Wine and chocolate, in one smooth day.

This Yarra Valley day trip mixes multiple winery tastings with chocolate and even optional gin or whisky, so you get variety instead of just more of the same. I like the Soumah-style cool-climate focus early in the day, plus the way the tour keeps changing flavors as you move through the valley.

The one thing to watch: this is a public group tour, so you must be at the pickup on time. If you’re late, you may miss the departure, and the group won’t wait.

Key takeaways before you go

• Five tasting-style stops across wine, beer/cider, spirits add-ons, and chocolate
• Soumah first gives you a strong start with reds and whites shaped by cool-climate viticulture
• St Huberts flexibility: you can switch to beer or cider, and gin/whisky tasting can be added for a small fee
• Chocolaterie guided tasting includes 10 chocolate samples, then you can top up with gelato
• Balgownie ends the day with views and one more round of wine tastings
• Music on the drive: coolers and water onboard, plus a Spotify-style playlist where you can join in

Getting to the Yarra: fast, fixed, and very time-aware

This tour is built for a full day without the usual “wait around” feeling. You start in Melbourne at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia on Flinders Street, with pickup around 8:40am and a prompt 9:00am departure. Even though some days may leave a touch earlier if everyone is ready, the rule stays simple: when the bus leaves, it leaves.

To make it painless, I’d aim to arrive well before 8:35am. It’s also easier if you use trams in the CBD since they’re free, and you don’t get stuck hunting for parking or trusting a last-minute taxi. This tour doesn’t do slow-moving patience, so your best move is showing up early and relaxed.

Soumah of Yarra Valley: the cool-climate warm-up (10:15am vibe)

Your first winery stop is Soumah of Yarra Valley, where you get about 45 minutes for tasting. Expect a red-and-white lineup, and a focus on how cool conditions help the wines keep character and freshness. The winery’s style is described as channeling varieties typical of northern Italy and southeastern France, which is a neat way to understand why you might notice familiar flavor patterns if you know those wine regions.

Why I like this start: it’s early enough that you still have a clean palate. By the time you’re moving through multiple tastings later, you’ll be glad you began with a guided, structured pour rather than guessing at what to try.

St Huberts Cellar Door: wine, beer/cider, and spirits (your choice)

Next comes St Huberts Cellar Door, and this is where the tour adds flexibility. You get about four of their well-known wines, and there’s an alternative if you don’t want wine that day. The tour says you can swap to a can of beer or cider, which is a simple way to keep the tasting fun without forcing it.

Then there’s the standout option for people who want something different: a gin or whisky tasting can be added for a small fee. That turns the day from a standard wine loop into a more “spirits-meets-wine” sampler, which is exactly why this tour fits the people who get bored when every stop is the same.

Hubert Estate lunch: Quarters Restaurant timing and the practical bits

Lunch is tied to Hubert Estate, specifically Quarters Restaurant at 12:30pm. This part matters because it’s not included in price; you order and pay for your own lunch and drinks. The good news: dietary requirements are catered for, and the menu is described as fantastic with options for everyone.

There are two practical considerations to plan for:

• On weekends, there’s a surcharge on lunch.
• You can bring your own food, but the tour notes you can’t eat it on Hubert Estate grounds.

I also like that the tour gives you a secondary option at lunch time. If you want a more fine-dining approach, you can instead do lunch at Domaine Chandon, but you must coordinate the reservation timing with the tour first since it can affect the group’s St Huberts wine tasting time. In plain terms: choose your vibe for lunch, and understand it can shift what you see with the rest of the group.

Chocolaterie tasting: the 10-chocolate guide that resets your palate

Around 2:00pm, you switch from vineyards to dessert at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. You get a guided tasting of 10 different chocolates, which is a fun change of pace and also useful for learning how sweetness, cocoa intensity, and texture can shift your palate.

After the guided part, you can buy gelato in a generous portion. This is a smart mid-afternoon move because it’s chilled, quick, and helps you re-focus for the last round of tastings without feeling weighed down.

If chocolate isn’t your thing, tell your driver. The tour says they can take you to Yarrawood Estate Winery instead, where you can buy yourself a glass of wine. It’s one of those “tell us early and we’ll try to work with you” touches that can make the day feel less rigid.

Balgownie Estate: finish with wine tastings and big-valley views

Your final stop is Balgownie Estate Vineyard Resort & Spa, arriving around 2:45pm. This is where the tour leans into scenery along with the tasting, with the day’s closer designed to feel like a reward: wine tastings, a view, and time to slow down before heading back.

