Yarra Valley: Winery Tour with Lunch at Yering Station

The best part of this Yarra Valley day is the small-group format. You are not shuffled between giant tasting rooms on a packed coach. You travel in a comfortable vehicle with room for conversation, local commentary, and a guide who can introduce you properly at each stop. I especially like the mix of a major estate, a historic winery, and smaller makers with very different styles.

I also like the balance between wine and food. De Bortoli starts the day with cheese pairings, while Yering Station serves an a la carte main course and a glass of wine in a polished setting. The main consideration is the price: at $219 per person, this costs more than a basic winery bus tour, though the included lunch, tastings, small group, and higher-end transport make the difference easier to understand.

Key points to know before booking

• Four very different winery stops: Expect De Bortoli, Yering Station, Payten & Jones, and Medhurst on the core route, with alternatives used when Medhurst is closed.
• Yering Station is the centerpiece: Visit the site of the Yarra Valley’s first vineyard, taste estate wines, and choose your main course in the restaurant.
• Guides shape the day: Paul, Rob, Cam, and Adrian have been praised for local history, wine knowledge, and friendly hosting.
• Food is more than an afterthought: Cheese, morning snacks, a restaurant lunch, a glass of wine, and coffee are included.
• The day runs long but well paced: Allow 10 hours, including pickup, travel, four tastings, and lunch.
• Bring a curious palate, not a suitcase: Oversize luggage is not allowed, and the tour is not suitable for wheelchair users.

Why this Yarra Valley tour is different

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, yet it quickly feels far removed from the city. The route heads northeast through Templestowe, Eltham, and Kangaroo Ground before reaching the vineyards around Dixons Creek and Yering.

That transition matters. You get bush scenery and rolling vineyard views before the first tasting, rather than spending the whole day on a motorway. Guides such as Paul, Rob, Cam, and Adrian also add context along the way, covering Melbourne, local culture, vineyard history, and the character of the region’s wines.

The tour is aimed at people who want more than a quick sample and a souvenir bottle. The schedule gives you four tasting stops, lunch, and time to compare large and small producers. Some departures have included five or even six winery visits, but the advertised core plan is four vineyards. That variation likely depends on the day, opening hours, and the wineries available.

You should expect a social day. The small vehicle makes it easier to chat with the guide and other people in the group. That is a real advantage if you enjoy hearing where others come from and sharing impressions between tastings. It is less ideal if you want to tour alone or keep your day very quiet.

De Bortoli begins the day with wine and cheese

Your first stop is De Bortoli Vineyard at Dixons Creek. This is a graceful way to start because the tasting is paired with selected cheeses and morning nibbles.

De Bortoli is one of the larger and better-known names on the route. Its role here is useful: you begin with a substantial producer before moving on to smaller wineries. The tasting lets you get your palate working without making the morning feel rushed.

Cheese also gives you something practical to focus on. Instead of simply lining up glasses, you can notice how the food changes the wine. If you are new to wine tasting, this is a friendly introduction. If you already know your chardonnay from your pinot noir, the pairing still adds interest.

The stop is about 45 minutes. That is enough time for a guided tasting and a snack, but not enough for a long wander or a full meal. Pace yourself from the first glass. Four tastings, and sometimes more, can add up quickly over 10 hours.

Yering Station brings history, views, and lunch

Yering Station is the main event. It occupies the site of the first vineyard planted in the Yarra Valley in 1838, and its original winery dates from about 1859. You taste estate wines in that older setting, which also features local artworks and regional produce.

This stop gives the day a sense of place. You are not only tasting wine in a modern room. You are standing at one of the valley’s foundational wine sites, with a direct link to the area’s long wine-making story.

Lunch follows in the Yering Station restaurant. You select a main course from an a la carte menu, with a glass of wine and coffee included. The meal lasts about 90 minutes, which gives you a proper break from the vehicle and tasting rooms.

The restaurant is also where the tour feels more polished than a standard wine excursion. The setting has broad views, and the food is treated as part of the experience rather than a quick stop at a pub or cafe. The included main course helps explain the $219 price.

You should still check the menu on the day if you have dietary needs, because the available information confirms a choice of main courses but does not list specific dishes or special-diet options. Five lunch choices were available on one recent departure, though the menu can change.

Payten & Jones changes the tone

After lunch, the tour moves to Payten & Jones, a smaller producer run by Behn Payten and Troy Jones. This stop is a useful contrast to De Bortoli and Yering Station.

The winery produces small-batch wines with an easygoing personality. Alongside familiar chardonnay and pinot noir, you may taste syrah and Mediterranean varieties. That broader selection is one of the day’s strengths because it shows that the Yarra Valley is not limited to two famous grapes.

The visit is about 45 minutes. Smaller producers can feel more personal, but they may also offer a narrower range and a less formal presentation than a major estate. That is not a weakness if you want to see how different wine businesses operate. It simply means you should arrive ready for variety rather than a grand cellar-door production.

I like this part of the route because it breaks up the day. After the historic estate and restaurant lunch, Payten & Jones brings the focus back to the winemakers and their small-scale approach.

Medhurst offers a quieter final stop

The afternoon continues at Medhurst Vineyard, a family-owned 35-acre property established in 1999. It sits at an appealing elevation in the foothills of the Warramate Ranges and makes a small group of elegant table wines.

Medhurst is the sort of stop that gives the tour its sense of range. You see a larger producer, a major historic estate, a small-batch operation, and a family vineyard. The scenery is part of the attraction, especially at Medhurst, where the elevated setting gives you a different view of the valley.

The tasting lasts about an hour, making it the longest listed wine stop. That extra time is welcome late in the day. You can ask questions, compare what you have tasted, and slow down rather than rushing through another short flight of glasses.

