Wine and chocolate in one smooth day. This Yarra Valley tour strings together vineyard wine tastings with a chocolate factory visit, plus an Aboriginal art stop at St Huberts Estate. I love how the day feels personal with a real guide (Adrian), and I also love that the wines are cool-climate classics tasted where they’re made. One thing to consider: lunch isn’t included, so you’ll choose and pay for your meal at St Huberts.

You set out from Melbourne at 9:30 a.m. and roll back to the city around 4 to 4:30 p.m., with bottled water and tastings taken care of. The format is straightforward: you visit multiple stops, you taste widely (10+ wines), and you get enough time to enjoy the scenery without feeling dragged.

This is a small-group outing (up to 16 people), run using an air-conditioned VIP Mercedes-Benz 8-seater or a Toyota tour bus for larger groups. It’s a strong choice for both visitors and Melbourne locals who want a proper Yarra day without the hassle of driving.

Key highlights you’ll care about

• Three winery stops plus a chocolate factory experience for a full flavor day
• Underground Aboriginal Art Gallery at St Huberts Estate, with guided context
• 10+ wine tastings focused on cool-climate styles like Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz
• VIP Mercedes-Benz 8-seater or Toyota tour bus, air-conditioned for comfort
• Lunch on-site at St Huberts, with dietary needs catered for (you pay yourself)

A full-day Yarra Valley mix: wine, chocolate, and underground art

If you’ve ever wished Melbourne had a plug-in button for countryside calm, this tour gets close. You spend the day in and around the wine region, but it’s not just wine, wine, wine. You also get a sweet stop and a cultural visit that breaks up the tasting rhythm.

What makes it work is the pacing. You’re not trapped in a lecture. You taste wines, you get an intro to what you’re drinking, and you learn how the cool-climate styles show up in the glass. And yes, the chocolate stop is a real reset point—use it to reset your palate before the next set of wines.

Melbourne pickup and the drive to the Yarra (no DIY stress)

Your day starts in Melbourne City at Flinders Street, outside the Ian Potter Gallery roadside bus parking. You’ll leave at 9:30 a.m., and the schedule is built around that one-hour drive out to the Yarra Valley area.

I like that the tour handles the transport end-to-end. You don’t need to figure out routes, parking, or timing. Plus, you’re traveling in an air-conditioned VIP Mercedes-Benz 8-seater (or a Toyota tour bus if the group is larger). That matters on a hot or changeable day, because you’ll feel it after a few hours outside.

If you’re someone who gets anxious about logistics, this is the kind of day where you can relax once you’re picked up. You’ll also get a mobile ticket, so you’re not juggling paper.

St Huberts Estate: the underground Aboriginal Art Gallery stop

St Huberts Estate is more than just another winery name on a map. You’ll get taken underground to visit an Aboriginal Art Gallery at the estate. That change of setting is a welcome contrast to open vineyard views.

From a practical standpoint, it’s also a smart time break. Outdoor wine tastings can run together. A cultural stop like this gives your brain something different to process, and it adds meaning to the day beyond drinking.

At St Huberts, there’s also a lunch option. The pizza here is wood-fired, and there are other choices too. You get the freedom to pick what you want, and the tour says dietary restrictions are catered for. That’s a big deal for anyone who needs gluten-free, vegetarian, or other adjustments—tell the staff when you arrive and you should be set.

One consideration: because lunch is not included, plan your budget for food. The upside is you can eat exactly what you want rather than being locked into one set meal.

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery: sweet tasting with purpose

Between winery stops, you’ll visit the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery. The headline is obvious: chocolate samples. But I like this stop for a more practical reason.

After several tastings, your palate can get tired. A chocolate-focused break helps you reset and gives you a different set of flavors to think about. The tour includes chocolate samples at this stop, so you’re not scrambling to find something to snack on.

Also, the location helps with pacing. It’s not one of those add-on stops that feels rushed. You get enough time to enjoy the sweet break before moving on.

Soumah and Greenstone Vineyards: what the tastings feel like

By the time you reach the wine portion, you’re set up for a guided tasting experience in the vineyards. The tour focuses on cool-climate Australian wines, and you’ll taste over 10 wines across the day.

Soumah and Greenstone Vineyard are two of the key winery stops. Each one fits into the day’s arc: you get a mix of grape styles, you learn how producers approach flavor in the Yarra Valley, and you’re tasting in an environment that makes sense—rows of vines, estate buildings, and that vineyard-air feeling.

What I appreciate here is that you’re not left on your own with a menu. The guide escorts the group around the vineyards and provides an introduction to the wines you’re tasting. That turns random sipping into actual learning.

Possible drawback: wine tastings can add up fast. If you’re the kind of person who wants just a couple pours, you might feel it. The tour is still very manageable, but it’s built for tasting depth, not wine sampling by the shallow end.

What you’ll taste: Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz and the cool-climate logic

This tour is built around cool-climate styles, and the big grapes are Pinot, Chardonnay, and Shiraz. Those names matter because they shape what you should expect in the glass.

• Pinot tends to be about lighter elegance and layered fruit, often with a more delicate structure.
• Chardonnay is where you’ll look for texture and balance—think crispness with winemaker choices that can add richness.
• Shiraz can show up with cooler-area refinement, not just heavy, jammy sweetness.

