Wines of the Yarra Valley

Non traditional varieties are now making an impact in this historic wine region

The Yarra Valley Wine region lies on the immediate east of the suburbs of Melbourne. 

Varieties in the Yarra Valley

The wines of the Yarra Valley are dominated by the major grape varieties especially the red varieties Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir and Merlot, while the whites are dominated by Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc with a supporting role played by Semillon. This cool climate area also has a growing reputation for the production of high quality sparkling wines.

However there are rich pickings for those of us who look for our vinous pleasures outside this narrow range of classic varietals.

There are more than a hundred wineries operating in this region, all but a handful can be described as small or medium. Less than a quarter are growing varieties not mentioned above. The proximity to Melbourne makes this region eminently suitable for cellar door sales.

Many of the wineries of the Yarra Valley have fine restaurants. The scenic beauty of the area adds to the appeal for daytrippers from the nearly eastern suburbs of Melbourne. But don't be mistaken - this area can hold it head high in any company on the quality of the wines it produces.

Nebbiolo at Soumah in the Yarra Valley

Victorian wineries on Pinterest

I have a Pinboard showing some of the wineries in Victoria who use alternative varieties.

Yarra valley History

Perhaps more than any other Australian wine region the Yarra Valley has had a stop-start history. It was first established in the 1850's by Swiss immigrants encouraged by Charles La Trobe the Governor of Victoria, and his Swiss born wife. There followed a golden era dominated by Hubert de Castella who won prizes for his wine at the great exhibitions in Australia and Europe during the 1880s. descendants of these Swiss people are still active in the Australian wine industry.

A period of decline then occurred so then eventually, by the end of the 1920s, no wine was produced in the region then known as Lilydale. The decline was caused by economic factors, rather than the Phylloxera pest. There was virtually no market for fine wine in Australia. The former vineyards were given over to dairying and other agricultural enterprises, exploiting the mild climate, rich soils and proximity to the growing city of Melbourne.

By the early 1970s the region was almost forgotten as a wine region but Len Evans was able to write in his Australia and New Zealand Complete Book of Wine - 

"In recent years some devotees have begun new plantings in an attempt to recreate old glories, so we may yet discover for ourselves just how good the wines of Lilydale are."

Well over a hundred wineries are now all striving to recreate those glories. Small operations lead the way from about 1970 onwards and later larger companies have moved in. They include such names as Treasury Wine Estates, De Bortoli, Hardys, and McWilliams.

An international dimension was added by Domaine Chandon, a wholly owned operation of Moet and Chandon, the largest Champagne producer in France. In fact, the sparkling wines of the Yarra Valley rival those of Northern Tasmania for the role of the premier sparkling wines of Australia.

Yarra Valley Pinot Noir, Shiraz and Chardonnay are also represented among the top wines for their classes.

So we can say that the 'Lilydale Revival' has certainly succeeded.

More recently alternative varieties are finding a role as the list below demonstrates.