Medhurst is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. On those days, the tour substitutes another winery such as Punt Road, Dominique Portet, Giant Steps, or Oakridge Vineyards. That keeps the day running, but the exact character of your experience will depend on the replacement. If a particular winery matters to you, check the operating schedule before booking.

The guides make the long day work

A 10-hour wine tour lives or dies by its guide. The strongest part of this experience is the human side. Paul has been singled out for warm hosting and useful commentary on the drive. Rob is noted for local and wine knowledge, while Cam is praised for explaining both the wineries and the region. Adrian has also been a popular host, with a good sense of timing and an ability to make the group feel welcome.

You should not expect a formal wine course. Instead, the guide helps you understand where you are, what you are tasting, and why the wineries differ. That approach suits a mixed group, including people who know little about wine and those who already have favorite regions and grape varieties.

The guide also handles the small details that reduce stress. Pickup arrangements are confirmed by email or mobile the evening before, including the driver and collection time. Pickup is available from or close to city hotels when possible, with meeting points in East Melbourne, Southbank, Fitzroy, and Melbourne City.

Hotels outside the city may not qualify for direct pickup. One person wished a hotel just outside the central area had been included, so check this point rather than assuming every Melbourne address is covered.

Is $219 good value?

At $219, this is not the cheapest way to visit the Yarra Valley. You are paying for a full 10-hour day, transport, a guide, tastings at four wineries, morning nibbles, a cheese platter, an a la carte main course, a glass of wine, coffee, and bottled water.

The value improves if you would otherwise pay separately for lunch and several cellar-door tastings. The small group also matters. A larger bus can cost less, but it usually gives you less personal contact and less flexibility in the feel of the day.

The vehicle has been described as a clean, comfortable Mercedes van on one departure, and transport receives especially strong marks overall. You are not driving after a day of tastings, which is both safer and more relaxing.

I would call this a good-value premium day trip, not a budget tour. It suits you if you care about the quality of the stops, the meal, and the guide. If your main goal is to taste as much wine as possible for the lowest price, you can probably find cheaper options.

How to pace yourself across four tastings

The itinerary includes tastings of roughly 45 minutes at De Bortoli, Yering Station, and Payten & Jones, followed by about an hour at Medhurst. Some departures have included more winery visits, so the total number of pours can be high.

Eat the cheese and morning snacks. Have water between tastings. Lunch is substantial, but it arrives in the middle of the day, not before the first glasses. You do not need to finish every pour to enjoy the experience.

The tour is best for people who appreciate tasting and conversation rather than heavy drinking. You will get a clearer sense of the wines if you pay attention to the contrast between estates, not just the number of glasses in front of you.

The smart-casual dress code is easy to follow. Wear comfortable clothing and proper shoes. Sandals, flip-flops, singlets, and thongs are not allowed. Oversize luggage is also not permitted, so bring only what you need for the day.

Who should book this experience?

I would recommend it to couples marking a special occasion, solo visitors who want company, and small groups looking for a polished day outside Melbourne. The combination of lunch, scenery, and four contrasting wineries gives the trip more substance than a quick tasting shuttle.

It is also a good choice if you are new to Australian wine. The guide can provide background, while the different producers help you work out what you like. Chardonnay and pinot noir are central, but syrah and Mediterranean varieties add welcome breadth.

You may want a different tour if you dislike long days, do not drink wine, or want complete control over the schedule. The trip lasts 10 hours, and the group moves according to a set plan. It is also not suitable for wheelchair users.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, while cancellations inside the stated window can incur a fee. Minimum numbers apply, so a confirmed booking can still be changed or cancelled if the group is too small, with an alternative or full refund offered.

Should you book the Yering Station wine tour?

Book this tour if you want the Yarra Valley presented as a complete region, not just a string of cellar doors. You get scenery, food, history, large and small producers, and a guide who stays with you throughout the day.

The strongest reasons to choose it are the small group, the Yering Station lunch, and the range of winery styles. The main drawbacks are the higher price, the long duration, and the possibility that the exact winery lineup will change.

For a relaxed, food-friendly wine day from Melbourne, I think the package earns its premium. Just confirm your pickup point, check the Medhurst operating days, wear proper shoes, and be ready for a full day of tasting.

FAQ

How long does the Yarra Valley tour last?

The tour lasts 10 hours, including city pickup and return travel, winery visits, tastings, and lunch.

What is included in the price?

The $219 price includes city hotel pickup when possible, transport, a guide, wine tastings, morning nibbles, a cheese platter at De Bortoli, an a la carte main course at Yering Station, a glass of wine, coffee, and bottled water.

Which wineries are included?

The core route visits De Bortoli Vineyard, Yering Station, Payten & Jones, and Medhurst Vineyard. The lineup can vary, and Medhurst is replaced by Punt Road, Dominique Portet, Giant Steps, or Oakridge Vineyards when it is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Is lunch included?

Yes. You choose a main course from an a la carte selection at the Yering Station restaurant. A glass of wine and coffee are also included.

Are wine tastings included?

Yes. Wine tastings at the scheduled vineyards are included in the tour price.

Where can pickup take place?

Pickup and drop-off locations include East Melbourne, Southbank, Fitzroy, and Melbourne City. Pickup from or close to your city hotel may be possible, but hotels outside the city may require you to meet in central Melbourne.

Is the tour suitable for people who do not know much about wine?

Yes. The English-speaking guide provides commentary about the area, wineries, and wines. The range of producers also gives you an easy way to compare different wine styles.

What should I wear?

Wear smart-casual clothing and proper shoes. Singlets, thongs, sandals, and flip-flops are not allowed.

Can wheelchair users join the tour?

No. The experience is not suitable for wheelchair users.