Private Yarra Valley Wine Tour With Lunch

Four winery stops, a wood-fired pizza lunch and a private vehicle make this a tidy way to sample the Yarra Valley without driving yourself. The day mixes a tailored tasting at Soumah, an educational visit at Yering Station and a more relaxed lunch stop at Hubert Estate.

I like two things in particular: the driver takes care of the winding roads, so your group can focus on the valley, and the schedule balances wine with food rather than turning the day into a string of tastings. Coco handles arrangements, while drivers including Jacob and James have led groups on tour days.

One point needs checking before you pay: the route includes four winery stops, but the inclusions list says three wine tastings. Ask Coco which tastings are covered, and whether the fourth stop involves a tasting at extra cost.

At a glance

• Four distinct stops: Soumah, Yering Station, Hubert Estate and Greenstone Vineyards.
• Lunch included: Wood-fired pizza at Hubert Estate, served sharing-style, with dietary needs catered for.
• Private transport: Your group travels together with a driver-guide; pickup is offered.
• A full day out: About seven hours, including time on the road, with a 10:00 am start.
• Group size matters: The tour requires at least six people and allows up to 13.
• Budget for lunch drinks: They are not included. A glass of wine is listed at $13 USD.

A seven-hour outing, paced around four stops

The tour starts at 10:00 am and lasts about seven hours, including driving time. That leaves a substantial part of the day for winery visits, a relaxed lunch and the scenic trip between venues, though travel time naturally takes a share of the schedule.

The listed stop times add up to three hours and 45 minutes: 45 minutes at Soumah, 45 at Yering Station, 90 at Hubert Estate and 45 at Greenstone Vineyards. The remaining time is for getting between stops and the practical transitions that come with a group outing. You should expect a structured day, not hours to wander at each winery.

A private tour is especially useful here because your group stays together and doesn’t need to sort out a designated driver. The vehicle, petrol and tolls are included, as is one bottle of water per person on board. Pickup is offered, and some groups have arranged collection and drop-off at their accommodation. Confirm the precise pickup point with Coco before the date, since the 10:00 am start time does not itself specify where the vehicle meets you.

This is a private activity for your group, not a seat on a shared bus. But private does not mean a small group: the minimum is six, and the maximum is 13. It suits a birthday, family outing or friends’ weekend particularly well, provided your party meets the minimum. If you are travelling as a couple or a smaller group, ask the operator whether the minimum can be met before booking.

Soumah: a tailored first tasting

Soumah opens the day with a 45-minute tasting of its range of Yarra Valley wines. The tasting is described as tailored, which gives this first stop a useful role: it can set the tone for the day and offer an introduction to the local selection before you move on to other cellar doors.

The short visit helps keep the schedule moving, but it is not a long winery tour. If you like to take your time over a tasting or ask plenty of questions, remember that you have several stops ahead. Keep your palate fresh, and drink water between samples. One bottle per person is supplied on board, though you may want to bring more water if that suits your group.

Yering Station: an educational tasting

At Yering Station, the plan is a private wine tasting lasting 45 minutes. The stop is presented as an educational experience, so it should offer more context than simply working through a flight of glasses. For anyone curious about what is in the glass and how to compare different wines, that gives the middle of the day a bit of substance.

There is still a time limit. You’ll have enough time for the scheduled tasting, but not a sprawling visit. The private setting is a plus for a group that wants to ask questions together without having to match the pace of strangers. If the educational side matters most to you, consider asking Coco what the tasting covers and how much time is set aside for discussion.

Hubert Estate: wood-fired pizza and a proper pause

Hubert Estate gets the longest stop, at an hour and a half, and serves as the day’s lunch break. You’ll have wood-fired pizza in a generous, sharing-style meal, with dietary requirements catered for. That longer pause matters: it gives your group time to eat, talk and reset before the final tasting.

Lunch is included, but drinks are not. A glass of wine is listed at $13 USD, so factor that into your spending if you want a glass with the meal. If anyone in your party has dietary needs, tell the operator in advance rather than waiting until you sit down. The tour says these can be catered for, but the kitchen needs useful notice.

The shared format can make lunch feel sociable, though it may be less ideal if everyone prefers to order an individual meal. Ask about the food arrangement if your group has strong preferences. And pace yourself: with another cellar door still to come, lunch is a good moment to eat, drink water and take a breather.

Greenstone Vineyards: a change of pace at the end

The final stop is Greenstone Vineyards, described as a new cellar door with a fun, alternative tasting. Its 45-minute visit gives the day a different note after the more educational tasting at Yering Station and the food-focused break at Hubert Estate.

