Yarra Valley wine and gin tour with Champagne Lunch at Chandon!

Some days in the Yarra Valley feel like a checklist.

This one feels like a plan: sparkling brunch at Chandon, then wine, cider, and gin tastings across a tight route, all with a driver and no rental car needed.

I especially like the way the day is built around tastings you can actually enjoy, not just rush through. Domaine Chandon’s sparkling-focused lunch and tasting sets a great tone, and the small group size (max 11) keeps things friendly and easy to ask questions.

One thing to keep in mind: the stops are timed, so each venue gets a bite-sized window. If you want to linger for hours at a single cellar, you may feel the pace is a bit “go, taste, move on.”

Key highlights to know before you go

• Chandon Champagne brunch with sparkling wine plus h’ordeuvres
• Private, small-group vibe with a maximum of 11 people
• Multiple tasting styles, including wineries, apple cider, and small-batch gin
• Winery variety in one day: modern sparkling to historic vines to boutique distillery
• Free 30-minute Kangaroo Safari stop on the way back to Melbourne

From Federation Square Pickup to an 8-Hour Wine Day

This is a classic car-free Yarra Valley day trip. It starts at 11:30 am and ends back at the same meeting point area: Federation Square Bus & Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone (Russell Ct, Melbourne VIC 3000). The duration is about 8 hours, so you should treat it like a full day out, not a quick half-day.

The biggest practical win is simple: you get pickup and return provided from your accommodation, and you don’t have to worry about being the sober driver. You also get downloadable mobile tickets (no paper trail to manage), which makes check-in less annoying when you’re juggling bags and passports and phones.

Group size matters here. The tour caps at 11 people, which is big enough to feel social but small enough that the day doesn’t turn into cattle-line tourism. In the feedback, the host experience keeps coming up, including hosts like Craig and Kurt, who set a relaxed tone in the van and during tastings.

Chandon Champagne Brunch: Your Sparkling Start

Domaine Chandon is the headline stop, and it’s built to make you feel like you’re doing something special right away. You’ll enjoy sparkling wine tastings plus a Champagne lunch/brunch with sparkling wine and h’ordeuvres.

What I like about Chandon as a first stop is the pacing. You’re starting with something fun and approachable before moving into the broader wine-and-gin mix. The experience also includes learning about the history and production of champagne, not just “here’s a glass, good luck.”

Expect a polished, well-run setting where sparkling is the focus. It’s also a smart way to match different tastes in the group: even if someone is less into wine, sparkling styles and food pairing tend to be easier to enjoy right away than heavier reds.

The practical drawback is that sparkling lovers will drink happily, but you still need to think about pace. This is a tasting day, so if you’re sensitive to alcohol, go slower during the first tasting flights and keep your attention on the food.

Yarra Valley Wine and Apple Cider at Yering Farm

After Chandon, you head to Yering Farm Wines for about 1 hour. This stop is a good contrast to the Chandon experience because it leans more rustic and relaxed, with views that make you stop looking at your phone.

Here’s what you can expect to taste: wine plus apple cider. If you’re someone who likes a change of pace beyond wine glasses, this is the moment. Apple cider can be an easy entry point when the day is already moving into multiple tastings.

This stop also works well for photo people without turning into a “stand here forever” moment. The time window is short enough that you can taste, soak up the view, and still have enough energy left for the next winery and the distillery.

Historic Vines at Yering Station (Pinot Noir Focus)

Next is Yering Station for about 45 minutes. This is where the day adds another layer: it’s tied to the story of Victoria’s earliest vineyards, with tastings at the home of Victoria’s first vineyard.

You’ll sample a wide range of wines, and the big named strength here is Pinot Noir, including what the tour describes as some of Australia’s finest. Even if Pinot isn’t your default pick, this stop is valuable because it helps you compare flavors you may have missed at Chandon and Yering Farm.

Time is the tradeoff again. Forty-five minutes can feel quick if you’re the type who wants to read every label and compare every pour. But as a tasting day, the structure usually keeps you from getting fatigued, especially after the longer brunch at Chandon.

If you want to maximize it, be ready to ask one or two direct questions. For example: which Pinot is best for someone who likes a lighter style, and which one leans more toward richer, darker fruit.

Stag Lane Farm Distillery Gin: Small-Batch Spirits

Then it’s off to Stag Lane Farm Distillery for about 1 hour of gin sampling. This is the part of the day that changes the “wine-only” rhythm. The tour describes small-batch gins made from produce grown on site, which matters because it signals a more hands-on, ingredient-driven approach.

In the feedback, this gin stop stands out as a fun pivot. One person highlighted the atmosphere during and after the tastings, including the kind of good-natured singing that can make a van ride feel like a group trip rather than a lecture.

If you’re curious about gin beyond the basics, you’ll probably enjoy how this stop ties local ingredients to flavor. If you already know your gin styles, you can use the hour to compare aromatics and finish notes, then settle on something you’d actually buy.

