Melbourne: Yarra Valley Food, Wine, Chocolate & Gin Tour

The best thing about this Yarra Valley tour is its generous mix. In one day, you move from fresh farm produce to three winery tastings, then finish with 12 chocolates. It gives you a broad taste of the region without asking you to plan several cellar doors yourself.

I like the included bottle of wine for each full-paying adult, and I like the guides’ role in making the drive part of the day. Rick, Bernie, Mel and Melanie are named guides associated with this experience, and the strongest praise goes to their humor, local knowledge, safe driving and ability to keep a mixed group together. The main drawback is that lunch is not included in the $91 price, and the minibus has drawn some complaints about comfort and room for purchases.

Key points to know before you book

• Three winery stops: Taste at St Huberts, Tokar Estate and Rochford Wines, with all listed wine tastings included.
• A bottle comes home with you: Every full-paying adult receives one bottle of wine, a useful extra at this price.
• Lunch needs a budget: Choose an upgrade with wine for $50 per person, or order from the restaurant menu at roughly $25 to $45 per person.
• The day is more than wine: Expect fruit, jam or chutney tastings, optional gin, cheese-related treats in some visits, and 12 chocolates.
• Guides make a difference: Rick, Bernie, Mel and Melanie have been praised for humor, history stories, photos and careful driving.
• This is an active group day: It runs rain or shine, requires at least four people, and is not suitable for children under 14 or wheelchair users.

A full Yarra Valley day from Federation Square

Your meeting point is opposite the Forum Theatre, in front of the Federation Square entrance. Look for the Rick’s Wine Tours bus, and allow a little extra care with the exact pickup point if city construction has changed pedestrian routes.

The bus leaves at 8:30 AM, after arriving around 8:15. The drive to the Yarra Valley takes about an hour. That early start matters because the schedule packs in several stops before returning to Melbourne at about 4:45 PM.

This is not a private tour built around your own pace. It is a shared minibus outing, with fixed tasting times and short transfers between venues. That structure works well if you want to see a lot in one day, but it leaves less room for lingering over a single vineyard or making your own restaurant choice.

The guides help fill the road time with stories about Melbourne, the Yarra Valley and the region’s past. Rick is especially noted for humor and for spotting kangaroos on the route. Bernie has been praised as both a careful driver and a lively host, while Mel and Melanie are known for clear explanations and a warm approach. The exact guide depends on the departure.

Yarra Farm Fresh starts the day with fruit

The first stop, Yarra Farm Fresh, lasts about 25 minutes. You begin with a guided tasting of local fruit, rather than wine, which is a smart choice early in the morning. The fruit gives you a sense of the valley’s farming side and wakes up your palate before the cellar doors.

Expect fresh strawberries and other seasonal produce, with jam and chutney also mentioned as part of the tasting experience. One particularly memorable detail from the day is the size of the strawberries. This is a short stop, so it is more of a tasting introduction than a full farm visit.

You can also buy local products here. That is worth considering if you enjoy edible souvenirs, since the chocolate stop later gives you another chance to shop. Just remember that the minibus may not have much spare room, a practical issue if you plan to buy several bottles and food items.

St Huberts combines wine and art

A short drive brings you to St Huberts Cellar Door, where you taste four premium wines over about 45 minutes. Cellar door staff lead the tasting, so you receive more than a quick pour and a name. The stop is often treated as one of the more polished parts of the day.

The grounds give you a chance to stretch your legs, and you can visit the Indigenous Art Gallery. There is also a Notes Wine Store option for additional wine sampling, included within the visit according to the tour details. That gives you a little freedom after the main tasting, though the schedule still keeps the group moving.

The most useful extra here is your complimentary bottle of wine. Each full-paying adult receives one bottle to take home. The precise bottle or style is not specified, so think of it as a worthwhile included souvenir rather than a promise of a particular vintage.

St Huberts is also where the tour feels least like a simple bus trip from Melbourne. The grounds, gallery and cellar door create a fuller regional visit. If wine presentation and setting matter to you, this stop may be the day’s high point.

Tokar Estate offers a smaller winery feel

Tokar Estate follows at about 11:30 AM. The guided tasting covers three handcrafted wines and lasts roughly 30 minutes. Compared with St Huberts, this is a shorter, more focused stop.

The appeal here is contrast. You are not visiting three identical cellar doors with the same format. Tokar gives you a boutique winery setting and a chance to compare a smaller producer’s style with the broader selection at St Huberts.

Thirty minutes is enough for a guided tasting, but not enough for a slow vineyard wander. If you want extended time at each winery, this schedule may feel brisk. I see it as a useful trade: you get more variety across the valley, along with lunch and chocolate, instead of spending most of the day at two or three properties.

Rochford Wines is the day’s main pause

At Rochford Wines, the schedule includes a 30-minute guided tasting before lunch. This gives you another set of wines to compare while the details of the earlier tastings are still fresh.

The stop then opens into roughly 75 minutes for lunch and free time. This is the longest pause of the day, and it is where you need to make a spending decision. The base tour price does not include lunch, despite some descriptions of the day making the meal sound like part of the main experience.

You have two stated choices:

• Upgrade on the day to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50 per person.
• Order from the restaurant menu, with a suggested budget of $25 to $45 per person.

No BYO lunch is allowed. If you want a proper sit-down meal, the gourmet upgrade is the simplest option, but it raises the day’s cost considerably. At the $91 tour price, adding $50 makes the outing $141 before any gin tasting. Ordering from the regular menu can keep the total lower, though your final bill depends on what you choose.