The word alternative is appealing, but it is not a precise description of what you’ll taste or how the session differs. If you want to know whether this stop is still wine-focused, or what makes its tasting style different, ask Coco before booking. That is also a sensible place to clarify the package’s tasting count: the route has four winery stops, while the included items specify three wine tastings.

That small mismatch is worth resolving. It does not mean one stop is necessarily excluded, but the details provided do not say which three tastings are included or what happens at the fourth. Get a clear answer before you commit, especially if you are comparing the cost with another tour.

What the price covers, and what it doesn’t

At $142.73 per person, the price bundles private transport, a driver-guide, petrol and tolls, lunch and three wine tastings. That is a useful package for a group that wants to avoid arranging a vehicle and coordinating several winery visits independently. The cost is easier to justify when six or more people share a private day together.

Still, all-inclusive has limits here. Drinks at lunch are extra, and the listed price for a glass of wine is $13 USD. Umbrellas and sunscreen are not provided, either. Bring sun protection and a weather layer if you think you’ll need them, and check the tasting inclusion question before treating every part of the day as covered.

There is one bottle of water per person on board. That’s a thoughtful basic provision, but it is not a promise of unlimited water throughout the day. If you tend to drink plenty, bring extra.

The driver and the private-vehicle advantage

A wine day depends as much on transport as on the tasting rooms. The drive through the valley is part of the outing, and private transport lets everyone in your group enjoy the tastings without anyone taking on the job of driving afterward. The tour includes a driver-guide and fuel and toll costs, so you are not left arranging those pieces yourself.

Coco is the contact for planning, and tour-day drivers named by groups include Jacob and James. Jacob has been described as keeping the schedule on track while still making the day feel relaxed; James has been noted for an entertaining manner. Those names are useful points of reference, but the information does not guarantee who will drive your date. Ask who is assigned if you have a preference.

The balance between keeping time and staying relaxed is important on a four-stop day. A driver who watches the clock helps prevent one long visit from squeezing the later stops. At the same time, the itinerary is set, so do not assume you can linger indefinitely or add an unlisted winery without prior agreement.

Who should book this tour?

This outing works best for a group of six to 13 that values convenience, shared transport and a set plan. It is well suited to birthday groups and friends who want wine, lunch and an easy day out without appointing a driver. The private format also makes it easier for your group to share the day at its own pace than on a larger mixed tour, while still following a schedule.

It can suit a range of wine interests: one tasting is tailored, another is described as educational, and the last as alternative. But the main value is the combination of four stops, lunch and transport in one outing, not an in-depth visit to any single winery. If your priority is a long, unhurried cellar-door experience, a tour with fewer stops may suit you better.

The minimum of six is the key practical hurdle. The maximum of 13 gives larger parties room to stay together, but confirm that your group size fits before booking. The minimum drinking age is 18, and the activity information says most people can participate. The tour is near public transportation, though pickup is offered and the actual meeting location should be confirmed directly.

Booking roughly 42 days ahead is typical, so plan early if you are arranging a birthday or a weekend with a fixed date. Confirmation is provided within 48 hours of booking, subject to availability. Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time; inside that window, payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. Those cut-off times use local time.

Should you book it?

Book this if your group has at least six people and wants a no-driving day with several Yarra Valley stops, a substantial included lunch and a private vehicle. The best parts are the mix of tasting styles and the practical ease of having transport handled for you.

Before paying, ask Coco to confirm exactly which three tastings are included, what takes place at the fourth winery, and where pickup happens. If those details match your expectations, this is a straightforward way to make a full day of wine and food without managing the route yourself.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours, including travel time.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 10:00 am.

How many winery stops are included?

The route lists four stops: Soumah, Yering Station, Hubert Estate and Greenstone Vineyards.

How many wine tastings are included?

The inclusions list says three wine tastings. Since the route has four winery stops, ask Coco which tastings are covered.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a generous, sharing-style meal of wood-fired pizza at Hubert Estate. Dietary requirements can be catered for.

Are drinks at lunch included?

No. Drinks at lunch are extra. A glass of wine is listed at $13 USD.

What is the minimum group size?

The tour requires at least six people and allows a maximum of 13.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation, a driver-guide, petrol and tolls are included. Pickup is offered.

Is water provided?

Yes. One bottled water per person is provided on board.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts for a full refund. Cancellations and changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted for a refund or change.