A Beginner’s Guide to the Yarra
The stunning Yarra Valley is a perfect setting for a romantic escape – and happens to be located just 90 kms from the heart of Melbourne city. With an array of beautiful wineries, wonderful outdoor activities, and beautiful accommodation options, weekends away don’t get any better than this. Here is an introductory guide as to what to see and what to do!
What to Drink
The place where it all began, winemaking in Australia first started in the Yarra Valley with the first vine having been planted by Yering Station back in 1838. Nowadays, there are over 70 wineries in the area, so you won’t be short on places to go or things to try. Due to its weather, the area is known for its cool climate wines, like pinot noir, chardonnay and sparkling varieties. Chardy is probably the most famous of these, and the Yarra style is particularly distinctive with its lean and acid-driven flavours; it’s quite different that the toasted butter hits you will find in other wine regions of Australia. Check out Oakridge Wines for a great example of what good looks like. In 2012, they took home three of the Sydney Morning Herald’s Good Wine Guide accolades, including “Wine of the Year,” “Chardonnay of the Year” and “Winery of the Year.” Now, that’s a good year! Other producers who are worth a visit include Punt Road, DeBortoli, Mandala Wines and Hoddles Creek Estate who took out the 2013 Good Wine Guide category for “Best Value Wines $25 and Under” with their 2011 chardonnay.
Where to Eat
Just as with the wine options, your dining choices are almost unlimited in Yarra, with an abundance of incredible restaurants each offering a unique experience. One of the best of these is Fergusson Winery & Restaurant, which takes the philosophy of a hearty, home-cooked meal to new heights. Menu highlights include the braised lamb shank which is served with roasted root vegetables, chargrilled kangaroo fillet paired with a cranberry & muscat glaze, and house-made pie of the day dished up with delicious chutney and chips. Complete your experience with a decadent double chocolate tim-tam tart served with ice cream. Another highlight is the Dixons Creek Cafe, Bar & Grill, open seven days a week for lunch and dinner, and serving up all-time favourites including steak, seafood and pasta, accompanied by the best in local beer and wine. There are plenty of beautiful hotels you can book in the area if you fancy having a couple of drinks, or you can easily book a Melbourne hotel and do a daytrip from there.
What to Do
In terms of what to do, the best place to start is the wine trail. If you’re planning on staying in Melbourne, the closest subregion to the CBD is the north-west corner of the Yarra Valley which centres on the Kangaroo Ground and Panton Hill townships. This area is also home to some of the best of the family-owned wineries, and it’s nice to think you’re supporting them as opposed to a large corporation. Wedgetail Estate and Lovegrove are two of the ones you can’t miss in this particular area. If it is at all possible to eventually get sick of wine tasting, make the time to put on your walking shoes and explore the beautiful Yarra countryside. It’s a beautiful scenic area, full of fruit farms, native Australian bush and native Australian wildlife. Post-wandering, if you fancy taking a walk on the cultural side of life, the various art galleries around the Yarra are also worth a visit. The TarraWarra Museum of Art is particularly noteworthy, existing as a non-for-profit institution showcasing Aussie art from the second half of the 20th century right through to today. The permanent collection houses items by leading Australian artists including Brett Whiteley, Russell Drysdale, Susan Norrie and Alun Leach-Jones. Check out the website to see what temporary exhibitions are on at the time you plan to go!
Image by angelocesare from Flickr’s Creative Commons
About the Author: Kellie Pinkman is a second-year viticulture student studying in Melbourne.
