Yarra Valley Australia
Victoria's first wine region renowned for its distinctive Chardonnay & Pinot Noir.
Discover the hidden secrets of the Yarra Valley
Family-owned and run, these unassuming wineries offer a very different experience from their larger counterparts - It’s not uncommon for the smile who greets you at the door to be that of the winemaker or vigneron whose creation you are about to savour.
Only at these smaller wineries can casual visitors get such a personal insight into the vintage - its challenges, nuances and accomplishments.
So get in your car with the spirit of discovery, grab a map and explore some of the quieter yet highly rewarding wineries in the Yarra Valley – you’re in for a pleasant surprise.
Welcoming Guests All Year Round
Celebrate Every Special Occassion
Exceptional Artisanal Produce
Family-Owned, Family-Operated
Yarra Valley List of Wineries
Click on the name of the Winery from the list below, for more information
- Billanook Estate
- Boat O´Craigo
- Elmswood Estate
- Fin / Cré Wines
- Kellybrook Winery
- Mandala Winery
- Oaktree Vineyard
- Payne´s Rise
- Seville Estate
- Seville Hill
- Six Acres Wines
- Soumah of Yarra V.
- Steels Creek Estate
- Steels Gate Wines
- Sutherland Estate
- Tokar Estate
- Warramunda Estate
- Whispering Hills
- Yering Farm Wines
Billanook Estate
The D’Aloisio family have been involved in the agricultural heritage of the Yarra Valley since the late 1960s, and in 1994 planted the first vines on their 36 hectare property, known as Yarraland.
Plantings initially included Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz, Merlot and Pinot Noir along with Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc.
2011 saw the introduction of Italian varietals, Barbera, Sangiovese and Nebbiolo as well as the Spanish varietal of Tempranillo.
Constantly striving to produce fruit of the highest quality, the family is meticulous with the way the vineyard is managed and oversees the complete process of the grapes to wine, from harvest to bottle.
The Billanook Estate vineyard is located in one of the prime positions in the Yarra Valley that takes in spectacular views.
Boat O'Craigo
Boat O’Craigo is a second generation family-owned winery in the Yarra Valley. Over 50 acres of vines, spanning across two sites, enable Boat O’Craigo to produce outstanding, estate grown wines across a range of noble varieties.
Its single vineyard wines are hand crafted from grape varieties specifically chosen to suit each site.
The family hand-pick at lower yields to concentrate the flavour of the fruit and ensure they end up with wines of premium quality and character.
It is because of the family's careful consideration and practices that they were awarded Halliday Wine Companion's Dark Horse Winery of the Year in 2018.
The Cellar Door and the Kitchen located in Healesville provide a relaxing experience of great wine and food whilst enjoying a view over the vineyard and surrounding ranges.
Elmswood Estate
The Elmswood Estate vineyard is situated in Seville in the upper Yarra Valley - one of the most prominent grape growing areas in the region for elegant, intensely flavoured wines. The Howe family first bought their first vineyard back in 1999, when Vivian and Jack fell in love with the spectacular views of the property.
In 2005, the property where Elmswood Estate lies today became available, thus allowing the two properties to amalgamate into the current Estate.
Elmswood boasts award-winning Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Riesling grown locally on the red volcanic soils of the far southern side of the Yarra Valley.
The family is dedicated to improving the sustainability and biodiversity of the vineyard and has been conducting trials with making their own composts, as well as the application of biodynamic sprays.
They believe these practices will ultimately translate into better fruit and better wine.
Fin / Cré Wines
Owned by mates JonJo, Oliver and Angus, Fin Wines opened its doors in 2020 and has been producing fun and highly-drinkable lo-fi wines since.
Located in the heart of Dixons Creek, the team pride itself on farming in the most sustainable way possible, preserving its soils and biodiversity for future generations to enjoy.
