Sweet sips meet cool-climate vines. I love that Adrian personally escorts you through the vineyards and calls out what to look for as you taste, and I love the combo of 10+ wine tastings with a chocolate factory stop. One thing to plan for: lunch is not included, so you’ll want to budget for a meal at St’Huberts Estate.

This is built for an easy day out from Melbourne: a 9:30am pickup in the city, air-conditioned transport, and a return around 4 to 4:30pm. With a max group size of 16 and a guide with you from start to finish, it feels organized without feeling rushed.

Key Things to Know Before You Go

• Adrian guides the day: you’re not bounced between random staff or left to figure things out on your own.
• 10+ wines, 3 wineries: you get a real tasting education around cool-climate styles.
• Underground Aboriginal Art Gallery at St’Huberts Estate: a cultural stop that adds depth beyond wine.
• Chocolate factory samples: you’ll get chocolate tastings that pair nicely with what you’re drinking.
• Small-group pace (max 16): easier conversation, less waiting around at cellar doors.

Start in Melbourne: Flinders Street Pickup at 9:30am

The day starts in central Melbourne near Flinders Street, outside the Ian Potter Gallery roadside bus parking. It’s a smart meeting point for visitors and for locals who don’t want to commit to parking or complicated transfers.

From there, you head out to the Yarra Valley. The drive is about an hour, which matters more than people think: it gives you time to settle in before your first tasting. You’ll also be in air-conditioned transport, either an 8-seater Mercedes-Benz Valante or a Toyota tour bus if your group is larger. That difference can change the vibe. The smaller vehicle tends to feel more chatty; the bus feels more social and lively. Either way, you’re not doing the “follow the car” thing.

I like that the tour is run with the guide/escort setup, not by mixing in different drivers for different legs. It keeps the day coherent, and you get consistent explanations from the person who’s actually there with you.

The Day’s Pace: 7.5 Hours, Tasting Education, and Enough Time to Enjoy

This is a full-day outing at roughly 7 hours 30 minutes. You leave at 9:30am and get back around 4 to 4:30pm. That schedule is long enough to feel like a proper Yarra Valley experience, but not so long that you’re dealing with a full day of pure travel.

The tour is built around vineyard tastings, with an introduction to the wines as you go. That matters because the Yarra Valley is all about cool-climate grapes. You’ll be tasting a range that typically centers on Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz, plus other wines along the way. Instead of just sampling blindly, you get guidance on what you’re tasting and why it tastes the way it does.

One practical note: tastings add up. Over the day you’ll taste more than 10 wines, which is the point of the tour. But if you’re someone who hates the feeling of being “behind” at the next stop, pace yourself early and take sips slowly. The guide’s job is to help you enjoy it, not to rush you through.

Stop 1: St’Huberts Estate and Hubert Estate Vibes Without the Fuss

Your first major winery stop is St’Huberts Estate (listed as Hubert Estate on the tour plan). This is where the day gets interesting right away because you’re not just doing wine.

You also go underground to visit the Aboriginal Art Gallery that showcases Aboriginal art. That’s a meaningful break from the usual cellar-door routine. It gives you something to look at that’s connected to place and people, not just barrels and labels. Even if your plan is mainly wine, this stop adds a layer that makes the day feel more grounded.

Then there’s the food angle. At St’Huberts Estate, lunch isn’t included in the tour price, but you can buy it there. They’re known for wood-fired pizza, and you can choose from options like fish, beef, chicken, and multiple sides. The best part is that dietary restrictions are catered for, so you’re not stuck compromising if you eat a certain way.

A small consideration: because lunch is a buy-on-your-own choice, you’ll want to check your preferences in advance and decide what you’ll order before you get hungry. The day is structured, but your meal time will still be your call.

Chocolate and Wine at Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery

Next comes the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. This is a fun pivot point: you’ve been tasting wines in a formal setting, and now you shift gears to sweet treats.

You’ll get chocolate samples at the chocolate factory, which is included. The tour also includes chocolate samples associated with this stop, so you should expect multiple moments of tasting rather than one quick bite and goodbye.

Why I like this addition: chocolate is a built-in way to understand flavors. If you’ve just tasted something like Chardonnay or Pinot and then taste chocolate next, you’ll start noticing how sweetness, cocoa, and wine acidity can either clash or play nicely. It’s not about turning it into a science lab. It’s about giving your taste buds something new to work with.

If you’re a chocolate lover, this stop alone can make the day feel like a “treat day,” even if you’re not a wine superfan. If you’re more of a wine person, it still works because it breaks the day into phases.

Soumah: A Proper Yarra Valley Winery Stop for Cool-Climate Palate Training

Soumah is one of the wineries you’ll visit, and it fits the overall Yarra Valley theme: cool-climate wines that focus on clarity rather than heavy, syrupy styles.

At each winery, the guide gives you an introduction to what you’re tasting and helps you connect the grapes to the flavor. This is where the tour earns its keep. Pinot and Chardonnay in particular can be a lot more enjoyable when you know what to look for (even just in simple terms). You’ll also taste Shiraz, which is a great reminder that Yarra Valley doesn’t only do “light and elegant.” It can do red that still feels restrained and balanced.

