Amazing Yarra Valley Wine Tour + Chocolate, Farm Fresh, Gin

This is one of those days where you show up in Melbourne, then let someone else handle the driving and timing. You get a small-group tasting run through Yarra Valley producers, with tasting fees handled for you, plus stops built around strawberries, chocolate, and optional gin. I also like that the day is structured with built-in breaks, so you’re not just zig-zagging between wineries all afternoon.

One possible drawback: lunch isn’t included, so you’ll want to budget for food and drinks at St Hubert Estate’s Quarters bistro.

The other thing to consider is that this is an alcohol-and-sun day. In summer it can get hot, and there’s a note that the tour may not suit people who can’t handle hot weather paired with tastings.

Key highlights you’ll feel in real life

• Small groups (10 to 20) keep the day from feeling like a cattle call.
• Tasting fees are included at the wineries and chocolate stop, so $93.24 goes further.
• A strawberry farm start gives you something fresh before wine and gin.
• Chocolate tasting is guided with up to 12 creations at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.
• Gin is optional and day-dependent, with Stag Lane on several weekdays and Four Pillars on Tue/Wed.

A Yarra Valley tasting day that starts in Melbourne and ends back in the city

This tour is designed for people who want the Yarra Valley experience without the logistics headache. You meet in central Melbourne, then you’re transported out and back, with a day plan that chains together wineries, chocolate, fruit, and an optional gin flight.

At $93.24 per person, the value isn’t just that you’re visiting multiple places. The real win is that the tour includes tasting fees at the key stops, so you’re not piecing together entry costs and tasting charges yourself.

It also helps that the group size is capped at 20 (and it’s often smaller). That matters because Yarra Valley tasting rooms can be tight, and crowded groups make it harder to hear what’s going on.

The 8.5-hour rhythm: plenty of time, but it moves

The schedule runs about 8 hours 30 minutes. You’ll be on the go from the morning meetup, then you’ll settle into a flow: fruit and tastings in the first half, a lunch break around late morning, then chocolate plus the final distillery stop.

Most stops are around 45 to 50 minutes, which gives you time to taste, ask questions, and walk around a bit—without turning the day into a long, slow crawl. Still, you should expect that each stop is a “visit with a purpose,” not an all-day hangout.

Also note the tour has a weather dependency. If conditions are extreme, you’ll get a date change or a full refund.

Meeting at Arts Centre Melbourne Spire: how to find the group fast

You meet at 8:45am in front of the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire at 6/2 St Kilda Rd (Southbank). The best way to get there is to search for the cafe stand at the front called Protagonist.

This is a practical tip: if you arrive early, take a moment to confirm you’re standing by the correct landmark. The tour aims to depart at 9:00am sharp, and the day only works if everyone’s lined up on time.

You’ll also use a mobile ticket, so keep it handy on your phone and avoid last-minute signal hunts.

Yarra Farm Fresh: sweet fruit first, then the tastings

The day typically begins with a visit to Yarra Farm Fresh. The focus here is strawberries and seasonal fruit—plus local jams. Even if you’re eager for wine, this stop does something important: it gives your palate a reset before alcohol and chocolate.

It’s also included as a free stop, with time set aside for tasting-style sampling. There’s an additional limited-time perk too: a complimentary punnet of strawberries per booking is offered for a limited period (until 28 February 2026, subject to availability).

If you’re picky about what you start your day with, you’ll probably be happy here. It’s not a “tour bus souvenir stop”—it’s fruit-forward and grounded in what the region does well.

Yering Station: an iconic estate stop that sets the tone

Next up is Yering Station, described as the oldest winery in the Yarra Valley and one of the region’s iconic estates. You’ll have about 50 minutes for hosted tastings.

This stop is useful even if you’re not a “serious” wine person. Yering Station gives you a reference point for what Yarra Valley wines are like—cool-climate style, crisp profiles, and varietals that tend to lean bright rather than heavy.

One thing to keep in mind: not every stop is identical. Some people end up finding one winery more compelling than another, and tastings can feel different depending on what you’re drinking that day.

Lunch at St Hubert Estate’s Quarters: plan for extra spending

Lunch happens at St Hubert Estate at around 11:45am. It’s at the bistro called Quarters, and it’s not included. So you’ll buy mains and drinks for lunch separately.

The upside: you’ll also get time to explore the estate atmosphere, including the cellar door, wine shop, and an indigenous art gallery. In other words, lunch time isn’t just eating and running.

The practical downside is budget. If you want a simple meal without surprises, look at the menu ahead of time if you can, and decide what you’ll order before the day gets busy. And if you’re doing the full tasting option with gin, consider pacing your lunch too.

Yering Farm Wines (and its apple cider note you shouldn’t miss)

After lunch, you’ll visit Yering Farm Wines for about 45 minutes. This stop is described as a rustic winery with classic Yarra Valley wines and a refreshing apple cider tasting.

That cider detail matters because it adds a non-wine break right when you might otherwise be drifting toward sweet chocolate overload. The tour notes that this cider tasting is usually included, but in rare cases the winery can be unavailable due to private events or closures. If there’s a substitute winery, the apple cider tasting won’t be included.

So if the cider is part of what drew you in, you might want to double-check for your exact date when you book.

Chocolate at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: guided and timed

Next is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery stop. You get a guided tasting, with up to 12 handcrafted chocolate creations included (and the ice creamery is right there if you want to buy more).

One thing I’d plan for: chocolate tastings can get loud and a bit commercial, because it’s a popular stop. You can still enjoy it, but don’t expect a quiet tasting room vibe.

