Wine, fruit, chocolate, and gin in one day. This Yarra Valley tour strings together fruit tastings, cellar-door wine pours, and a 12-chocolate finale—with a guide who brings the stories of Melbourne and the Yarra region to life (you’ll hear names like Bernie, Mel, and Rick pop up a lot for their energy).

I love the payoff: you get a take-home bottle of wine and you’re tasting at multiple estates rather than just visiting one big place. I also like the pacing, because you start with Yarra Farm Fresh, then move through St Huberts and Tokar, and finish with chocolate time to slow down. One consideration: lunch is not included in the base price, so you’ll want to budget for it at Rochford.

Key highlights worth marking on your map

• St Huberts Estate tastings: 4 premium wines plus time to wander the grounds and check out the indigenous Art Gallery
• Tokar Estate: guided tasting of 3 handcrafted wines at a boutique stop with a smaller feel
• Rochford Wines lunch + optional gin: you can upgrade for a gourmet lunch with a wine glass or pick from the menu
• Yarra Valley Chocolaterie: a structured flight of 12 artisan chocolates and time for shopping
• A take-home bottle of wine for each full paying adult, included with the tour
• On-the-drive wildlife spotting and pass-through views of historic towns, guided by your host

Picking up in Melbourne and getting out to the valley on time

You meet at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia area, with the tour bus showing up around 8:15 AM and leaving Melbourne’s CBD around 8:30 AM. The pickup is opposite the Forum Theatre, in front of the Federation Square entrance, and you’re told to look for the Rick’s Wine Tours bus.

This matters more than it sounds. Melbourne mornings can be busy, and the early start helps you reach the Yarra Valley while the day still feels fresh (and while wineries are running smoothly). The day wraps back in the CBD around 4:45 PM, so it’s a true single-day plan—no overnight logistics, no second guessing.

Your transport is part of the deal, and the drive is built in for scenery and local context. You’ll also get the basic safety net of a live English-speaking host and driver guiding timing, groups, and what’s next.

Yarra Farm Fresh: the fruit tasting that resets your palate

The day begins with Yarra Farm Fresh, where you get a guided tasting of fresh fruit. Expect a hands-on, food-first approach before wine shows up in force. This is a smart move if you’re doing a few tastings—fruit helps you wake up your palate and makes the first winery pours feel clearer, not heavy.

You’ll also see how the Yarra Valley frames food beyond wine. Even if you’re mainly here for cellar doors, this stop gives you a local flavor story that doesn’t rely only on alcohol.

One practical tip: since your day is measured in tasting windows, treat this as your slow start. Don’t rush through it, and don’t skip any guided bits if you can help it. It sets the mood for the rest of the day.

St Huberts Estate: wine tastings, estate walking, and art inside the grounds

Next comes St Huberts Estate, one of the biggest “wow” stops on the route. You get a guided tasting of 4 premium wines led by the cellar door staff. This isn’t just about sampling—your guide’s role is to connect what you’re tasting with the region’s winemaking style.

What I like here is the extra time. After tasting, you can stroll the beautiful grounds and check out the indigenous Art Gallery. There’s also time to sample more wines at the Notes Wine Store, which is included.

Why it’s valuable: this is a winery visit that feels more like a place you can explore, not a conveyor belt. If you enjoy atmospheres—buildings, gardens, artwork—and want the tasting to feel anchored in setting, this is the stop where you’ll likely slow down.

What to watch for: if you’re the type who wants very quiet, focused tastings with no extra walking, the estate time can feel like you’re toggling between guided and self-paced moments. Most people love the mix, though.

Tokar Estate: boutique wine tasting with a smaller feel

Then you head to Tokar Estate for a guided tasting of 3 handcrafted wines. This stop is shorter than St Huberts, but that’s not a bad thing. It keeps the day moving while still giving you a different style of cellar-door experience.

What you’re really getting: variety. St Huberts covers a bigger estate experience; Tokar leans into boutique character. When you’re sampling across multiple wineries, the “why” matters as much as the “what.” A third estate helps you see how the Yarra Valley expression changes from place to place, not just from glass to glass.

If you like wines that come with personality—small-scale details, intentional blends, and staff who focus on explanation—Tokar is a solid fit.

Rochford Wines: where lunch turns the day from fun to satisfying

At Rochford Wines, you’ll have a guided tasting first, followed by lunch and then some breathing room. Lunch is one of the points where your wallet planning starts—because lunch is not automatically included in the base cost.

Here are your two stated options:

• Upgrade on the day to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50.00 per person
• Choose a la carte from the restaurant menu (budget $25–$45 per person)

No BYO lunch is allowed, so plan to order through what they offer.

After lunch, you also have time for an optional gin tasting at Rochford (listed as $25.00 per person). That’s where this tour earns its name. The gin isn’t forced on you, but the timing is built so you’re not stuck doing it before you’ve eaten.

Why this stop matters: it’s the part of the day where people often decide whether the trip was worth it. If you pick the upgrade, you’re paying for ease and a set meal experience. If you choose a la carte, you have more control over what you order—just keep an eye on total spend because wine days add up fast.