Fin being their experimental project with a focus on drinkability. They play with apple / grape / honey co-ferments, wines, piquettes, pet nats, and even cider/Cré is their Yarra Valley focused project, where they strive to make wines that embody the soils and climates of the Yarra. For both projects less is definitely more.
They aim to make wine that reflects place with minimal influences from vessel and additions, using wild fermentation, no filtering or fining. Always minimal movements, gentle handling and minimal SO2.Not to mention - the wines and ciders - are bloody delicious!
Kellybrook Winery
Inspired through generations of dreams, Kellybrook is a hidden oasis on Melbourne’s doorstep.
Join us to discover how hard work, enthusiasm, passion, and an unwavering focus on quality has created a jewel of the Yarra Valley.
With an extensive range of expressive wines, authentic ciders, unique apple brandy, and lush gardens to explore, Kellybrook offers everything you need to create memories. In 1975, most of the orchard gave way to vineyards.
The winery has since been producing an extensive range of premium quality wines, including sparklings and several other award-winning table wines.
Priding themselves on crafting everything in-house from start to finish, with an unwavering focus on quality, family has always been the backbone of Kellybrook.
Son, Phil, joined the business full time in 1993, along with his wife, Jenny, shortly afterwards, and soon took over the winemaking role. Phil now heads up the business and Jenny manages the cellar door. Phil’s brother, Gus, joined in 2013, bringing in valuable business skills. Phil and Jenny’s son, Oscar, is the first of the third generation to join Kellybrook full time, working in the vineyard and in cider production with Phil.
Mandala Winery
Established by the Smedley family in 1999, Mandala Wines is a Five-Star James Halliday-rated winery in the Yarra Valley.
The main site and Cellar Door at Dixon's Creek offers a full range of prized Estate wines for tasting, along with its renowned assortment of Single-Site wines.
Mandala Wines covers two properties in the rolling hills of the Yarra Valley in regional Victoria.
The Yarra Junction vineyard was selected for its high altitude, which offers great character to the exclusive Pinot Noir vines.
The Dixons Creek vineyard harvests Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot, across a 104-acre panorama of vines, dams, kangaroos and tranquillity.
Today Mandala is thriving within its beautiful Yarra Valley country setting, where the Smedley kids play and older ones spend time together, tell stories and enjoy the good life.
Mandala was established to be a legacy for the future generations of the Smedleys, and to be indulged by whomever catches the wine bug - their place is your place.
Oaktree Vineyard
Oaktree Vineyard is located in the highly acclaimed region of Coldstream - the gateway to the Yarra Valley.
Run by Brian Murphy and his family, it is a boutique estate producing premium, cool climate wines of unique character and exceptional quality.
The family specialises in Pinot Noir, Rosé and Cabernet Sauvignon, and has one of the smallest cellar doors in the region.
On top of its premium wines, the family also offers its guests a delicious selection of cheese boxes and grazing boards to complete the overall tasting experience.
A visit to Oaktree means gaining a personal insight into the nuances of the wines, the vineyards and the family.It's an experience not to be missed when visiting Coldstream.
Payne's Rise
Payne’s Rise is incorporated into the 1860's homestead and property of Seville's first settler, Thomas Payne.
The cellar door gives visitors the opportunity to wander through the original house and outbuildings.
The boutique family-run winery specialises in small batch wines produced from carefully selected fruit from their vineyard in Seville, Victoria.
It is the realisation of many years of hard work, dedication and passion of Tim and Narelle Cullen.
Payne's Rise endeavours to produce varietal fruit driven wines with complexity, that are expressive of the vineyards unique qualities and upper Yarra cool climate.
Seville Estate
Founded in 1972 by Dr Peter and Margaret McMahon, Seville Estate has been at the forefront of the modern Yarra Valley wine movement for 40 years.
Today the winery is managed by Dylan McMahon, who joined Seville Estate in 1998 following the passion ignited by his grandparents a generation before.
Seville Estate wines are made with minimum intervention, with the varietal and site expression in mind. Winemaking techniques are delicate and labour-intensive based around showcasing the true fruit characters, not artefact. All Estate wines are fermented using indigenous yeasts.
