Chocolate and wine tasting tour in the Yarra Valley.

The best part of this outing is the mix: you get three Yarra Valley wineries, a chocolate factory, and an underground Aboriginal art gallery in one day. Adrian, the owner and guide, drives from Melbourne and stays with the group rather than handing you over to a separate bus driver.

I like the small-group feel, with a Mercedes-Benz eight-seater for many departures, and I like the freedom to choose lunch at St Huberts instead of being tied to a set meal. The main drawback is that lunch costs extra, and a seven-and-a-half-hour day gives you only a taste of each winery rather than a slow afternoon at one estate.

Key points at a glance

• More than 10 wine tastes: Sample cool-climate Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz and other Australian wines at three estates.
• A useful chocolate break: The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie includes chocolate samples and ice cream options for a change of pace.
• A personal guide: Adrian runs the tour himself and provides the transport and commentary throughout the day.
• A choice of lunch: Buy wood-fired pizza, fish, beef, chicken or side dishes at St Huberts, with dietary needs catered for.
• A special art stop: The underground Aboriginal Art Gallery at St Huberts adds something beyond food and wine.
• Simple city logistics: Meet at 9:30 a.m. outside the Ian Potter Centre at Federation Square, then return to the same point around 4 or 4:30 p.m.

Why this Yarra Valley day works

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, but far enough away to feel like a proper change of scene. The drive takes about an hour each way, leaving roughly five and a half hours for tastings, food, scenery and the chocolate stop.

This is not just a winery shuttle. The day has several different notes. Wine takes the main role, with more than 10 tastings across three estates. Chocolate gives you a sweeter interlude. St Huberts adds an Aboriginal art gallery and lunch choices. That variety matters if everyone in your group does not share the same level of interest in wine.

The tour is also a practical choice for anyone who does not want to drive after tasting. The price is $63.83 per person, including transport, the guide, entry to the wineries, wine tastings, bottled water and chocolate samples. Lunch is the main extra expense. For a full-day outing with three cellar doors and a dedicated guide, the price is fair, though it is worth remembering that the tour is designed as an introduction rather than a luxury food-and-wine experience.

Meeting Adrian at Federation Square

The day begins at 9:30 a.m. outside the Ian Potter Centre at the National Gallery of Victoria Australia, at Federation Square on Flinders Street near Russell Street. The pickup point is by the roadside bus parking area.

This central meeting place is handy if you are staying in Melbourne’s city centre or arriving by public transport. You should allow a little time to find the exact roadside pickup area, since Federation Square has several entrances and busy foot traffic.

Adrian is the owner and guide. That detail changes the feel of the trip. You are not simply placed on a vehicle with a driver and sent from one tasting room to the next. Adrian says he escorts the group himself and holds Victorian government driver and bus accreditation.

Transport is in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz Valente with eight seats, or a Toyota tour bus when the group is larger. The maximum group size is 16 people. The smaller vehicle should feel more personal, while the larger bus gives the operator room to accommodate more bookings. Either way, you have a designated driver, so the wine tasting can remain the focus.

St Huberts Estate: wine, lunch and Aboriginal art

St Huberts is the first stop and one of the fuller parts of the day. You can taste wine, look around the estate, buy lunch and visit the underground Aboriginal Art Gallery.

The wine program focuses on the kinds of varieties that make the Yarra Valley well known: cool-climate Pinot, Chardonnay and Shiraz, along with other Australian wines. You will be introduced to the wines as you taste them, rather than simply being handed a list of samples. Across the day, the total comes to more than 10 wines.

The art gallery gives this stop a different purpose. You are taken underground to see Aboriginal art, so the visit is not limited to tasting rooms and vineyard views. The supplied details do not specify the artists, collection size or length of the gallery visit, so you should treat it as an included introduction rather than a full museum tour.

Lunch is not included, but you are given freedom to choose from the St Huberts menu. Options include wood-fired pizza, fish, beef, chicken and several side dishes. Dietary restrictions are catered for, which is useful in a mixed group where a fixed winery lunch could be limiting.

The advantage of this arrangement is flexibility. You can spend according to your appetite and choose a meal that suits you. The trade-off is that the final cost of the day will vary, and lunch time competes with wine tasting and the gallery visit. If you want to eat slowly, you may have less time to browse.

Chocolate at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

The second stop is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Ice Creamery. Chocolate samples are included, giving you a small sweet course between winery visits.

This is a smart addition to the schedule. Wine tasting can become repetitive when every stop follows the same pattern, especially for anyone in your party who is interested in the valley but not eager to taste wine all day. The chocolate factory provides a clear change of subject and a chance to reset your palate.

You may also find ice cream and other chocolate products available to buy, although the included benefit is the sampling. Do not confuse this with a full dessert or meal. It is a short tasting stop within a larger food-and-wine day.

For families or mixed-age groups, the chocolate visit may be one of the most broadly appealing parts of the tour. The tour information does not promise child-specific activities, so parents should view it as a general factory and tasting stop rather than a dedicated family attraction.

Soumah of the Yarra Valley

Soumah is the third stop. The emphasis returns to wine, with tastings included in the tour price and an introduction to the wines served.

At Soumah, you can expect another chance to compare the region’s cool-climate styles with what you tried at St Huberts. Pinot, Chardonnay and Shiraz are specifically named among the wines offered across the day, but the exact lineup can change. You may find other varieties as well.

