Three wineries to discover in the Yarra Valley

Best wineries in the Yarra Valley

With over 175 wineries located an hour's drive from Melbourne, the Yarra Valley is one of Australia's most accessible wine regions. It's also known for its artisan food and wine offerings, with a plethora of lauded restaurants and grocers that are worth seeking out, as well as its incredible scenery. As James Halliday says, "It is a place of extreme beauty, of constantly changing light, of colour and mood... Once you have seen it, you cannot help but love it."

Unsurprisingly, the stars of the region are chardonnay and pinot noir, but you can also find stellar examples of sauvignon blanc, shiraz and cabernet sauvignon. With so many wineries, the number of great wines being produced in the Yarra Valley is incredible, but it also makes it hard to know which bottles to put on your list. 

Below, we spoke to three producers from the Yarra Valley: In Dreams, Serrat and Southern Light Vineyards. They provide some local knowledge, letting us in on their favourite spots – whether they be wine bars or walking trails – and we found out which wine of theirs you need to try.

Get to know the three wineries below. 

In Dreams

Winemaker Anthony Fikkers says: Our winery is situated in Healesville, in the heart of the Yarra Valley. It has been designed specifically to cater for small batches of wine. This allows us to keep small batches separate through the winemaking process and also allows us to split larger batches to try new things, such as a bit more whole bunch or longer maceration times. We always try to keep the wines quite pure, so they speak of the place they are grown. In the case of In Dreams Chardonnay 2024, that’s the Yarra Valley as a whole, as it’s a multi-vineyard blend. We achieve this through moderate extraction and subtle use of new oak.

H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
AF. The Yarra is such a big place with very different climates across different subregions. This means a diversity of styles can be achieved with multiple or singular varieties from different sites, keeping the winemaking process interesting and fun. 

Favourite local spot: I’ve really enjoyed exploring the hills above Warburton since the new mountain bike park has opened up. I’m not a fan of the massive hills you need to ride up but once the incline isn’t too steep and you have time to look around, it’s quite spectacular.

Wine to try

2024 In Dreams Chardonnay

Best enjoyed: We would suggest serving it chilled in a Plumm Three Number 3 glass, and pairing it with chicken and wild mushroom fricassee.

RRP $35 | Drink to 2028 | indreams.com.au | Shop this wine

Serrat

Winemaker and co-owner Tom Carson says: We are a tiny vineyard and winery in the Yarra Valley, established in 2001. From the beginning, we pioneered close planted, intensive viticulture and were most likely the first to plant grenache noir in the Yarra Valley.

Our Serrat wines are handcrafted from the ground up, and we look after every aspect of production ourselves, from growing and winemaking through to bottling on site. These wines are highly sought after and are sold primarily through our mailing list. In 2021, we started to make wine made from fruit not grown on our own terroir. With this in mind, we called it Serrat Autres Terres (pronounced “oh-truh tehr”), meaning “other terroir”.

True to our ethos, we will only ever use grapes that we would have been proud to grow ourselves. In fact, we are not the only ones who felt these grapes were special, with Nenagh Park grower Steve Sadlier shortlisted for Viticulturist of the Year in the 2026 Halliday Wine Companion Awards.

H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
TC. It is a stunning region that is an absolute joy to work in. The subtle changes in landscape over the valley floor to the upper Yarra gives life to many and varied wine styles. 

Favourite local spot: Sophie the Cheese Monger has fantastic knowledge and a range to satisfy every taste. She also makes tasty baguettes and bagels for the most delicious quick lunch. Barrique Wine Store; we are so lucky to have Mike and Claire, true lovers of Yarra Valley wine, sharing and championing so many local producers, especially for wineries like us without a cellar door. Lastly, Emerald City, a four-seat restaurant tucked behind a whisky bar. What’s not to love?

Wine to try

2024 Serrat Autres Terres Other Terroir Nenagh Park Chardonnay

Best enjoyed: Often drunk by us while cooking at home, this wine is delicious with aged comté or gruyère, roast poultry, mushroom pasta or savoury pastry. Serve it cold, but not too cold, at 13°C and in a RIEDEL Burgundy glass.

RRP $42 | Drink to 2038 | serrat.com.au | Shop this wine

Southern Light Vineyards

Head winemaker Anthony Fikkers says: Our mission at Southern Light Vineyards is to reveal the diversity and elegance inherent in these varieties, expressed through four distinct Victorian terroirs. Our name reflects the unique quality of the Southern Hemisphere’s sunlight and the influence it has – not only on ripening the fruit, but on how we manage vine canopy, soil nutrition, row orientation and clonal selection across our four vineyards. At the heart of what we do is a commitment to detail at every stage of the winemaking process, from soil to glass. We believe that only through this hands-on attention can we craft the finest expressions of chardonnay and pinot noir. 

H. What do you love about making wine in the Yarra Valley?
AF. I love that I have the chance to work with old vineyards such as Lightfall but there’s also a renewal going on, which allows me to plant fresh vineyards with new clones and rootstocks – something old and something new. It’s fascinating to see the difference in wine style we can achieve from old vines, compared to the shiny new ones. 

Favourite local spot: Lightfall is just a stone's throw from Healesville which is a great little town, dotted with food and wine related places. My pick of those is Barrique Wine Store where you can have a glass of wine while perusing the selection of take-home options. You could also play a game of cards or chess, and if you’re lucky, Mr Barry might be playing a couple of records.

Wine to try

2024 Southern Light Vineyards Lightfall Vineyard Chardonnay

Best enjoyed: Serve slightly chilled (12–14°C) in a Plumm Three Number 3 glass, and pair it with lobster ravioli and beurre blanc.  

RRP $90 | Drink to 2031 | southernlightvineyards.com.au | Shop this wine 

Top image credit: In Dreams