About Yarra Valley Winery Region

The Yarra Valley winery region is located one hour drive to the north-east of Melbourne. It is a world class, world renowned wine region, reminiscent of Bordeaux or Burgundy in the South of France, or the Tuscany region of Northern Italy. It is a place of unspoilt pristine beauty, where the water and the air are clean and crisp, the views spectacular and the friendly ambience invites you to just rest for a while, kick back and savour the very best regional or international cuisine on offer, or a glass of world class wine. Whatever your indulgence you’re sure to find it in the Yarra Valley.

Due to the diversity of terroir within the Yarra Valley region it is in the enviable position of being able to produce a range of classic wine styles. The Yarra Valley is also home to many young, progressive winemakers creating vibrant, cutting edge style wines of precision and purity.

The Yarra Valley is famous for the Burgundian varieties of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir as they are particularly suited to the cool climate. The Valley also has extensive plantings of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot - and produce excellent examples of cool climate Shiraz. In the whites the region has a strong focus on Gewurztraminer, Semillon, Marsanne and Riesling producing elegant styles.

The Yarra Valley has an exceptional wine and food culture, which has been fostered by the local wine industry and influenced by the region’s close proximity to Melbourne, producing a cultural synergy between the city and the Valley.

The wine industry began its journey in 1837 when three brothers, William, James and Donald Ryrie established a cattle property Yering Station. They planted vines; an act recorded as the first vineyard planting in Victoria. A few years’ later immigrants from Switzerland and Germany settled in the area. They planted commercial quantities of wine grape and established wineries. Among them St Huberts, Yering and Yerinberg produced wines to international acclaim and anchored the Yarra Valley's reputation in the 1800s.

Then came the economic depression of the 1890s. It was a major factor in the region's decline along with other factors such as the consumer shift to fortifieds. By the 1920s the last winery ceased operations.

The industry was resuscitated by medical doctors in the 1960s who caught the markets' return to table wines. Mount Mary vineyard established by Dr John Middleton was a pioneer of the second wave.

The third wave came in the 1980s with the arrival of James Halliday, de Bortoli and the prestigious Moet & Chandon's Domaine Chandon.

The end of the 20th century was marked by phenomenal growth. Hundreds of hectares came under the vine and millions were invested in wineries and tourist facilities.

The Yarra Valley is home to some of the largest wine companies in Australia, as well as a significant number of boutique wineries. This gives the Valley's wine industry diversity and balance.

This is the place that dreams are made of… and where dreams really do come true!

Welcome to the Yarra Valley!