Three winery stops are useful for comparison. A single tasting tells you what one producer does. Three tastings let you notice differences in style, setting and presentation. You do not need a detailed knowledge of Australian wine to benefit. Pay attention to which wines you prefer and ask Adrian or the tasting-room staff about them.

The limitation is time. This is a scheduled day trip, not an open-ended winery crawl. You will not have unlimited time to sit with one bottle, inspect every building or wander independently through the property. If your ideal wine holiday means lingering at one estate for hours, a private or single-winery visit may suit you better.

Greenstone Vineyards and the final tasting

Greenstone Vineyards is the final listed winery stop. By this point, you will have tasted at least two producers and visited the chocolate factory, so Greenstone gives you one more comparison before the return journey.

The final stop can be useful for narrowing down your favorites. If you discover that you prefer Pinot to Shiraz, or Chardonnay to red wine, this is another chance to test that preference. You can also buy wine at the estates if you find something you want to take home, though the tour information does not state shipping or luggage arrangements.

A practical tip is to pace yourself. More than 10 tastings over a day can add up, even when portions are small. Use the bottled water provided, eat lunch, and remember that you do not have to finish every pour. The point is to taste and compare, not to treat the day as a drinking contest.

The scenery between Melbourne and the wineries

The one-hour drive from Melbourne is part of the appeal. You leave the city centre and spend the day among vineyards and broad valley views. The tour description highlights the scenery and views, but it does not promise specific photo stops or a separate scenic walk.

That means you should enjoy the scenery mainly from the vehicle and at the winery properties. If photography is a major goal, ask Adrian about opportunities during the day, but do not book this expecting a hiking or sightseeing tour.

The air-conditioned vehicle is especially useful in summer. You avoid the trouble of navigating rural roads, finding parking and arranging a safe drive home after tastings. The return is scheduled for around 4 to 4:30 p.m., though the exact timing can depend on the group and the road.

What the $63.83 price really covers

At $63.83 per person, this tour is priced as an accessible shared outing rather than an upscale wine package. You receive transport from central Melbourne, a guide for the day, entry to all three wineries, wine tastings, water and chocolate samples.

That is a solid bundle. The cost of independent transport can be significant, and driving yourself means one person must stay sober. You also avoid planning a route between three separate winery properties.

Lunch is not included, so budget separately for it. St Huberts offers a broad menu, but the price of your meal depends on what you order. Wine purchases are also extra. The package is best value if you want several tastings and a guide, not if you plan to buy a large amount of wine or spend freely on food.

The tour is booked an average of 19 days ahead, which suggests that advance planning is sensible, especially for a preferred date. Confirmation is provided at booking, and mobile ticketing keeps the arrangements simple.

Who should book this tour

I would choose this outing if you are staying in Melbourne and want a straightforward first look at the Yarra Valley without renting a car. It suits couples, friends, solo visitors and Melbourne residents who want a ready-made day in the wine country.

It is also a good match for a group with mixed interests. Wine lovers get three estates and more than 10 tastings. People less interested in wine get chocolate, lunch choices and Aboriginal art. The freedom lunch is useful for vegetarians and anyone with dietary restrictions, since you choose from the menu rather than receiving one fixed dish.

The tour is less suitable if you want a slow, highly focused wine education. Three wineries, a factory and a gallery make for a varied day, but the schedule will feel active. It is also not the right pick if you want a private vehicle, a custom route or a long vineyard walk.

The maximum group size is 16. Most people can participate, and service animals are allowed. The available information does not describe wheelchair access or vehicle accessibility, so you should confirm those details before booking if they matter to you.

Cancellation and timing tips

You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the 9:30 a.m. start time. Changes made less than 24 hours before departure are not accepted, and a late cancellation is not refunded.

The tour needs a minimum number of participants. If that minimum is not reached, you will be offered another date or experience, or receive a full refund.

Plan to return to the same Federation Square meeting point around 4 to 4:30 p.m. Because the schedule includes a long drive and several stops, avoid booking an evening commitment that cannot move.

Should you book the Yarra Valley wine and chocolate tour?

Book it if you want a varied, well-priced day from Melbourne with wine, chocolate, lunch freedom and a little art. Adrian’s personal involvement is a real plus, and the Mercedes-Benz vehicle can make the trip feel more intimate when the group is small.

Skip it if your priority is a private wine itinerary, extended time at one vineyard or a meal included in the headline price. For most first-time visitors to the Yarra Valley, though, the balance is appealing: three wineries, more than 10 tastings, a chocolate stop and no need to drive.

FAQ

Where does the tour start?

The tour starts at 9:30 a.m. outside the Ian Potter Centre at NGV Australia, Federation Square, Flinders Street and Russell Street, Melbourne.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the same meeting point in Melbourne.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about seven hours and 30 minutes. Departure is at 9:30 a.m., with return scheduled for around 4 to 4:30 p.m.

How many wineries do you visit?

The current summer program visits three wineries: St Huberts Estate, Soumah of the Yarra Valley and Greenstone Vineyards.

Is lunch included?

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

What is included in the price?

The price includes wine tastings, entry to the wineries, an air-conditioned vehicle, the tour guide, bottled water, chocolate samples and access to the Aboriginal Art Gallery at St Huberts.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start time are not accepted, and the amount paid is not refunded.