Rochford Wines

The basics

Rochford wines have three vineyards, two cellar doors, two restaurants, an event venue, and a 12,000-capacity outdoor concert theater at their Yarra Valley winery. Wine enthusiasts can sample Estate range and single vineyard wines during a 5-wine tasting at Rochford Cellar Door or Il Vigneto Cellar Door, learn more about Rochford wine varietals during a guided masterclass, or enjoy a wine-tasting lunch at Isabella's or Il Vigneto restaurants.

Rochford Winery is a popular destination for Yarra Valley wine-tasting tours, perhaps alongside a scenic hot air balloon flight, a walk in the Dandenong Ranges National Park, or visits to foodie favorites like Yarra Valley Dairy or Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

Things to know before you go

• Not a wine fan? Rochford Wines also produces its own range of gins, which you can sample at the Gin Bar.

• You can stop by the cellar door for a wine tasting without a reservation, but bookings are required for groups and highly recommended for the restaurant.

• Cellar door tastings are provided for a fee redeemable against any wine purchases.

How to get there

Rochford Winery is just off the Maroondah Highway in the Yarra Valley, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) northeast of Melbourne or about a 1-hour drive. Although there's no public transport to the winery, plenty of tours and hop-on hop-off shuttles visit Rochford, so it's best to leave the car at home, especially if you want to take part in the wine tasting.

When to get there

Rochford Cellar Door is open daily from 10am to 5pm on weekdays or 6pm on weekends, while the Il Vigneto Cellar Door is only open on weekends from 11am to 5pm on Saturdays or 4pm on Sundays. The restaurants are open for lunch only, with typical reservation times between 11:30am and 3:45pm. In summer, concerts and festivals, such as the popular “A Day on the Green” concert series, occur on the winery's open-air stage.

Yarra Valley wines: a taste of Victoria

Victoria's oldest wine-producing region has been producing premium wines since the early 19th century and now boasts more than 80 wineries, many of which offer cellar-door tastings. Sprawling from the foothills of the Great Dividing Range along the banks of the Yarra River, the region is known for its unique terroir created by varying soils, elevations, and microclimates. Today, it's best known for its cool climate chardonnay, pinot noir, cabernet sauvignon, and the increasingly popular Yarra Valley shiraz.