The tour also mentions tasting many more beyond those core styles. In other words, you’re not just repeating the same three grapes all day. You’ll get enough variety that you can start spotting what you personally like—then compare it against what you expected going in.

Tip I’d give you: after each tasting, take a second to remember one word you’d use for that wine. Fruity? Dry? Spicy? Smooth? That tiny habit makes the whole day easier to process later, especially if you end up buying bottles.

Guide-led experience: Adrian’s role and why group size matters

A tour lives or dies by the guide. Here, Adrian isn’t just steering from the bus—he’s the tour guide and escort, and the tour explicitly notes that he guides you around the vineyards. That’s good news if you want more than just transport between stops.

Another detail I’m glad they mention: they don’t use truck drivers for the tours, and the day is run with full driver and bus accreditation with the Victorian government. That’s the kind of detail that doesn’t sound exciting, but it matters once you’re spending hours on the road.

Group size is capped at 16 travelers, and that affects the whole feel. Smaller groups generally mean quicker check-ins, easier movement at tastings, and fewer awkward waits. If you’re doing this as a couple, friends, or solo, you’ll also have an easier time chatting with others without the group feeling like a herd.

Lunch at St Huberts: freedom, food options, and dietary care

Lunch happens at St Huberts Estate. It’s not included in the tour price, but the advantage is choice. You can buy from the menu, and the tour notes that dietary restrictions are catered for.

This matters because wine days can get uncomfortable when you end up hungry and stuck with whatever is offered. Here, you can choose a wood-fired pizza if that’s your style, or you can pick fish, beef, chicken, and sides if you prefer something else.

Practical advice: eat with pacing in mind. If you’re planning to buy wine later or keep tasting after lunch, don’t go too heavy. If you’re in the mood for a full meal, do it—but remember you’ll still be tasting on the way through the afternoon.

Transport and comfort details that actually affect your day

You’re traveling in an air-conditioned Mercedes-Benz 8-seater (or a Toyota tour bus for larger groups). The tour is also set up with a smooth loop: Melbourne pickup, Yarra Valley wine area, multiple vineyard stops, then a return to the meeting point.

For comfort, those things matter:

• You’re not in a warm vehicle during the drive.
• You’re with a guided group, so you’re not waiting around at each stop trying to reconnect.
• You’re back in Melbourne by late afternoon, which helps if you have dinner plans.

If you’re sensitive to schedule changes, note that the tour returns around 4 to 4:30 p.m.. That’s a realistic window for making a dinner reservation, but keep it flexible.

Price and value: why $63.83 can make sense here

At $63.83 per person, this tour isn’t priced like a luxury private driver. But it’s also not just a bus ride to a couple of tastings.

You’re paying for a bundle:

• transport from Melbourne and back,
• entry to all the wineries,
• a guide for the day,
• wine tastings (including alcoholic beverages),
• bottled water,
• chocolate samples,
• plus the Aboriginal art gallery visit and tasting-day coordination.

That’s the key value point: you’re not buying tickets separately, and you’re not arranging transport. For many people, that added convenience is worth a lot, especially if you don’t want to deal with driving, designated-driver logistics, or figuring out which stops are closest.

One caution: since lunch isn’t included, your total day cost will be a bit higher once you add food—and if you decide to purchase bottles or more chocolate. Still, the base price gets you the full tasting-and-visit structure.

Who should book this Yarra Valley wine and chocolate day

This tour is especially smart if you:

• want a guided introduction to Yarra Valley cool-climate wines without doing homework,
• like the idea of tasting 10+ wines in a structured day,
• want both locals-style scenery and tourist-friendly convenience,
• enjoy chocolate as much as wine, or at least enjoy a palate reset,
• prefer a small group (up to 16) rather than a large coach full of strangers.

It also fits well if you’re a Melbourne local. It gives you the Yarra Valley experience without committing an entire day to planning and driving yourself.

Should you book this tour?

I’d book it if you want a well-run day with wine tastings, chocolate, and an underground art visit, all handled for you from Melbourne. The biggest reason to choose it is the mix: vineyards plus sweet stop plus culture, all with a guide escorting you through the experience.

Skip it—or at least reconsider—if you want a very low-key wine day with minimal sipping, or if you strongly prefer lunch to be fully included in the price. Since lunch is on-site and you pay yourself, plan your spending accordingly.

Overall, it’s the kind of day that works whether you’re new to the Yarra Valley or you just want a great, not-too-complicated escape from the city.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the Chocolate and Wine Tasting tour in the Yarra Valley?

The tour runs for about 7 hours 30 minutes, with departure at 9:30 a.m. and returning around 4 to 4:30 p.m.

Where does the tour start in Melbourne?

The pickup point is outside the Ian Potter Gallery roadside bus parking at Federation Square on Flinders Street and Russell Street, Melbourne.

What wineries and stops are included?

You’ll visit St Huberts Estate, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery, Soumah, and Greenstone Vineyards.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch is not included. You buy your own lunch at St Huberts Estate, and the tour notes dietary restrictions are catered for.

Are wine tastings included, and what kinds of wine will you taste?

Yes. The tour includes alcoholic beverages for wine tasting, including cool-climate styles such as Pinot, Chardonnay, Shiraz, and other wines.

Do I get chocolate on this tour?

Yes. You’ll receive chocolate samples at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery.

What transport is used during the tour?

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

How large is the group?

The tour has a maximum of 16 travelers, and you’ll have a tour guide for the day.