Ultimate Yarra Valley Chandon, Soumah & De Bortoli Cheese & Wine

The best part of this Yarra Valley day is the mix: sparkling wine at Chandon, a cheese pairing at De Bortoli, and time among the region’s rolling vineyard hills. You get a taste of several sides of the valley without needing to drive or appoint a designated driver.

I like the small group, capped at eight, and the chance to ask your guide about local wine and the places you pass. Guides Bill and Nicci are among those who have led the tour, and their friendly, easygoing style is a frequent highlight.

One thing to weigh is the lunch and tasting pace: most days appear to run smoothly, but winery service can vary, and one gluten-free diner received a poor substitute meal. Tell the operator about dietary needs when you book, and confirm your city pickup details in advance.

Key points to know before you book

• Three wine-country anchors: The tour is built around Chandon, Soumah and De Bortoli, with guided sparkling wine tasting at Chandon and a cheese pairing at De Bortoli.
• A proper winery lunch: A two-course meal and a glass of wine are included, though the exact restaurant and the handling of dietary needs deserve a check.
• Small group, shared day: The vehicle carries no more than eight people, making conversation and questions easier than on a large coach.
• No driving required: Air-conditioned transport, city pickup and drop-off, and a professional driver-guide are included.
• A chance to spot kangaroos: The route may offer sightings of wild kangaroos on the way to or from the valley, but wildlife is never guaranteed.
• Seven hours from Melbourne: The tour starts at 10:00 am and returns to the meeting point in the early evening.

Why the Yarra Valley makes a good day trip

The Yarra Valley is an easy escape from Melbourne, with rolling hills and heritage vineyards known for chardonnay and pinot noir. It is close enough for a day out, yet a full tour gives you time to taste wine, stop for lunch and enjoy the scenery without trying to fit several cellar doors into a hurried self-drive loop.

That no-driving arrangement matters. Tastings add up, and the valley’s wineries are spread across the region. Here, your driver handles the road while you focus on the wine, food and views. The air-conditioned minivan also keeps the group small, rather than turning the day into a coach outing.

At about seven hours, this is a full-day trip, not a quick tasting stop. The 10:00 am start leaves the morning free for a relaxed breakfast in Melbourne, while the planned early-evening return gives you most of the day in the valley. Expect a social outing: you share tastings and a meal with a handful of other people, and the guide helps set the tone.

De Bortoli: wine with a cheese pairing

De Bortoli is a family-run winery and one of the tour’s strongest food-and-wine stops. The included tasting pairs wines with artisan cheeses, bringing the two together rather than treating the cheese as a snack on the side. It is a useful way to compare flavors and ask questions about the wine and pairing.

This is a private tasting for the small group, which can make the session feel more personal than a busy public tasting bar. You have room to ask about the wines and the region, and local vintners may add their perspective. If food pairings are a big part of why you are booking, this stop is a particular draw.

The exact order of the wineries may vary, so do not assume De Bortoli is always the first stop. The day is presented as a visit to De Bortoli, Chandon and Soumah, but the lunch venue and sequence are not fixed in the available details. Ask the operator to confirm the planned stops if a particular winery is essential to your decision.

Chandon: a guided look at sparkling wine

Chandon adds a different style to the day: a guided tasting of sparkling wines. Instead of focusing only on the region’s still wines, you get to sample several sparkling varieties and hear an introduction to them from the tasting team. The format is a good contrast with the cheese pairing at De Bortoli.

The stop has drawn strong praise, but timing is worth keeping in mind. One outing’s tasting felt rushed after a delay earlier in the day, with several wines sampled in a short session. That does not mean every visit will feel hurried, but it does show how winery schedules and busy periods can affect the pace. If you want a long, unhurried tasting at each cellar door, this may not be the right format.

Soumah and the winery lunch

Soumah is named as one of the tour’s wineries, and the tour also includes a two-course lunch at a leading winery restaurant, served with a glass of wine. The meal is designed as more than a quick stop between tastings: it gives you a chance to sit down, eat regional produce and enjoy the vineyard setting.

Lunch is a major part of the tour’s value, and the food has been a highlight on many outings. But meals and service can vary by venue and day. Some diners have found the lunch excellent, while one reported that a gluten-free meal was reduced to a few basic items. Another outing had service disruptions during a busy holiday period, and the included glass of wine did not arrive.

If you have a dietary requirement, state it when booking and confirm the arrangements before the tour. The operator asks for dietary needs in advance, but that alone does not guarantee a satisfying substitute. If the included meal is important to you, it is sensible to ask what the restaurant can provide for your needs.

What the guide adds to the day

A good driver-guide does more than get you from one cellar door to another. The route from Melbourne offers time to hear about the region, and the guide can help put the wineries and countryside in context. Guides Bill and Billy have been praised for creating a relaxed, sociable atmosphere, while Nicci has been noted for lively local commentary and humor.

