Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley.

Wine, chocolate, and mountain views in one day. This Yarra Valley outing packs three wineries, more than 10 wine tastings, chocolate samples, and an Aboriginal art gallery into a 7.5-hour trip from central Melbourne. I especially like the small-group feel and the fact that Adrian, the owner, drives and guides the tour himself rather than handing you over to a separate driver.

I also like the freedom at lunch. You can choose your own meal at St Hubert’s Estate, including wood-fired pizza and several other dishes, instead of being locked into one fixed menu. The main consideration is time: three wineries, a chocolate factory, lunch, and an art gallery make for a full day, not a slow, leisurely wine-country ramble.

Key points at a glance

• Three Yarra Valley wineries: Taste Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and other Australian wines at St Hubert’s Estate, Soumah, and Greenstone Vineyards.
• Chocolate stop included: The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery provides chocolate samples and a welcome change from the wine tastings.
• Aboriginal art at St Hubert’s: The tour includes access to an underground gallery showcasing Aboriginal art.
• Owner-led transport: Adrian personally guides the day in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz eight-seater or a Toyota tour bus for larger groups.
• Lunch is your choice: Food costs extra, but St Hubert’s offers pizza, fish, beef, chicken, side dishes, and options for dietary restrictions.
• Simple city pickup: Meet at 9:30 a.m. outside the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, then return there around 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Why this makes a good day trip from Melbourne

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a practical day trip, but far enough away to feel like a change of scene. The drive from the city takes about an hour, leaving plenty of time for tastings and stops before the return journey.

I like the way this tour combines several different experiences. You are not spending the entire day moving from one tasting room to another. Wine is the main theme, but chocolate and Aboriginal art give the day some variety. That matters if you are travelling with someone who enjoys food, scenery, or culture more than wine alone.

The schedule begins at 9:30 a.m. and ends around 4 to 4:30 p.m. That is a useful middle ground. You avoid a painfully early start, yet you still return to Melbourne with part of the evening available.

The tour has a maximum of 16 people. Smaller departures use a Mercedes-Benz eight-seater, while larger groups travel in a Toyota tour bus. The vehicle depends on the group size, so you should not assume the Mercedes is guaranteed. Either way, transport is air-conditioned, and bottled water is included.

Starting at Federation Square

The pickup point is outside the Ian Potter Centre, the NGV Australia building at Federation Square, near Flinders Street and Russell Street. It is a central meeting place, but you should allow a little extra time to find the roadside bus parking area.

The tour ends at the same meeting point. That makes the day easy to plan if you are staying in central Melbourne or using public transport. The experience is also near public transportation, and service animals are allowed.

Adrian is the guide and driver for the day. That personal setup is one of the more appealing parts of the trip. You are not simply being loaded onto a bus and passed between different staff members. Adrian describes the wineries, introduces the wines, and escorts the group at each stop.

That can make the day feel more connected. It also means the quality of the experience depends in part on the group and on Adrian’s guiding style. The small-business approach feels personal, but it is less standardized than a large commercial coach excursion.

St Hubert’s Estate and the Aboriginal art gallery

The first stop is St Hubert’s Estate, where the tour begins its wine tastings. You can expect an introduction to several wines, including varieties such as Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz. More than 10 tastings are included across the day.

St Hubert’s is also the lunch stop. Food is not included in the tour price, but you can choose from a full menu rather than receiving a preset meal. The choices include wood-fired pizza, fish, beef, chicken, and side dishes. Dietary restrictions are catered for, which is useful for a mixed group.

The lunch arrangement gives you control over both price and appetite. You can choose a substantial meal if you need one, or keep things lighter after the tastings. The tradeoff is that you must budget extra for food, and the final cost will depend on what you order.

A particularly unusual part of this stop is the underground Aboriginal art gallery. This gives the visit more cultural weight than a standard winery lunch. The gallery showcases Aboriginal art, offering a quiet change of pace before the day continues with more wine.

I would pay attention to the schedule here. St Hubert’s includes wine, lunch, and the gallery, so this stop may feel fuller than the others. If the group takes its time with food or art, the day could feel quite structured later on.

Chocolate at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The second stop is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Chocolate samples are included, so you can taste without adding another charge to the day.

This is a smart pairing with the wineries. Wine tasting can become repetitive if every stop follows the same pattern, while chocolate gives your palate and attention a different focus. It also makes the tour more appealing for anyone in your group who is not especially interested in wine.

The stop is best viewed as a tasting visit rather than a long independent shopping period, since the available information does not specify how much free time you receive there. You might find chocolate gifts, ice cream, or other treats available for purchase, but only the samples are confirmed as included.

I like this stop because it keeps the day from becoming overly serious. You can enjoy the wine at the cellar doors, then switch to something sweeter and more casual before returning to vineyard tastings.

Soumah and cool-climate Australian wine

Soumah is the third stop and another chance to taste wines from the Yarra Valley. The region is known internationally for cool-climate wines, especially Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz.

That climate context helps explain why the tour focuses on these varieties. You are not just sampling random bottles. The tastings introduce you to grapes that are strongly associated with the region’s wine identity.

