A Weekend Winery Escape

A winery weekend does not have to mean staying in the busiest part of the Yarra Valley. From Marysville, the pace feels a little different. You can ease into the day in the mountains, head out for tastings and long lunches, then return to a quieter evening back at Peppers Marysville. It suits couples, friends and small groups who want wine tasting to be part of a regional Victorian escape, not the whole weekend packed into one strip of cellar doors.

Staying in Marysville opens up a good mix of smaller producers and more established Yarra Valley names. Cathedral Range Winery and Little River Wines in Taggerty are both around 20 minutes from Peppers Marysville, which makes them easy additions to a slower day out closer to town.

Start close to Marysville

If you are in no rush to head deep into the valley, the wineries near Taggerty are an easy place to begin. Cathedral Range Winery, around 20 minutes from Peppers Marysville, is a boutique vineyard in the Upper Goulburn region, set against the rural landscapes and mountain backdrop that make this part of Victoria feel distinctly different from the busier Yarra Valley trail. It works well as a first stop when the aim is to keep the day close to Marysville and let the drive feel part of the experience.

Nearby, Little River Wines is also around 20 minutes from the hotel and offers a more intimate visit by appointment. Located at the northern end of Cathedral Range State Park, the vineyard is shaped by forested surrounds, flowing water and a strong sustainability focus, with the estate following organic and permaculture principles. The setting in the Victorian High Country feels quiet and considered, which suits guests looking for a tasting experience that is a little more personal and less hurried.

This part of the weekend lends itself to an easier rhythm. Start with breakfast at the hotel, head out mid-morning, and leave enough room to enjoy the drive, the setting and the slower pace of these smaller regional wineries before returning to Marysville later in the day.

This part of the weekend naturally lends itself to an easier rhythm. Start with breakfast at the hotel, head out mid-morning, and leave enough room to enjoy the drive as much as the tasting itself.

Then head into the Yarra Valley

Further into the Yarra Valley, the pace shifts again. Boat O’Craigo in Healesville is just under 50 minutes from Peppers Marysville and works well for a tasting stop with something more substantial built in. Its cellar door looks out across the vineyard toward the Black Spur, and the onsite Glasshouse offers a relaxed lunch setting with pizzas, cheese and charcuterie, salads and wine by the glass or bottle. The cellar door is open Thursday to Monday from 10am to 5pm, with tastings and lunch sittings available across those days.

From there, Yering Station is around 55 minutes from Peppers Marysville and brings a more established Yarra Valley feel. As Victoria’s first vineyard, it has the kind of recognition many visitors are looking for, but it is still an easy one to work into a day trip from Marysville. The historic Cellar Door is open seven days, and the estate’s signature Restaurant overlooks the Yarra Ranges, making it a lovely option if you want to build in a longer lunch rather than just a quick tasting.

If sparkling is part of the plan, Chandon in Coldstream is around 1 hour from Marysville and gives the day another rhythm again. Alongside its hosted tasting experiences, the winery also offers both restaurant dining and more casual wine-and-food experiences, which makes it easy to stay a little longer once you arrive. It is one of the valley’s best-known names, but the experience still feels polished rather than formulaic, especially if you are looking to mix still-wine cellar doors with something more celebratory.

Also in Coldstream, Oakridge Wines is another a winery worth adding to the itinerary at around 1 hour from Peppers Marysville. The cellar door is open daily from 10am to 5pm, and the winery is best known for its single-vineyard focus and sweeping vineyard outlook. It is a good inclusion if you want another classic Yarra Valley stop in the mix without overloading the day.

Shape the weekend at your own pace

There is no need to tick everything off in one go. The wineries closer to Marysville are easy to fold into a more relaxed day, while the Yarra Valley stops lend themselves to a longer outing when you feel like stretching things out a little. That balance is part of what makes Marysville such a good base for a winery weekend.

Back at Peppers Marysville, the pace shifts naturally. Dinner at Andiamo Restaurant & Bar is perfectly placed well after a day out, especially when you are ready for a proper evening rather than another stop on the road.

Pictured: Yering Station
Image credit: Visit Victoria