Into the Valley
Day two, and we were out of the city early on a Go West day tour to the Yarra Valley, about an hour east of Melbourne. It’s wine country: rolling green hills, rows and rows of vines, and in late April, everything turning yellow and red for autumn.
First stop wasn’t wine, though. It was Yarra Farm Fresh, a farm shop full of fruit, veg, jams and honey. The pumpkins here are not orange. They’re pale grey-green, and huge.
Balgownie Estate
The first tasting was at Balgownie Estate, a winery and resort with a deck looking straight out over the vineyard. A few small pours of white and red, cheese and crackers, and that view. Not a bad way to start a Monday.
Rochford and Lunch
Back on the bus, past more vineyards, to Rochford Wines. Another tasting (in proper Rochford glasses), a look at the barrel room, and then lunch: grilled fish, and a hearty plate of meat with roast veg.
Yering Station
The third winery was Yering Station, one of the oldest in Victoria. The cellar door is in the old brick winery building, and the newer restaurant has a terrace with a view over the whole valley, all the way to the mountains.
The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie
And finally, dessert. The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery has free chocolate tastings, a staff member who got very excited about cacao, and a shop where you can easily spend more than you did on the wine. We left with chocolate.
The tour dropped us back in the city before 5pm, just in time for sunset from the Eureka Skydeck.
Information About Yering Station
One of the oldest wineries in Victoria, with a cellar door in the old brick winery building and a modern restaurant looking out over the vines.