12 VIRTUOSO LIFE
WINE COUNTRYTASTING NOTES
Don’t-miss wineries: De Bortoli Yarra Valley Estate
(one of the region’s largest and oldest wineries) and
TarraWarra Estate.
Signature event: In February, top chefs from many
of the wineries host feasts accompanied by live
music at the Yarra Valley Grape Grazing Festival.
Pair with: The region’s celebrated freshwater
salmon, trout, and caviar; organically grown
fruit and vegetables; and handmade cheeses
and preserves.
Access: Yarra Valley is approximately an hour’s
drive northeast of Melbourne.Virtuoso advisors work with Southern Crossings tour company to customize Australian wine country itineraries that let you blend your own adventure. For example:
An eight-day trip from Melbourne to Sydney through the Yarra, Barossa, and Hunter valleys could feature exclusive barrel tastings, a hands-on cooking class in Jacob’s
Creek’s outdoor kitchen, and behind-the-scenes wine-making and cellar tours, with a break for wildlife (platypuses, dingoes, and more) at Healesville Sanctuary.Yarra Valley
Home to more than 80 wineries, ranging
from small family-owned operations to
large estates, Yarra Valley is renowned
for producing Australia’s finest pinot
noir and sparkling wine, along with a
range of other cool-climate wines. It was
Victoria’s first planted wine region, back
in 1838, and it also has a long beer-
making history; numerous local craftbrewers welcome visitors to their micro-
breweries to sample beer and cider.
The beauty of the Yarra Valley’s
changing seasons inspired many of
Australia’s early landscape painters.
Today it’s the home of Australia’s oldest
artists colony, Montsalvat, and you can
visit the galleries and studios where the
artists work.Hot-air ballooning over De Bortoli vineyards.