The Yarra Valley is a stylish, cool climate wine country. The region is home to a host of smart cellar doors and restaurants on the outskirts of Melbourne. It is most widely acclaimed for finely knit, premium pinot noir with bright red berries and silken tannins. High-quality chardonnay with elegance and longevity shares the stage. Sparkling wines from classic varieties have a natural affinity here. Local winery, Domaine Chandon is the Australian outpost of the famous French Champagne house, Moet et Chandon. Other significant styles include velvety cabernet sauvignon which is often paired with cabernet franc and merlot. Seductive syrah (shiraz) is peppered and spicy and is often blended with small percentages of viognier for svelte texture and floral aromatics.
Vines were established in the Yarra Valley as early as 1838, making it Victoria’s oldest and most famous wine region. Today the area boasts a total of 3,600 ha under vine and almost 150 wine producers. The region is commonly divided into the districts of Upper and Lower Yarra Valley. The hills and valleys of the Yarra make up a varied topography and elevations can reach up to 400 metres. Soils range through sandstone in the north, sandy clay loams in the centre and fertile red volcanic in the south. The main town centres in the Yarra Valley include Lilydale, Healesville, Yarra Glen and St Andrews. Major attractions include the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary and Steavonsons Falls in Marysville, the tallest waterfall in the state.