Dylan took over as winemaker in 2004 and continues the wine styles that Dr. McMahon believed in.
Seville Estate has since won extensive trophies and medals and was awarded Winery of the Year in 2019 by Halliday Wine Companion.
Seville Hill Winery
Established in 1991 by the D'Aloisio family, Seville Hill Winery has been producing wines from one of the most elevated and cooler properties in Seville and the Yarra Valley.
The involvement of John and Josie D’Aloisio in the agricultural industry began over 40 years ago producing a variety of stone fruit and strawberries.
Once an orchard of cherry trees that still flower beautifully to this day, the present site consists of traditional Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Shiraz, Merlot vines, as well as several international grape varietals such as Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo and Barbera.
Seville Hill boasts one of the most stunning and picturesque views of the Warburton Ranges and Yarra Valley. During the warmer months of the year, Summer Jazz at Seville Hill is held outside on the terraced lawn and deck which is shaded by three spectacular English elm trees.
The family welcomes you to join them, be it for a tasting, event, wedding or function.
Six Acres Wines
Nestled in the southern hills of the Yarra Valley, Six Acres boutique winery and vineyard is owned and worked by the Zuccaro Family.
A visit to Six Acres will almost certainly involve being greeted by a Zuccaro family member as they emerge from the rows of vines or from the barrel shed.
As winemaker, Ralph Zuccaro is moving towards a more minimal intervention winemaking practice. They only use organic sprays and practices to maximise the health of the soils.
The vines are also dry grown, helping to counter the fertility of the red volcanic soils.
Their aim each year is to produce bright, textural and complex wines in a way that works for the expression of the quality of their grapes and the expression of the terroir of the vineyard.
Soumah of Yarra Valley
Soumah is a family-owned winery inspired by Italian life, wine and food. From a winemaking perspective, the team at Soumah believes the terroir of Gruyere is similar to northern Italy, with short, dry, hot summers and cool nights throughout.
Even the fog that descends upon the Yarra Valley in late summer is reminiscent of those lands. As its wine selection expands, the winery continues to focus on classic Yarra Valley varietals such as Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, as well styles from northern Italy including Savarro, Pinot Grigio, Ai Fiori (Rosata), Brachetto, Marzemino, Nebbiolo and Barbera, and the eastern French varieties of Shiraz and Viognier.
Only an hour drive from Melbourne, taste Soumah's award-winning wines at the cellar door and dine at the restaurant, Trattoria d’Soumah, while taking in the view. For something more exclusive, book a private tutored tasting in the Premium Wine Room or indulge in an extended stay at Ville d’Soumah, a spacious country-style property located in they vineyard.
Steels Creek Estate
Tucked away in the picturesque Steels Creek Valley with a backdrop of Kinglake National Park and abundant wildlife, Joanne and Simon found this tranquil location to grow and make wine.
Believed to be the smallest winery in the Yarra Valley, the pair planted their first grapes in 1981 and have since formed a “from the grape to bottle in the one place” philosophy.
Discover the winery, taste the wines and discuss their small batch, wild ferment and natural winemaking processes - and be sure to try Steels Creek's unique Colombard and Cabernet Franc drops.
Steels Gate Wines
Steels Gate centres around Vignerons and husbands, Matthew Davis and Brad Atkins, and their son Sebastian, who have been producing unique, award-winning wines in the Yarra Valley since 2010.
Steels Gate comprises of two hand-crafted boutique vineyards within the Yarra Valley. The Home Block Vineyard, situated at 230m above sea level, was planted in the late 1970’s on an undulating slope on friable grey loam soils. The Dixon's Creek vineyard is situated 150m above sea level and was planted in the early 1980s. It is where the cellar door and renowned restaurant reside today.
Steels Gate produce elegant wines of distinction through minimal intervention methods. The estate grown and made wines offer finesse and exceptional flavour. The combination of good food, good wine and exceptional views make sitting down for a meal almost irresistible.
