Wining and Dining in Yarra Valley
Yarra Valley has been on my bucket list for a while now, since a friend posted a few Instagram stories of their weekend away and I became so envious I nearly unfollowed them. Just a short drive out of Melbourne, it is perfect for a weekend, or even just a day trip, but in reality, you’ll want a week. It is the quintessential wine region, with rolling hills, mild weather, and stunning views that do their best to outshine the majesty of the grapes.
Wine is obviously the primary drawcard. Nationally recognised names such as De Bortoli and St Huberts The Stag welcome thousands of visitors to their cellar doors each year, but you don’t have to look far to discover something new to treat your palette. Yering Station do an incredible shiraz, and Payten & Joneshave come up with a chardonnay so drinkable, that any plans to cellar it for a few years will come undone as it undoubtedly won’t make it that far. Medhurst is also a treat, with its single block pinot noir coming highly recommended (though we didn’t make it, as the toddler was nearing meltdown zone).
There is more to life than wine though (hear me out), and there is far more to Yarra Valley. Gin lovers will be familiar with Four Pillars Gin Distillery. They offer a four-pronged tasting paddle for $15, that showcases their line and will leave you with a dangerous thirst for more gin. It can get busy, but their wonderfully knowledgeable and friendly staff will make you feel completely at home. We only left with one bottle, but that required an immense amount of self-control.
Just a short walk down the road, you’ll find Watts River Brewing, which is a must for beer fans, craft or otherwise. They do cheap and simple pizzas and their pale ale is one of the best I’ve had in a while. There is, of course, a beer paddle to try, and if they still have the Red Mist IPA (it was a special), definitely give it a go (I suggest you get someone else to drive though).
Tired of all the booze and need to walk it off? The Healesville Sanctuary is a stroll through the Australian bush, with pretty much every native animal you could want to see, all in one spot, including echidnas, Tassie devils and even a few platypuses (or platypodes, to use the Greek). If you want to pay a bit extra, you can go behind the scenes with the keepers or even enjoy one-on-one time with some of the animals. We were lucky enough to be there on a quiet day and were invited to do a kangaroo close-up, as they needed to train some new staff. It was great for the little one, and I don’t mind admitting I quite enjoyed it too.
You’ll need some food to soak up all that grog. Try My Little Kitchen for breakfast (The Zucchini & Mint Fritters are tip-top) or Innocent Bystander for lunch – nearly everyone we spoke to recommended this to us. The iconic Healesville Hotel is also great for lunch and dinner. There are endless options though, and half the fun is finding them yourself!
Words by Alasdair McClintock (@aldothewriter)