This is also where the day’s “sweet-to-alcohol balance” really kicks in. If you’re doing wine and gin earlier, the chocolate here can feel like dessert—so pace your bites, sip water if you can, and leave room to enjoy the distillery tasting without feeling sugar-zapped.

Gin flights: how the optional tasting changes your final stop

Gin is part of the tour in two different ways:

• If you choose the full tasting experience, you’ll add a gin flight at a local distillery.
• If you don’t choose the gin option, the distillery stop won’t happen—and the tour adjusts.

The tour notes that on the days it’s offered:

• Stag Lane Farm Distillery is visited on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
• Four Pillars Distillery is visited on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Both gin stops are described as guided tastings with a mixer. They’re about 45 minutes. If you care about gin style—botanicals, tonic pairing, how mixers affect flavor—this is the stop that turns the day from wine-only into a broader Yarra Valley “what’s made here” experience.

There’s also a small timing adjustment: if no guest chooses the gin distillery experience, the tour extends the final stop by an extra 15 minutes and departs earlier for a smooth return to Melbourne.

So if you’re undecided, think about what kind of memories you want. Wine people often say gin is the fun pivot point. Gin people often appreciate that the day doesn’t treat gin as an afterthought.

Stag Lane vs Four Pillars: what you can expect from the gin-focused vibe

Because gin flights are optional and date-based, the distillery you get depends on your day of travel. The itinerary keeps the structure similar—guided tasting with a mixer—so you’re not walking into an entirely different day.

What will differ is the “house style” and the producer personality. Either way, you’ll be learning and tasting in the same time window, so you can plan your energy around it.

If you’re sensitive to alcohol, remember this is still a tasting day. The tour specifically warns that it can be hot/sunny in summer and that tastings happen in that environment. Wear sun protection, and consider bringing a hat and comfortable sunglasses so you can keep enjoying the day instead of counting minutes until shade.

Back in Melbourne: ACMI drop-off makes the day easy to finish

The tour returns by around 5:30pm or earlier. The listed drop-off is at ACMI in Federation Square at Flinders St.

That’s a good finish point if you want to grab dinner nearby or keep sightseeing in central Melbourne. It’s also close to public transit, so you’re not forced into complicated last-mile logistics after a long tasting day.

Who this tour suits best (and who might want to rethink it)

This is a strong match for you if:

• You want a one-day Yarra Valley sampler with a mix of wine, gin, chocolate, and fruit.
• You like the idea of hosted tastings where someone guides your attention.
• You’d rather pay one price than manage multiple bookings across different producers.

It’s less ideal if:

• You have mobility challenges. The tour specifically says it isn’t suitable for people with mobility issues because some experiences cannot accommodate climbing stairs.
• You want a slow, deep wine study. The itinerary is busy and timed, so you’ll taste a lot but you won’t linger at any single winery for hours.
• You hate alcohol in warm weather. The tour warns that summer heat plus tastings isn’t for everyone.

Kids age 4 to 17 can join, but they won’t be served alcohol tastings. The fruit and chocolate portions can still be fun, but the wine and gin parts will be adults-only tasting time.

Value check: why this price can make sense

Let’s talk money in plain terms. At $93.24, the tour isn’t trying to be the cheapest way to leave Melbourne for the day. It’s trying to be the easiest.

The value comes from:

• Included tasting fees at the stops where tastings are the point.
• A small group instead of large, stretched-out schedules.
• Transport between Melbourne and the Yarra Valley so you don’t drive yourself through tasting-room traffic.
• A day built around multiple producers: fruit, at least two winery tasting experiences, chocolate tasting (up to 12 chocolates), and an optional gin flight.

If you were to DIY this, you’d likely pay for tasting fees anyway—and you’d also pay the hidden cost of planning and transportation. Here, that’s bundled into a timed route.

Just remember lunch is extra at Quarters, and there are possible additional costs for tastings at St Hubert Estate after lunch.

So should you book it?

Yes, you should book this tour if you want a high-output, well-paced Yarra Valley tasting day with minimal decision fatigue. The small-group format, included tastings, and mix of fruit, chocolate, wine, and optional gin make it a good “first Yarra Valley trip” even if you’re not chasing one single winery.

Skip it or choose another option if you:

• need accessibility-friendly movement,
• want lunch fully included,
• or are likely to struggle with hot weather plus alcohol tastings.

If you book, pick the gin option only if you genuinely want that extra flavor education. It’s one of the day’s best “variety jumps,” and it’s also the part that changes your final stop based on which distillery day you land on.

FAQ

How long is the Yarra Valley Wine Tour + Chocolate, Farm Fresh, Gin?

It runs about 8 hours 30 minutes (approximately).

Where do I meet the tour in Melbourne?

You meet in front of the Arts Centre Melbourne Spire at 8:45am. The tour suggests finding the Protagonist cafe stand at the front of the landmark.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch at St Hubert Estate (Quarters bistro) is at your own expense, and lunch time is around 11:45am.

Are tasting fees included?

Yes. The tour includes tasting fees for ease, including tastings at the winery stops and the chocolate tasting.

Do I have to pay extra for wine or gin at St Hubert Estate after lunch?

Yes. Tastings of wine, gin, and whisky at St Hubert Estate require an additional fee, usually A$15 per person.

Which gin distillery do you visit?

It depends on the day. Stag Lane Farm Distillery is visited on Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, while Four Pillars is visited on Tuesday and Wednesday. Gin flight tastings are optional.

Is this tour suitable for people with mobility issues?

No. The tour is not suitable for people with mobility issues, particularly because some experiences cannot accommodate climbing stairs.