The Yarra Valley sits roughly an hour from Melbourne CBD and is genuinely one of Australia's great wine regions, known especially for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Here's how to plan a relaxed one-day visit.
Yering Station is the Yarra Valley's oldest vineyard and a sensible first stop, with a broad tasting menu and a genuinely striking cellar door. Domaine Chandon is worth visiting for its sparkling wine and its hilltop terrace view over the valley - a good mid-morning stop.
Rochford Wines and Oakridge Wines both run well-regarded restaurants alongside their cellar doors, making either a natural lunch stop without needing to leave the vineyard.
If your group isn't entirely wine-focused, the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery is a genuinely popular stop for families and mixed groups, sitting conveniently close to several of the wineries above.
Given the tasting-focused nature of a winery day, a private chauffeur removes the designated-driver problem entirely - everyone in your group can genuinely enjoy each cellar door. Most visitors combine 3-4 wineries in a day; your driver waits between stops and manages the route, so you're not calculating driving limits between tastings.