Alternative varieties in the Yarra Valley

• Alkimi Wines Marsanne, Roussanne
• Allinda Savagnin
• Arfion Gewurztraminer, Nebbiolo, Savagnin
• Atika Tempranillo
• Badgers Brook Marsanne, Roussanne, Tempranillo
• Ben Haines Wiens Marsanne, Nebbiolo, Roussanne
• Bird On A Wire Marsanne, Nebbiolo
• Boat O'Craigo Gewurztraminer, Gruner Veltliner, Roter Veltliner
• Brumfield Marsanne
• Bulong Estate Cabernet Franc
• Buttermans Track Sangiovese
• Carlei Estate Barbera, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
• Coombe Farm Vineyard Marsanne, Savagnin
• Cosmo Wines Verduzzo
• DCB Wine Nebbiolo, Zinfandel
• Denton Viewhill Vineyard Nebbiolo, Ribolla Gialla
• Emilian Nebbiolo
• Fetherston Albarino, Garganega, Nebbiolo
• Fikkers Wine Meunier, Sangiovese
• Giant Steps Sangiovese
• Helen's Hill Estate Arneis
• Hoddles Creek Estate Pinot blanc
• Innocent Bystander Arneis, Gamay, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Jamsheed Cabernet Franc, Pecorino, Roussanne, Sagrantino, Vermentino
• Jayden Ong Fiano, Nebbiolo
• Journey Wines Fiano
• Killara Estate Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
• Levantine Hill Estate Malbec, Petit Verdot
• Lillydale Estate Gewurztraminer
• Luke Lambert Wines Nebbiolo
• Mac Forbes Wines Aligote, Garganega, Mencia
• Many Hands Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Mayer Gamay, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Mount Mary Cinsaut, Clairette, Marsanne, Muscadelle, Roussanne
• Nillumbik Estate Nebbiolo, Petit Verdot
• Oakridge Arneis, Meunier
• Out of Step Fiano, Nebbiolo
• Patch Arneis, Barbera, Marsanne
• Payton and Jones Sangiovese
• Petronio Arneis, Barbera, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
• Pimpernel Vineyards Marsanne
• Punt Road Wines Gamay
• Rising Cabernet Franc, Gamay
• Rob Dolan Wines Savagnin
• Rochford Wines Cabernet Franc, Nebbiolo, Savagnin
• Route du Van Dolcetto, Vermentino
• Santolin Arneis, Barbera, Carmenere, Friulano, Durif, Gewurztraminer, Nero d’Avola, Sangiovese, Vermentino
• Serrat Barbera, Grenache Blanc, Malbec, Nebbiolo
• Seville Hill Barbera, Sangiovese, Tempranillo
• Shoofly Dolcetto
• Six Acres Fiano
• Soumah Brachetto, Marzemino, Nebbiolo, Savagnin
• Squitchy Lane Wines Cabernet Franc
• St Huberts Pinot Blanc, Roussanne, Sangiovese
• Steels Creek Estate Cabernet Franc, Colombard
• Steels Gate Bastardo, Graciano
• Stefani Estate Pinot Blanc, Sangiovese
• Stuart Wines Nebbiolo, Tempranillo
• Sutherland Estate Gewurztraminer, Tempranillo
• Swipers Gully Verduzzo
• Tarrawarra Estate Barbera, Marsanne, Roussanne
• The Hairy Arm Nebbiolo
• Thick as Theives Arneis, Gamay, Nebbiolo, Nero d’Avola, Pinotage, Sylvaner
• Timo Mayer Gamay
• Tokar Estate Tempranillo
• Valentine Cabernet Franc, Fiano, Greco, Grenache Blanc, Montepulciano
• Warramate Marsanne, Roussanne
• Warramunda Estate Malbec, Marsanne
• Yarra Edge Malbec, Nebbiolo
• Yarra Glen Marsanne
• Yarra Peaks Barbera, Malbec, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese
• Yarra Yering Alvarelhao, Malbec, Souzao, Tempranillo, Tinto Cao, Touriga, Trincadeira, Sangiovese
• Yarraloch Arneis
• Yeringberg Marsanne, Roussanne
• Zonzo Barbera, Fiano, Inzolia, Pecorino, Sagrantino, Sangiovese, Verdicchio

Of note is the Soumah winery which has the Rare Ozzies varieties Marzemino and Brachetto. In the Rare Ozzies book Brett Butcher of Soumah comments on why they use those varieties.

Visiting the Yarra Valley

A guided tour from Mebourne is a great way to see the Yarra Valley. Click image for details

This wine region abuts the outer suburbs of Melbourne so can be easily visited as a one day wine tour. There are so many wineries with cellar door sales and other attractions that staying one or more nights is also an attractive option.

You can combine a wine tour with sightseeing in the Yarra Ranges National Park, the Kinglake National Park, the Healesville Wildlife Sanctuary, or the National Trust's Historic Homestead at Gulf Station.

Accommodation options include hotels, motels, guest houses, cottages and B&B's. Some of the towns which you may consider for an overnight stay include Yarra Glen, Healesville and Warburton. 

Vinodiversity's Hotel service is a great tool for comparing accommodation options in the Yarra Valley.  

Want to learn More About Australian Wine regions?

De Long's Wine Map of Australia

Now available in Digital Format