’s story: it was the site of the Yarra Valley’s first vineyard, established in 1838. Its original winery dates to around 1859 and now features local artworks and produce, giving the tasting stop a sense of place beyond the wine itself.

You taste the estate wines before sitting down for lunch at the winery restaurant. The meal is not just a snack between tastings. You choose an a la carte main course, with a glass of wine included, and coffee is also part of the package. The restaurant’s views are a major part of the pause, and the 90-minute lunch stop gives you time to eat and enjoy the setting.

This is the tour’s strongest value point for anyone weighing the price against a simpler tasting shuttle. A restaurant main course, wine, coffee, and several winery visits are bundled into one day. The menu choices have been described as varied, but the precise dishes can change, so do not book expecting a particular plate.

There is a practical side to a generous lunch: it breaks up the tastings. Wine tours can become a blur when every stop is another pour and another counter. A proper meal gives you time to reset before the afternoon visits.

Payten & Jones brings a smaller-producer perspective

After lunch, the tour shifts to Payten & Jones, a smaller Yarra Valley producer. Behn Payten and Troy Jones make approachable small-batch wines, including familiar chardonnay and pinot noir alongside syrah and Mediterranean varieties.

That broader mix is useful if you have come to the valley expecting only pinot and chardonnay. You may find wines that feel less familiar, and the tasting gives you a chance to compare them without committing to a bottle. The winery’s smaller scale also changes the feel of the day after the more established stops.

The itinerary allows about 45 minutes here. That is enough for a hosted tasting and a few questions, but not a long, unhurried visit. If a particular wine catches your attention, you can ask about it, though the schedule is designed to keep the whole day moving.

Medhurst ends the standard route in the foothills

The final standard stop is Medhurst, a family-owned vineyard established in 1999. Its 35 acres sit at an elevation in the foothills of the Warramate Ranges, where it makes a small selection of elegant table wines.

The setting adds another angle to the day. By this point, you have tasted at larger and smaller producers, eaten at Yering Station, and had time to see how the valley changes as you travel between stops. Medhurst’s modest scale and foothill location make it a fitting final contrast rather than another copy of the first tasting.

Medhurst is closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On those days, the tour instead visits Punt Road, Dominique Portet, Giant Steps, or Oakridge Vineyards. The exact replacement is not specified in advance here, so keep an open mind about the final stop if you are booking for one of those days.

The planned day is described as four vineyard visits, though the exact route can vary. Some tours may include additional winery stops, but you should not count on extra visits when deciding whether the schedule suits you.

A small group and a guide make the day easier

The tour’s small-group format is a practical advantage, not just a selling point. A smaller vehicle makes pickup and movement between wineries simpler, and it can feel easier to ask a question or chat with the guide than on a large coach. The exact group size is not stated, so do not assume a particular number of seats.

The guide drives, handles the transitions, and provides commentary on the Yarra Valley and its wines. Paul, Rob, Adrian, and Cam are among the guides who have led the tour. Their names come up often in connection with clear communication, local history, wine knowledge, and a welcoming manner. That matters on a 10-hour outing: a good guide can turn the drive between tastings into part of the experience rather than dead time.

Pickup is available from or near city hotels when possible, with four listed areas: East Melbourne, Southbank, Fitzroy, and Melbourne City. If your accommodation is outside the city, you may need to meet the group centrally. Pickup times and driver details are sent the evening before, so keep an eye on your email or phone.

Transport is one of the tour’s strongest practical features. You can taste without worrying about driving, and the vehicle gets you between wineries while leaving the day’s planning to someone else. The drive itself is also a chance to hear more about Melbourne and the region.

Is $219 a fair price for the day?

At $219 per person, this is not the cheapest way to visit the Yarra Valley. The price makes more sense when you add up what is included: city pickup, transport, a guide, four scheduled wine tastings, a cheese platter at De Bortoli, morning nibbles, bottled water, and an a la carte main course with a glass of wine and coffee at Yering Station.

You are also paying for convenience and variety. Organizing four winery visits independently would take planning, transport, and a designated driver. Here, you get a full itinerary and a guide who can explain what you are tasting. For a wine lover who wants a day out rather than a quick tasting stop, the lunch and transport do a lot of work in making the price worthwhile.

It is less compelling if you do not drink wine, prefer to spend a long time at one cellar door, or want to buy bottles at several wineries. Purchases of a personal nature are not included, so factor in extra spending if you expect to take wine home. The tour is best value when you plan to enjoy the tastings, meal, scenery, and hosted transport as one package.

What to know before you reserve

Allow the full 10 hours. The itinerary includes a 45-minute tasting, a 90-minute lunch, two more 45-minute tastings, and a final tasting of about an hour, plus the drive from Melbourne and time between vineyards. It is a full day, not a quick countryside outing.

Dress smart casual. Singlets, thongs, sandals, and flip-flops are not allowed, and oversized luggage is not permitted. The tour is not suitable for wheelchair users. The minimum drinking age is 18.

Booking terms need a careful look. The activity information offers free cancellation up to 24 hours in advance, while the additional conditions also state a 50 percent fee for cancellations within 72 hours and a full fee within 24 hours. Check the terms shown at checkout and in your confirmation before booking, as these statements do not fully align.

Minimum numbers apply, so a confirmed tour can still be cancelled if the group is too small. If that happens, an alternative or full refund is offered. Reserve-now, pay-later availability can help keep plans flexible, but check the booking page for the exact starting time and current terms.

Should you book the Yarra Valley winery tour?

Book this if you want a well-organized introduction to the Yarra Valley, enjoy tasting several wine styles, and value a proper restaurant lunch as much as the cellar doors. The small-group format, city pickup, and a guide who can talk about both wine and local history make it especially useful if you are visiting Melbourne without a car.

Think twice if your ideal winery visit is slow and solitary. Four stops in one day make for a varied tour, but the schedule does not leave unlimited time at each vineyard. If you are happy with a lively, full day of tastings, scenery, and a good meal, the $219 price is reasonable for what is included.

FAQ

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about 10 hours, including travel from Melbourne and visits to the wineries.

Which wineries are included?

The standard route includes De Bortoli, Yering Station, Payten & Jones, and Medhurst. When Medhurst is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, the tour visits Punt Road, Dominique Portet, Giant Steps, or Oakridge Vineyards instead.

Is lunch included?

Yes. At Yering Station, you choose an a la carte main course. A glass of wine and coffee are also included.

Is the cheese platter included?

Yes. A cheese platter is included at De Bortoli, where selected wines are paired with cheese.

Where can I be picked up?

Pickup is offered from or near city hotels, with listed locations in East Melbourne, Southbank, Fitzroy, and Melbourne City. If your hotel is outside the city, you may need to meet the group centrally.

Is the tour suitable for children?

The minimum drinking age is 18. The supplied information does not specify a separate child policy.

What should I wear?

Dress smart casual. Singlets, thongs, sandals, and flip-flops are not allowed.

Can I bring a suitcase?

Oversized luggage is not allowed.