The Yarra Valley was Victoria's first wine growing district, which has a history that dates back to 1838. The Yarra is home to some of Australia's most elegant and sought after wines, and is world-famous for chardonnay and pinot noir. So, it comes as no surprise that outstanding sparkling examples are produced in the Yarra Valley, especially with names like Chandon, Rob Hall and Gembrook Hill in the region.
The cool climate of the Yarra Valley also means cabernet sauvignon and shiraz are key standalone varietals, but they also contribute to some of the big hitting blends like Mount Mary's Quintet (cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/petit verdot), Yarra Yering's Dry Red No. 1 (cabernet sauvignon/merlot/malbec/petit verdot), and Serrat's Shiraz Viognier.
At the 2024 Halliday Wine Companion Awards, the Yarra ran away with accolades that included Best Value Winery, which went to Oakridge Wines, the 2021 Yarra Yering Dry Red Wine No. 3 took home the 2024 Other Reds and Blends of the Year, Giant Steps' 2022 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir was awarded 2024 Pinot Noir of the Year, and 2024 Pinot Gris/Grigio of the Year went to the Mayer Bloody Hill Villages Healesville Pinot Gris from the 2022 vintage.
When it comes to things to do in the Yarra Valley, the options are endless. Stop in at cellar doors like Oakridge Wines, Dominique Portet, Giant Steps, St Huberts, Medhurst Wines, Yering Station, TarraWarra Estate, and Yarra Yering.
An epicurean adventure, and home to some of Victoria’s most acclaimed restaurants, you can eat at winery restaurants (which are all worthy of your time), the local pubs, and local produce stores like Yarra Valley Dairy. And trust me on this, you cannot visit the Yarra without a visit to Cheesemonger Sophie (especially if you consider yourself a connoisseur of cheese toasties). And if like me, you're drinking gin when you aren't drinking wine, then perhaps cap off a day with a visit to the Four Pillars distillery.
Below are some of the best Yarra Valley wines to try. There are a mix of wines from the 2024 Companion, along with wines tasted for the upcoming 2025 Companion. These 62 wines prove that Yarra Valley producers are rightly renowned for their premium wines.
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Yarra Valley white wines to try
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Giant Steps
Applejack Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Oakridge Wines
864 Single Block Release Drive Block Funder & Diamond Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Seville Estate
Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Bird on a Wire Wines
Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Denton
Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Helen's Hill Estate
Breachley Block Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Medhurst
Estate Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Toolangi
F Block Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Bicknell fc
Applecross Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Burton McMahon
D'Aloisio's Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Centare Vineyard
Old Block Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Dappled Wines
Les Vergers Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Hoddles Creek Estate
Syberia Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Mac Forbes
RS15 Riesling 2022
Strathbogie Ranges -
Rochford Wines
Premier Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Salo Wines
Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
The Wanderer
Upper Yarra Valley Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Coombe Yarra Valley
Pinot Gris 2022
Yarra Valley -
Fetherston Vintners
Chardonnay 2021
Yarra Valley -
Payne's Rise
Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley -
Pimpernel Vineyards
Chenin Blanc 2021
Yarra Valley -
Rob Dolan Wines
Black Label Marsanne 2022
Yarra Valley -
Helen's Hill Estate
Candlebark Pinot Gris 2022
Yarra Valley -
Steels Creek Estate
Single Vineyard Colombard 2022
Yarra Valley
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Yarra Valley red wines to try
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Giant Steps
Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley -
Mount Mary
Quintet 2021
Yarra Valley -
Oakridge Wines
864 Single Block Release Aqueduct Block Henk Vineyard Pinot Noir 2021
Yarra Valley -
Serrat
Shiraz Viognier 2022
Yarra Valley -
Yarra Yering
Dry Red Wine No. 1 2021
Yarra Valley -
Yeringberg
Yeringberg 2021
Yarra Valley -
Coldstream Hills
Reserve Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley -
Mayer
Syrah 2022
Yarra Valley -
Punch
Lance's Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020
Yarra Valley -
Wantirna Estate
Lily Pinot Noir 2021
Yarra Valley -
Warramunda Estate
Liv Zak Malbec 2021
Yarra Valley -
Yarra Yering
Underhill Foudre Shiraz 2019
Yarra Valley -
Yering Station
Scarlett Pinot Noir 2021
Yarra Valley -
Squitchy Lane Vineyard
Yarra Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot 2019
Yarra Valley -
Thousand Candles
Gathering Field Cabernet Franc 2022
Yarra Valley -
Yarra Edge
Edward Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon Cabernet Franc Merlot 2021
Yarra Valley -
Bobar
Savant Cabernet Sauvignon 2021
Yarra Valley -
Dominique Portet
Single Vineyard Shiraz 2022
Yarra Valley -
In Dreams
Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley -
TarraWarra Estate
Reserve Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2021
Yarra Valley -
Tillie J
Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley -
Warramate
Yarra Valley Syrah 2021
Yarra Valley -
SOUMAH
Hexham Single Vineyard Syrah 2022
Yarra Valley -
De Bortoli
Woodfired Grenache 2021
Heathcote -
Lillydale Estate
Reserve Pinot Noir 2021
Yarra Valley -
Thick as Thieves Wines
Driftwood Gamay Pinot Noir 2023
Yarra Valley King Valley -
Punt Road
Airlie Bank Pinot Noir 2023
Yarra Valley -
Six Acres
Spectrum Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley -
St Huberts
Pinot Noir 2022
Yarra Valley
Enrol in a Halliday Wine Academy course in 2024
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Image credit: Yarra Yering.