62 Yarra Valley wines to try

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.

Enrol in a Halliday Wine Academy course in 2024

Across eight modules, Halliday Wine Academy's Introduction to Wine online course offers a detailed look at the Australian wine landscape. Learn about Australian wine regions, how wine is made, how to taste and describe wine, how to approach food and wine matches, along with handy tips that address common wine questions.

If you prefer to learn in a classroom setting, enrol in our 2024 Fundamentals of Wine in-person classes that kick off in May. Our Fundamentals of Wine in-person course includes one two-hour session per week for four weeks. Students will be hosted by Jane Faulkner in Melbourne and Mike Bennie in Sydney. 

Image credit: Yarra Yering.