The food has received strong praise, with specific mentions of a gourmet lunch and good dessert wine. One piece of practical feedback is that the choice of dining venue or restaurant arrangement may not always feel fully flexible, so ask the guide what is available on your departure if the meal matters to you.

After lunch, you have free time at Rochford. This is when you can add the optional gin tasting for $25 per person. Gin is not included, and you do not need to choose it to enjoy the rest of the tour.

The gin option is a good fit if you want more than wine and are comfortable with the extra cost. If you already plan to buy lunch and wine to take home, skipping it is an easy way to protect your budget. Some departures may also include chances to sample cheese or other regional products, but the core advertised stops are wine, fruit and chocolate.

Chocolate finishes the tasting trail

The final tasting stop is the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie, reached after about 25 minutes on the road. You receive 12 artisan chocolate samples, with flavors prepared by the chocolatiers.

This is not merely a quick shop visit. The tasting gives the day a sweet finish and changes the pace after several wine pours. It also suits people in a mixed group who may not be especially interested in wine.

You have about 30 minutes for shopping after the tasting. The shop is useful for gifts, but the setting can be noisy. If you want to hear every explanation, stay close to the person leading the tasting. One reported weakness is that the presentation may take place in the main shop, making it hard to hear when other customers are around.

The chocolate stop is short, yet it earns its place because it adds a different local food experience. I would not book this tour solely for an in-depth chocolate lesson. I would book it because the chocolates round out a day that already includes several kinds of tasting.

What the $91 price really covers

At $91 per person, this is a good value if you want transport, three winery visits, wine tastings, a fruit tasting, chocolate tasting and a bottle of wine without arranging the details yourself.

The value becomes less clear once you add lunch and gin. A realistic day could cost:

• Tour: $91
• Lunch: about $25 to $45 from the restaurant menu, or $50 for the gourmet upgrade
• Optional gin tasting: $25
• Total before extra purchases: about $116 to $166

The bottle of wine helps offset the base cost, especially if you would otherwise pay for a cellar-door tasting and transport separately. The included tastings are also important. You are not paying a low headline price and then facing a fee at every winery.

Still, this is not an all-inclusive food tour. Set aside money for lunch, and do not assume the gin tasting is part of the package. I would also leave room in your bag for the bottle, though the minibus has limited space for purchases according to some practical feedback.

The minibus and the pace

The tour uses comfortable transport in principle, but vehicle comfort appears to vary. Several people praise the driving, while some describe the minibus as tired, uncomfortable or short on space for purchases.

That distinction matters. You spend about two hours on the road in total, including the return trip, and you also make several short transfers. If you are sensitive to tight seating, ask about the vehicle before booking. The route itself is scenic, with historic towns, countryside views, kangaroo sightings and chances to spot Australian wildlife.

The schedule is tightly arranged but not frantic. Tastings last between 25 and 45 minutes, lunch gets the longest break, and the chocolate shop allows time to buy something. You will need to be ready when the guide calls the group back to the bus.

The tour runs rain or shine. That is worth taking seriously because some stops include outdoor grounds and scenic driving. Bring clothing that suits the forecast and shoes you can wear comfortably for standing and walking between tastings.

Who will enjoy this tour most

I would choose this tour if you have only a few days in Melbourne and want a straightforward day in the Yarra Valley. It is especially useful for solo visitors and couples who would rather join a friendly group than arrange a designated driver.

It also suits food-focused visitors. The fruit, wine, lunch, optional gin and chocolate create a broader day than a wine-only outing. You receive enough variety to make the trip feel like an introduction to the region rather than a sequence of identical tastings.

The tour is less suited to children under 14, people using wheelchairs, and anyone who wants a private, slow-paced winery visit. It is also not ideal if you need lunch included in the advertised price or want complete control over where and when you eat.

The guide is a major part of the experience. Rick is often described as funny, helpful and well informed about Melbourne and the valley. Bernie receives similar praise for his driving and energy, while Mel and Melanie are recognized for clear explanations and care with the group. If your guide enjoys storytelling, the long drive becomes useful time rather than dead time.

Should you book it?

Book this Yarra Valley tour if you want variety, easy transport and a lively guide more than a luxury wine retreat. The three winery tastings are the core strength, while the fruit and chocolate stops keep the day from feeling repetitive.

Budget honestly. Add at least $25 to $45 for lunch, and another $25 if gin appeals to you. If you can accept a shared minibus, a fixed schedule and possibly limited storage for purchases, the included tastings and take-home bottle make the $91 starting price attractive.

I would pass if you want a quiet private tour, long visits at only one or two estates, or a fully included meal. For most visitors with one free day from Melbourne, though, this is a well-rounded way to sample the Yarra Valley without having to drive after tasting wine.

FAQ

Where does the tour meet in Melbourne?

Meet opposite the Forum Theatre, in front of the Federation Square entrance. Look for the Rick’s Wine Tours bus.

How long does the tour last?

The tour lasts about eight hours. It is scheduled to leave Melbourne at 8:30 AM and return around 4:45 PM.

How many wineries do you visit?

You visit three wineries: St Huberts Cellar Door, Tokar Estate and Rochford Wines Yarra Valley.

Are the wine tastings included?

Yes. Wine tastings at all three wineries are included in the tour price.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included in the $91 price. You can upgrade on the day to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50 per person, or order from the restaurant menu with a suggested budget of $25 to $45 per person.

Is the gin tasting included?

No. The optional gin tasting at Rochford Wines costs $25 per person.

Do I receive a bottle of wine?

Yes. Every full-paying adult receives one bottle of wine to take home.

Is the tour suitable for children or wheelchair users?

The tour is not suitable for children under 14 or wheelchair users. It runs rain or shine and requires at least four people to operate.