Chocolaterie time: a 12-chocolate tasting and shopping window

Then the tour turns sweet at the Yarra Valley Chocolaterie. You’ll do a guided tasting of 12 artisan chocolates, crafted by master chocolatiers, and then you get time for shopping.

I like putting chocolate at the end of a wine-and-gin day. It gives you something completely different to process, and it’s a fun way to reset before heading home. The 12-chocolate format also helps you avoid the common problem of random sweets with no structure.

One practical consideration from experience shared by others: if the tasting is held in a shop-floor style setting, you might find it harder to hear every spoken detail. It doesn’t stop the tasting, but if you care about following the narration perfectly, know that the environment can be more retail than formal.

The take-home bottle of wine: how value works here

This tour includes 1 bottle of wine to take home for each full paying adult. For value, that’s the big hook. In wine regions, you often end up paying extra just to carry something home. Here, that cost is baked into the price.

The math is simple: if you were already planning to buy a bottle (and you probably are), the take-home bottle lowers the effective cost of the tastings and lunch choice. It also gives you flexibility—if you fall in love with a wine at one of the estates, you don’t have to rely on buying it that day to justify the trip.

Just remember: you’re tasting along the way, and you may want to buy additional bottles or small gifts. There’s also at least one note that the bus isn’t always ideal for storing purchases. If you know you’ll shop hard, pack light and consider how you’ll carry bags.

Guide energy and route storytelling: why this feels like more than sipping

A big reason people enjoy this tour is the host energy. Names like Bernie, Rick, Ricky, and Melanie/Mel show up repeatedly in feedback, and the consistent theme is humor plus real explanation. You’re not just being moved between locations—you’re getting context about how Melbourne and the Yarra Valley grew into today’s food and wine region.

This kind of storytelling changes the day. Without it, wine tastings can blur together into three hours of similar steps. With it, you get a sense of place: what makes the region tick, how winemaking fits into the broader area, and why each stop feels different.

On top of that, your guide often keeps an eye out for kangaroos and other wildlife on the drive, plus you get views through historic towns. Those little “wait, look at that” moments are part of the charm, and they’re exactly why a bus tour works better than trying to DIY everything.

Who this tour suits best (and who should skip it)

This is a great match if you:

• Want 3 winery stops with tastings included, without organizing transport
• Like food variety, not just wine
• Enjoy a guided day with structured tastings like 12 chocolates
• Want to take home at least one bottle without negotiating a buy at the end

It’s not a good fit if:

• You need wheelchair accessibility (wheelchair users aren’t suitable for this tour)
• You’re traveling with kids under 14 (not suitable for children under 14)
• You strongly prefer lunch to be included in the base price (it isn’t)

Also, if you’re very sensitive to the comfort of long coach days, it’s worth noting that at least one comment described the mini-bus as needing updating. That’s not universal, but it’s something to keep in mind.

When to book: timing, weather, and making the most of your day

The tour runs rain or shine, so you shouldn’t plan this day like it’s a weather gamble. Wear layers, bring a small umbrella if that’s your style, and keep your day flexible in how you dress. Winery and chocolate stops are the same on a cloudy day—they just feel more cozy than sunny.

To get the best experience, I’d plan your spending in advance. With the take-home bottle included, you can keep purchases small and still feel like you got value. If you want upgrades—especially the Rochford gourmet lunch and optional gin—decide what level of splurge you want before you arrive.

Also, because pickup is early, don’t schedule anything demanding the night before. This is one of those days where your energy matters as much as your palate.

Should you book this Yarra Valley Food, Wine, Chocolate & Gin Tour?

Book it if you want a high-comfort, structured day that mixes fruit, wine, lunch, and chocolate, with the big financial bonus of a take-home bottle. The variety across St Huberts, Tokar, and Rochford makes the tasting day feel full, not repetitive.

Skip or compare other options if lunch being extra is a dealbreaker, or if you’re chasing a perfectly quiet, strictly sit-down tasting format. But for most people doing a first Yarra day trip from Melbourne, this hits the sweet spot: good pacing, clear guided experiences, and enough variety to bring something home (literally).

FAQ

How long is the Yarra Valley Food, Wine, Chocolate & Gin Tour?

It runs for about 8 hours.

What time does the tour start from Melbourne?

The bus arrives at the Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia around 8:15 AM and departs Melbourne CBD at about 8:30 AM.

Is lunch included in the tour price?

No. Lunch is not included. At Rochford Wines you can upgrade to a gourmet lunch with a glass of wine for $50.00 per person, or choose a la carte from the restaurant menu (budget $25–$45 per person). No BYO lunch is allowed.

Do I get wine to take home?

Yes. You receive 1 bottle of wine to take home for each full paying adult.

Are there optional gin tastings?

Yes. Gin tasting is optional at Rochford Wines and costs $25.00 per person.

How many wineries are visited, and are tastings included?

You visit 3 wineries with tastings included.

Is this tour suitable for children or wheelchair users?

Children under 14 are not suitable, and wheelchair users are not suitable for this tour.