The guide’s role is especially useful if this is your first visit to the Yarra Valley. You can ask questions as you go, rather than relying on a tasting-room introduction alone. Guides may also help the group settle in with one another, a small but welcome touch when you are sharing a day and a minivan with people you have just met.

The tour includes professional live commentary, but the exact conversation and guiding style will depend on who is working that day. If you value local stories and an engaging host as much as the wine itself, this format should suit you. If you prefer a quiet, private outing, a group tour may feel more social than you want.

The small-group advantage, and its limits

The group is capped at eight people, which is one of the tour’s clearest advantages. You are not trying to keep up with a large busload at each tasting, and it is easier to hear the guide or ask a question. Small groups can also make lunch and the drive feel more companionable.

There is a trade-off: the day follows a shared schedule. A tasting that runs over, a crowded winery or a slow lunch service can squeeze the time available at another stop. The route is meant to balance several wineries, a meal and driving time, so it cannot offer unlimited time at every venue.

Some departures may include an extra stop, such as the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. Treat that as a possible bonus rather than a guaranteed part of the itinerary. The core draw is the wine, cheese, lunch and scenery, not a fixed promise of additional attractions.

Is $204.41 good value?

At $204.41 per person, the price includes return transport from Melbourne, a driver-guide, two premium tasting events, the De Bortoli cheese and wine pairing, a guided Chandon tasting, and a two-course winery lunch with a glass of wine. You also avoid arranging a rental car or choosing who will skip the tastings to drive. If you plan to visit several wineries, those inclusions make the cost easier to justify.

The value depends on what you want from the day. You are paying for a bundled outing and the ease of getting around, not just for the wine poured at each stop. If you are mainly interested in a particular wine, a self-guided visit or a private tour could offer more control. If you want to see the valley, taste a range of wines and have lunch without handling transport, this is a practical package.

Additional wine by the glass or bottle may be available for purchase at the wineries. Those extras are not included in the stated price, so budget accordingly if you hope to take wine home. The tour also includes a glass with lunch, but a report of that glass being missed is a reminder to check with the restaurant if it does not arrive.

Pickup, timing and useful planning

The tour starts at 10:00 am and includes pickup and drop-off in the city. Suburb pickups are not included as a standard service, though the operator may sometimes have flexibility. Do not assume that a pickup from an outer suburb or a private address is part of the deal. Confirm the meeting point and pickup instructions ahead of time, and respond to any messages from the operator.

The vehicle is an air-conditioned minivan, and the activity runs for about seven hours. Most people can participate, but the minimum age to consume alcohol is 18, and the activity is not recommended for children aged 18 or under. If you have specific dietary needs, advise the operator when booking.

Wild kangaroos may be spotted along the way to or from the valley. Keep your eyes open, but consider this a possible sighting, not a scheduled wildlife stop. The tour’s main focus is winery visits, not a dedicated wildlife excursion.

Who should book this Yarra Valley tour?

This is a good fit if you are visiting Melbourne, enjoy wine and food, and want to see several wineries without driving. It is especially appealing for couples or small groups who like a sociable day, and for first-time visitors who want a guide to help connect the tastings with the region.

It is less suited to anyone seeking a private itinerary, lengthy tastings at every stop or complete control over the lunch venue. If you have strict dietary requirements, contact the operator before booking and ask specific questions about the meal. Also verify the city pickup point so the day begins calmly rather than with a last-minute scramble.

Should you book?

Book this tour if the appeal is a compact, guided introduction to the Yarra Valley: Chandon sparkling wine, De Bortoli cheese pairing, a winery lunch and transport from Melbourne, all in a group of no more than eight. The friendly guides and relaxed social format are part of the value.

Pause if your plans depend on a particular lunch arrangement, a fixed stop order or a long tasting at each winery. Confirm your pickup and dietary needs in advance. If those details work for you, this is a convenient way to spend a day among the vineyards without having to drive.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours. It starts at 10:00 am and returns to the meeting point in the early evening.

Is transport from Melbourne included?

Yes. Air-conditioned minivan transport, city pickup and drop-off, and a professional driver-guide are included. Suburb pickups are not included as standard.

Which wineries are included?

The tour is named around Chandon, Soumah and De Bortoli. It includes a guided Chandon sparkling wine tasting and a De Bortoli cheese and wine pairing. The order may vary.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A two-course lunch at a winery restaurant and a glass of wine are included. Advise the operator of dietary requirements when booking.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of eight travelers.

Can children join the tour?

The minimum age to consume alcohol is 18, and the tour is not recommended for children aged 18 or under.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the start time are not refunded.