The tour includes an introduction to the wines, so you should receive more than a glass placed in front of you. Still, the experience is designed for tasting, not for an in-depth wine course. If you already know a great deal about Australian wine, you may want more technical detail than this format provides.

For most people, the advantage is ease. You can taste a range of wines without arranging separate cellar-door visits or worrying about driving afterward. The guide handles the route, and the group moves together.

Greenstone Vineyards and the final tastings

Greenstone Vineyards is the last winery on the planned route. By this stage, you will have tasted wine at St Hubert’s and Soumah, so Greenstone gives you a final chance to compare styles and preferences.

I recommend keeping your pace sensible from the first tasting onward. More than 10 wines over a day can add up, even when each pour is modest. Eat lunch, drink the supplied water, and do not feel obliged to finish every sample if you want to stay comfortable for the drive back.

The final winery also gives you a chance to decide what you genuinely like. Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz may taste quite different from one producer to another. You can buy wine if you wish, but purchases are not included in the tour price and should be treated as optional extras.

The itinerary names three wineries. The general description also uses broader wording about visiting several of the area’s best wineries, so I would rely on the detailed route of St Hubert’s Estate, Soumah, and Greenstone Vineyards when deciding if this tour suits you.

What the $63.83 price really covers

At $63.83 per person, this is a strong value if you want a full day outside Melbourne without arranging a car. The price includes transportation, the guide, entry to the wineries, wine tastings, bottled water, chocolate samples, and access to the Aboriginal art gallery.

That bundle matters in the Yarra Valley. A self-guided day would require transport between separate sites, a designated driver, and individual tasting fees. Here, those practical concerns are handled together.

Lunch is the main extra cost. You also pay separately for any wine, chocolate, ice cream, or other purchases. The total remains reasonable if you treat lunch and shopping as flexible choices, but it can rise if you order a full meal and buy bottles at several stops.

The low price also comes with a fairly active schedule. You are paying for range and convenience rather than a private, slow-paced wine retreat. If you want long conversations with one winemaker or extended time at each vineyard, a smaller private tour may suit you better.

Group size, comfort, and the road time

The maximum group size is 16, which is smaller than many standard day coaches. A group of that size can still feel social without becoming enormous, especially when the guide stays with you at each stop.

Groups of eight or fewer may travel in the Mercedes-Benz Valante. Larger groups use the Toyota tour bus. Both are air-conditioned, but the exact vehicle depends on the number of bookings.

The drive from Melbourne takes about an hour each way. That is enough time to settle in, look out at the changing scenery, and listen to the guide’s introduction. It is also a reminder that roughly two hours of the 7.5-hour experience are spent in transit.

That travel time is reasonable for the Yarra Valley, but it affects how much time you receive at the wineries. The tour works best if you want a broad taste of the region in one day, not if you plan to linger at one property.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would recommend this outing to first-time Yarra Valley visitors, couples, small groups of friends, and Melbourne residents who want an easy introduction to the region. It also suits mixed-interest groups because the day includes wine, chocolate, food, scenery, and Aboriginal art.

You do not need to be a wine expert. The guide introduces the wines, and the range of varieties gives you a chance to compare without needing specialist knowledge.

The tour may be less suitable if you dislike fixed schedules, prefer a private vehicle, or want complete control over how long you stay at each winery. It may also feel busy if your ideal wine day includes long breaks between tastings.

Most people can participate, and the tour accepts service animals. The experience requires a minimum number of bookings to operate. If that minimum is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Booking timing and cancellation

The tour is commonly booked about 19 days ahead, so I would reserve early if your Melbourne dates are fixed. That is especially sensible if you want a particular date or are travelling with a group.

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted for a refund. The cutoff uses Melbourne local time, so check the clock carefully if you are booking from another time zone.

Should you book the Yarra Valley wine and chocolate tour?

Book it if you want a well-priced, all-in-one day with several wine tastings, a chocolate stop, lunch freedom, and a cultural visit. The owner-led format, central pickup, included transport, and maximum group size of 16 make it easier than planning the valley yourself.

I would especially choose it for a first visit to the Yarra Valley or for a group with different interests. The main warning is the busy schedule and the extra cost of lunch and purchases. If you want a relaxed private wine experience, choose something slower. If you want variety and convenience for $63.83, this tour makes a convincing case.

FAQ

Where does the tour leave from?

It starts outside the Ian Potter Centre, NGV Australia, at Federation Square on Flinders Street and Russell Street in Melbourne.

What time does the tour begin and end?

The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. and returns to the meeting point around 4 to 4:30 p.m. The total duration is approximately 7 hours and 30 minutes.

Which wineries are included?

The planned route includes St Hubert’s Estate, Soumah of the Yarra Valley, and Greenstone Vineyards.

Is lunch included in the price?

No. Lunch is purchased separately at St Hubert’s Estate, which offers pizza, fish, beef, chicken, side dishes, and options for dietary restrictions.

How many wines will I taste?

The tour includes more than 10 wine tastings, including Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and other Australian wines.

Is transport included?

Yes. Transport in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz eight-seater or a Toyota tour bus for larger groups is included, along with the tour guide, winery entry, bottled water, chocolate samples, and access to the Aboriginal art gallery.