Sutherland Estate
Sutherland Estate has one of the most spectacular vineyard sites in Australia.
On high ground at the southern edge of the Great Divide, the cathedral-ceilinged cellar door and large outside deck command impressive views down the Yarra Valley and far into the distance.
As a family-run boutique winery, Angus and Cathy are committed to producing the highest quality wines of true regional character.
An ex-ballerina and ex-barrister, the pair produces less than 2000 cases each vintage.
The fruit is hand-picked at optimal ripeness and acidity, at the moment of their choosing. In the winery, their philosophy is "less is more".
With a passion for minimal intervention, they are content to let the fruit speak for itself - a product of their site, unadorned by artifice.
When visiting Cathy and Angus at Sutherland Estate, be sure to enjoy the views on the deck while sipping on their Sparkling Tempranillo and experiencing their renowned cheese boards.
Tokar Estate
Tokar Estate is a family-owned and operated winery, restaurant and cellar door in a stunning location in the heart of the Yarra Valley.
First purchased in 1995 by Leon and Rita Tokar, the family worked hard to transform land that was covered in thistles, tussock grass and snakes into a high quality vineyard.
In addition to planting traditional varieties such as Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Shiraz and Chardonnay, they were the first in the Valley to plant the Spanish varietal Tempranillo.
Over the years, the Tokars have proven to detractors that taking risks can pay off, and Tempranillo is now one of their signature wines.
Tokar Estate now has two generations working alongside each other, and their wines and restaurant have received many accolades in recent years - including being labelled a Five-Star Winery by Halliday Wine Companion.
Warramunda Estate
The Magdziarz family established Warramunda Estate in 2007 after long careers in the local hospitality industry, and hand-planting their first vineyard in the Macedon Ranges.
The family built on the existing, fruitful land in Yarra Valley's Coldstream with a deep respect for the surrounding landscape and a vision for terroir-driven wines.
With that in mind, they make their wines following biodynamic principles, with the vines being unirrigated and wines being all naturally fermented with wild yeast.
Following the family business, Robert and Irene's daughter Olivia debuted Liv Zak Wines in 2015, in which she has co-made dozens of wines while continuing her education at Charles Sturt University.
The Magdziarz's welcome you to take your time, enjoy a glass of wine and order from their delicious menu while enjoying the sunshine and beautiful valley vista.
Whispering Hills
Established in 1985 upon the red, rich soils of the Upper Yarra Valley, Whispering Hills Vineyard is a family-run winery that has been producing elegant cool, climate wines for over twenty vintages.
The vineyard was established in 1985 by the Lyons family, with further plantings made in 1996 and 2003. It now comprises Cabernet Sauvignon, Riesling, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines. The wines reflect the vineyard site where they are grown and convey each individual grape's sense of place.
The limited lots of 1-6 barrels per variety make it possible for the family to create fresh and exciting new wines that intrigue even the most seasoned wine buyer.
Whispering Hills is renowned for its exceptional sparkling wines in particular, as well as its cool-climate Syrahs.
Yering Farm Wines
Yering Farm Wines was officially established with the planting of the first vine in 1989. However the first vineyard on this site was ‘Yeringa Vineyards’ settled by the Deschamps family in the 1800’s.
They were an important founding French/Swiss family of vignerons who established substantial cellars and succeeded as viticulturists and winemakers in the Yarra Valley.
For Alan Johns, it was clear from the beginning that he wanted to incorporate the past and the lands rich history - merging both historic and modern perspectives to inject new life into the resurgence of the Yarra Valley and its footprint in the wine world. He then took cuttings from Cabernet vines that were sourced from the clone acclaimed from the property's forefather, Joseph Deschamps.
Alan grew all the cuttings by hand using his years of orcharding to cultivate a nursery before slowly planning and planting out the vineyard with varieties such as Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Shiraz, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.