Chillout Tours runs small tours of up to 11 people (or up to 25 for privately booked tours), and the bus picks up eager wine tasters in the centre of Melbourne, outside St Paul's Cathedral. The first stop is the world-famous Domaine Chandon winery, owned by Moët and Chandon and purveyors of some of Australia's favourite sparkling wine. You'll get a whole glass of sparkling wine at this stop, which you can enjoy while taking in the view. The second stop is at small winery Soumah, which sells Yarra Valley stalwarts chardonnay and pinot noir but also specialises in northern Italian varietals like nebbiolo, brachetto, pinot grigio and savagnin, which the winery has renamed 'Savarro'. The stop includes lunch, and the food is first rate. Then it's off to Yarra Valley behemoth De Bortoli for a tasting with matching cheese, and the final stop is at boutique winery Yering Farm.
$128. Meet St Paul's Cathedral. 9.25am-5.30pm.
There is nothing worse than drawing the short straw as the designated driver on a wine tour. Seriously – we have it on good authority that being designated driver on a wine tour is more painful than a combination of leg cramps, childbirth and seeing your footy team lose a match.
So rather than suffer through a day of sober driving while all your mates become steadily merrier, book yourself in for one of these guided tours of the Yarra Valley’s top wineries.
Head west for more drinks on the Bellarine Peninsula. Or try out Melbourne's best places for wine and cheese.