I especially like a final stop like this because you can steer yourself toward your favorites from earlier. If you noticed you enjoy Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, sparkling styles, or whatever you gravitated to, this is the moment to double-check what you liked and bring home a mental list.

Then you head back to Melbourne, arriving in the CBD between 4:55pm and 5:20pm. You finish at 30 Flinders St, so it’s generally easy to connect to trams or walk depending on where you’re staying.

Price and value: what $92 covers, and what it doesn’t

At $92 per person for about 8 hours, the value comes from the structure: you’re paying for transportation plus the day’s tasting experiences. The tour includes tastings at at least four venues, covering wine and also beer/chocolate, with the chocolate tasting and optional spirit add-ons building out the flavor variety.

What’s not included is lunch. You buy lunch at Quarters Restaurant on Hubert Estate (or you can arrange a different lunch booking at Chandon). That’s totally normal for day tours, but it means your true budget depends on what you choose to eat.

Here’s how to make the math work for you:

• If you plan to buy extra bottles later, this kind of guided tasting day can help you narrow what you actually want.
• If you’re the type who enjoys trying beer or adding gin or whisky, the price feels more like a sampler day than a single-winery outing.
• If you’re skipping any extra purchases and just enjoying the included tastings, you still get a lot of organized “sampling time” in one trip.

Guides and group vibe: why the day feels fun, not rushed

The tour’s reputation leans heavily on the human factor: guides who keep things moving while still talking through what you’re tasting. Names that come up often include David, Matt, Gilberto, Tom, and Richard, and the consistent theme is energy. People also highlight that the guides help keep the group engaged and that there’s room to adjust if you’d rather do beer/cider instead of wine or swap out the chocolate stop.

The bus side matters too. You get an air-conditioned vehicle, plus chilled coolers and waters onboard. There’s also music sharing, with a Spotify playlist and room for your song pick on the drive home. It’s a small detail, but it changes the mood from “captive transportation” to “day trip.”

Who this tour suits best (and who should pick something else)

This is a strong fit if you want a lot of tasting variety without doing the driving yourself. You get wine from multiple wineries, the chocolate tasting is planned rather than a random stop, and the spirit option (gin or whisky add-on) gives you a reason to book beyond basic vineyard tours.

It also makes sense if you’re visiting Melbourne and the weather is unpredictable. The tour even calls out that it works well when it’s raining all day, because you’re inside wineries and guided tastings for most of the day rather than doing long outdoor walking.

It may be less ideal if you hate group schedules. This is a shared public tour, so everyone follows the same timing unless you choose the defined options (like the lunch swap or the chocolate-to-winery change).

Also note the limits: the tour isn’t suitable for children under 7, and it restricts items like pets, oversize luggage, strollers, and mobility scooters. If you travel with lots of gear or need specific equipment, you should check what you can bring before you go.

Should you book this Yarra Valley wine, gin, whisky and chocolate tour?

I’d book it if you want an easy day trip where tastings drive the schedule: Soumah, St Huberts, a Hubert Estate lunch, then the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie guided tasting, finishing at Balgownie with views. The mix of wine plus chocolate, and the option to include gin or whisky, makes it feel like you’re doing more than one “experience” in a single day.

Skip it if you prefer a slow, custom tour where you can wander freely at each stop, or if group timing will stress you out. The biggest make-or-break factor is showing up on time for the prompt 9:00am departure.

If you do book, my best practical advice is simple: arrive early at NGV Australia, drink the water onboard, and tell your guide about any swaps you want (beer/cider instead of wine, or changing the chocolate stop) so you can enjoy the day your way.

FAQ

How long is the Melbourne to Yarra Valley tour?

It runs for about 8 hours.

Where do I meet the group in Melbourne?

Meet at The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia on Flinders Street (directly opposite 154 Flinders Street). The tour leaves promptly at 9:00am.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is available to purchase at Quarters Restaurant at Hubert Estate, or you can arrange a separate lunch booking at Domaine Chandon.

What tastings are included?

Wine tastings and chocolate are included, and tastings at least four venues cover wine, beer, and chocolate. A gin or whisky tasting can be added for a small fee at St Huberts.

How many stops are there during the day?

There are five main venues for tastings, with the day also including lunch and the final wine tasting stop with views.

Can I switch from the chocolate stop to another winery?

Yes. If you don’t want the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie experience, tell your driver at lunch and they can take you to Yarrawood Estate Winery instead.

Is this tour suitable for kids?

No, it’s not suitable for children under 7 years.

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