| Trip Name | Yarra Valley - Cool by nature: Place, people and community |
|---|---|
| Host | Wine Yarra Valley |
| Date | Monday 19 April – Wednesday 21 April 2027 |
| Capacity | Minimum 5, maximum 15 |
Booking guidance: You can view pricing for each trip on the event registration page. If you have already registered and wish to add a trip to your booking you can do so via ‘manage my account’. If the trip you are hoping to join is not on the booking list this means it is currently at capacity. Please join the wait list here and a member of the team will notify you if a space becomes available. If you have any questions or require support please contact events@mastersofwine.org
The Hunter Valley invites delegates to discover the depth of the Hunter Valley’s winemaking heritage, showcasing our globally celebrated wines, producers, and innovative approaches, set amidst some of the oldest vineyard landscapes in Australia.
Experience the Yarra Valley through the vineyards, wines and people that define one of Australia’s most dynamic cool-climate wine regions. Over three days and two nights, delegates will move through the Valley’s diverse landscapes, tasting wines in the places they are grown and sharing memorable meals with the winemakers, growers and leaders shaping the region today. The journey concludes with a final dinner in Melbourne, one of the world’s great food and wine cities.
From elevated vineyard sites and intimate tastings to long lunches and shared bottles from producers across the region, the program offers a rare opportunity to experience the Yarra Valley from the inside. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir will provide key points of focus, alongside Cabernet Sauvignon, sparkling wine and emerging varieties, revealing how elevation, aspect, soils and climate create wines of remarkable diversity and precision.
The Yarra Valley is Victoria’s oldest winegrowing region and Australia’s leading cool-climate wine destination, renowned for refined, site-expressive wines with a distinctive regional identity. Cool temperatures, varied elevations, diverse soils and changing aspects support exceptional expressions of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and sparkling wine, while a new generation of producers continues to explore emerging varieties and fresh ideas.
The region’s story is shaped by ancient Country, generations of farming and winemaking, and a close-knit community of bold, independent producers. Deeply connected to the Yarra Valley’s heritage, they are equally driven to challenge convention and shape what comes next.
This is a region defined by more than geography. Its wines carry an unmistakable sense of place, shaped by the land and by the people who farm, make and share them. Throughout the visit, delegates will connect directly with the vineyards, characters and ideas driving the Yarra Valley forward.
Instagram: @wineyarravalley
All guests are required to make their own travel arrangements to the nominated trip departure point in Melbourne. The visit concludes following the final dinner in Melbourne on Wednesday 21 April. Delegates are responsible for arranging their own Melbourne accommodation and onward travel. Please notify the trip host of any dietary, mobility or access requirements.
| DAY 1 | |
|---|---|
| Morning |
Melbourne to Healesville
Coach transfer from Melbourne to Healesville in the heart of the Yarra Valley. |
| Late morning |
Healesville Sanctuary
A private keeper-led wildlife experience introducing delegates to Australia’s unique native animals and the natural environment surrounding the Yarra Valley. |
| Afternoon |
Accommodation check-in
Check in to regional accommodation before the evening’s welcome program. |
| Late afternoon |
Regional introduction at Yeringberg
Writer and commentator Max Allen introduces the history and evolution of the Yarra Valley, exploring Ngooleek, landscape and re-conceptualising terroir. |
| Early evening |
Punt Road Wines
Light bites and a Cabernet Sauvignon-focused tasting continue the story of the Yarra Valley and the variety’s important place in the region’s history. |
| Dinner |
Soumah
A shared welcome dinner with Yarra Valley winemakers, growers and community, featuring museum wines from across the region. |
| Overnight | Yarra Valley |
| DAY 2 | |
|---|---|
| Morning |
Sexton Vineyard + Wurundjeri welcome
Coffee and pastries at the top of Sexton Vineyard, overlooking the Yarra Valley. Wurundjeri custodian will guide a conversation exploring history, culture, Country and the relationship between wine and place. Winemakers and growers from across the region will introduce the landscapes, vineyard sites and climatic influences that shape the Yarra Valley. |
| Lunch |
Giant Steps Winery – Yarra Valley Chardonnay
A winery experience and BBQ lunch exploring the diversity of Yarra Valley Chardonnay. Winemakers and growers from across the Yarra Valley to share Chardonnay, vineyard stories and perspectives. |
| Afternoon |
De Bortoli – The evolving Yarra Valley
A vineyard walk and regional discussion exploring the evolution and future of the Yarra Valley, including:
|
| Evening |
De Bortoli
Sunset drinks followed by a relaxed shared dinner with winemakers and growers from across the Yarra Valley. |
| DAY 3 | |
|---|---|
| Morning |
Domaine Chandon
A sparkling breakfast, tasting and regional discussion at Domaine Chandon. The session will explore sparkling wine, sustainability and the role of waterways and river restoration within the regional landscape. |
| Late morning |
Upper Yarra
Travel into the elevated landscapes of the Upper Yarra, where cooler temperatures, higher rainfall and distinctive vineyard sites produce some of the region’s most refined and expressive wines. |
| Lunch |
Pinot Noir focus - Gembrook
An Upper Yarra vineyard experience followed by a long lunch focused on Pinot Noir. Local growers and winemakers will join delegates for shared bottles, conversation and time to connect. |
| Late afternoon |
Transfer to Melbourne
Coach transfer from the Upper Yarra to Melbourne, arriving in the city at approximately 5.00pm. |
| Evening |
Closing dinner in Melbourne
A final dinner with Yarra Valley producers celebrating the people, wines and conversations shared throughout the visit. The regional visit concludes following dinner. |