This is also a good moment to pace yourself for the return ride. You’ll still have one more route stop on the way back to Melbourne, so don’t turn the gin tasting into a marathon.

Dairy and Chocolate Tasting Stops That Keep the Day Human

The tour route includes a couple of extra tastings that break up the alcohol focus: Yarra Valley Dairy and Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. These are the kind of stops that make the day feel like Yarra Valley, not just “cellar-door, cellar-door, van.”

I like that these moments provide variety for different tastes. Wine and gin can be intense when you’re sampling across several wineries, so a dairy tasting and chocolate or ice cream stop can reset your palate and your mood.

In feedback, these kinds of stops show up as memorable details. People mention extra small touches like food and treats during the ride, which usually makes the whole day feel thoughtful rather than purely transactional.

The practical tip: treat these tasting breaks as a chance to slow down and breathe. If you get caught in tasting mode, you can end up over-sampling and then missing what you actually like.

Kangaroo Safari Stop: A Free 30 Minutes Off the Typical Track

On the way back to Melbourne, there’s a 30-minute “Kangaroo Safari” stop. This one is free and described as a guaranteed chance to see many kangaroos hopping around as they search for evening feed.

This is such a smart inclusion because it breaks the sensory pattern. After a day of wine glass clinks and cellar smells, it’s good to look at something wild and alive. It’s also a reminder that the Yarra Valley isn’t only wineries and tasting rooms.

The only real consideration is time. Thirty minutes is short, so dress and move efficiently. If you’re the kind of person who wants a long wildlife session, you’ll probably wish the safari window was longer.

Price and Value: What $191.61 Really Covers

The tour price is $191.61 per person, and it’s easier to judge value when you look at what’s included.

From what the tour provides, admission tickets are included at the main tasting venues: Domaine Chandon, Yering Farm Wines, Yering Station, and Stag Lane Farm Distillery. You’re also getting the Champagne brunch at Chandon, pickup and return (car-free convenience), and a full-day route that strings the tastings together without you planning anything.

If you tried to arrange this yourself, costs would likely stack fast: tasting fees, transport, and time spent coordinating between multiple venues. Even if you don’t buy a bottle at every stop, the structure pays you back by giving you a guided day that stays coherent.

The “private tour for a more intimate tasting experience” language also matters. With a cap of 11 people, you’re less likely to feel like you’re repeating your questions to an exhausted guide for the hundredth time.

One more value point: the guides can shape the mood. Multiple people praised hosts like Craig and Stephen for mixing stories about the area with pacing that kept the day fun, not rigid.

Who This Tour Fits Best (And Who Might Skip It)

This tour is a great fit if you want a Yarra Valley day with variety. You’ll sample sparkling at Chandon, wine and cider at Yering Farm, Pinot and historic vines at Yering Station, and gin at a farm distillery. Add in the dairy and chocolate tastings, plus the kangaroos, and you’ve got a well-rounded day.

It also fits if you’re traveling with a partner or small group who doesn’t want to drive. The pickup/return model means you can focus on the day, not on maps, parking, or finding your way back to Melbourne after you’ve had a few tastings.

You might choose something else if you’re the type who hates tasting-time limits. The schedule is built around moving. With stops around 45 minutes to 2 hours, it can feel like “enough” rather than “deep enough” for anyone who wants a long, slow, single-venue immersion.

Final call: Should you book this Yarra Valley wine and gin day?

I’d book it if you want an organized, car-free Yarra Valley day that mixes Champagne brunch, multiple tasting styles, and a memorable non-wine moment at the kangaroo stop. The small group size and the strong guide energy in the feedback (from hosts like Craig, Kurt, Mark, and Stephen) make it feel more like a shared day out than a conveyor-belt tour.

Skip it if you know you want to spend most of your day in one cellar and you dislike timed transitions. Otherwise, this is a solid value way to sample a lot of Yarra Valley without the headache of planning and driving.

FAQ

How long is the tour?

It runs for about 8 hours.

What time does the tour start?

The start time is 11:30 am.

Where do I meet for pickup?

You meet at the Federation Square Bus & Coach Pickup Drop-off Zone on Russell Ct, Melbourne.

Is pickup and drop-off from my accommodation included?

Yes. Pickup and return are provided from your accommodation, and the tour also uses the Federation Square meeting point.

How many people are in the group?

The tour has a maximum of 11 travelers.

What tastings are included?

You’ll have tastings at Domaine Chandon (sparkling), Yering Farm Wines (wine and apple cider), Yering Station (wine, including Pinot Noir), and Stag Lane Farm Distillery (gin).

Is lunch included?

Yes. You get a Champagne brunch at Chandon with sparkling wine and h’ordeuvres.

Is the Kangaroo Safari stop included?

Yes. There is a 30-minute Kangaroo Safari stop on the way back, and it is free.