One smart strategy: listen for what the guide emphasizes, then taste again while that idea is fresh. It’s the fastest way to get value from tastings. You’ll feel like you’re learning, not just consuming.

Greenstone Vineyards: Vineyard Scenery Plus Another Round of Tasting

Your final winery stop is Greenstone Vineyards. This is another tasting stop where you’ll keep building your tasting “map” across the day. By the time you reach the later part of the schedule, your palate will be more aware: you’ll notice how different wineries and different parcels can change texture and aroma.

Greenstone is part of why the day works: it’s not one long cellar-door sprint. It’s multiple tasting moments spaced out with other activities, including the chocolate factory and the cultural visit at St’Huberts Estate.

If you’re the type who likes to take photos, this stop often provides the kind of vineyard views people come to the Yarra Valley for. Bring your patience for buses and groups, though. This is a small-group tour, but you’re still sharing the space with other visitors.

Wine Tasting Details That Matter for Your Enjoyment

The alcohol part of the experience is included as wine tastings. You’ll be tasting Pinot, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and many more wines across the day. Water is also included in bottled form, which helps a lot when you’re doing repeated tastings.

Here’s what to consider before you book if you have a strong preference:

• If you’re expecting a wine tour that’s mostly about food, you might find it wine-forward. Lunch is available, but it’s not included.
• If you’re trying to taste everything and buy nothing, you still get the full guided experience because the tastings and entry are included.
• If you dislike alcohol, you’ll need to think twice. The tour centers on tasting, so a no-drink day isn’t really the design of this experience.

The tour also mentions all wineries’ entries are included, and you travel with a guide for the day. That reduces friction. You’re not solving check-in times on your phone or wondering where to go next.

Price and Value: What You’re Really Paying for at $63.83

At $63.83 per person, this isn’t a “luxury everything included” price, but it is built around value. The key is what’s included versus what you’ll pay extra for.

Included highlights:

• Transport with the guide throughout the day
• Winery entries
• Wine tastings (more than 10 wines)
• Bottled water
• Chocolate samples
• The Aboriginal Art Gallery show casing Aboriginal art
• A guided experience where you’re walked through the wines

Not included:

• Lunch (you buy it at St’Huberts Estate)

To judge the value, focus on the transportation + guided tastings combination. Getting to the Yarra Valley wineries on your own takes planning, and it’s easy to waste time figuring out logistics. Here, you pay once and show up. The guide’s role also matters: the tasting is more enjoyable when you understand what you’re tasting, and the tour is structured around the guide providing that introduction.

So the real question is whether you want a day where the main activity is guided tasting, with food and chocolate as add-ons. If that sounds like your kind of day, this price usually feels fair.

Who This Yarra Valley Chocolate and Wine Tour Is Best For

This works especially well if you:

• Want a first-time Yarra Valley experience without the stress
• Like guided tastings, not just wandering between wineries
• Enjoy mixing wine with something playful like chocolate
• Appreciate cultural stops, like the underground Aboriginal art gallery

It’s also a great option if you’re visiting Melbourne and you want a single, satisfying day trip. The pickup is central, and the max group size keeps it from feeling like a cattle-call.

If you prefer a totally relaxed pace with lots of free time at each stop, you might feel the structure more than you’d like. This is planned, timed, and focused on hitting the best spots in one day.

Should You Book This Tour?

If you want a well-structured Yarra Valley day with wine tastings, chocolate samples, and an Aboriginal art gallery visit, I’d say it’s a strong pick. It’s not just about collecting bottles. It’s about tasting with explanations from Adrian, then balancing it with chocolate and time for lunch choices at St’Huberts Estate.

Book it if you enjoy guided experiences and you’re okay paying for your own lunch. Skip it only if you’re mainly chasing a food-only day, or if tasting 10+ wines sounds like too much for your style.

FAQ

FAQ

What’s the duration of the Chocolate and Wine Tasting tour in the Yarra Valley?

The tour runs for about 7 hours 30 minutes.

What time does the tour start and when do you return?

It starts at 9:30am and returns around 4 to 4:30pm.

How much does the tour cost?

The price is $63.83 per person.

How many wineries and tastings are included?

You’ll visit 3 wineries and taste over 10 wines.

Where do you meet in Melbourne?

You meet at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia, Federation Square area, on Flinders St and Russell St, outside the Ian Potter Gallery roadside bus parking.

Is lunch included?

No. Lunch is not included, but you can buy lunch at St’Huberts Estate and dietary restrictions are catered for.

What transport is provided?

You travel in an air-conditioned VIP Mercedes-Benz 8-seater, or a Toyota tour bus for larger groups.

What’s included besides wine?

You’ll get chocolate factory samples, bottled water, and an Aboriginal art gallery showing Aboriginal art at St’Huberts Estate.

Is there a cancellation option for a full refund?

Yes. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.

Is there a limit on group size?

Yes. The tour has a maximum of 16 travelers.