---
title: "Best Wineries for Lunch in the Yarra Valley"
canonical: https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/best-wineries-for-lunch-in-the-yarra-valley/
date: 2026-09-22 15:04:40
description: "Discover the best Yarra Valley wineries for lunch — Rochford, Soumah, Killara, Tokar Estate & Domaine Chandon. Book a small group or private wine tour with Chillout Travel."
categories: [Uncategorized]
---

## Best Wineries for Lunch in the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is one of Australia’s most celebrated cool-climate wine regions, and if there’s one thing locals and visitors agree on, it’s that the food is just as impressive as the wine. Rolling vineyard views, award-winning kitchens, and cellar doors that know how to host a crowd make this one of Melbourne’s favourite day-trip destinations.

But not every winery is built for a great lunch experience — especially if you’re travelling with a group. Some venues are stunning for a quick tasting but fall short when it comes to seating, service, or menu variety for larger bookings. After nearly 25 years running wine tours through the Yarra Valley, we’ve learned exactly which cellar doors deliver on both the wine and the meal, and which ones make life easy when you’re booking for a group.

Here are our five favourite Yarra Valley wineries for lunch — all tried, tested, and loved by our guests.

### 1. Rochford Wines

[](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Rochford.png)
A Rochford red pairs perfectly with charcuterie and croquettes on the terrace overlooking the valley.

Rochford is one of the most iconic names in the Yarra Valley, and for good reason. Perched on a hill overlooking the vineyard, the restaurant delivers sweeping views across the valley that make it one of the most photographed lunch spots in the region. The menu leans into modern Australian cuisine with a strong focus on local and seasonal produce, and the wine list (naturally) puts their own cool-climate drops front and centre.

Rochford is also known for hosting major events — including the annual A Day on the Green concert series — so the team is genuinely experienced at handling groups of all sizes without missing a beat. Whether you’re celebrating a birthday, a hens’ day, or simply gathering friends for a long lazy lunch, Rochford’s combination of scenery, service, and food makes it a standout.

### 2. Soumah of Yarra Valley

[](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Soumah.jpg)

Soumah’s Italian-inspired sharing plates, best enjoyed with a glass of their estate-grown red.

Soumah has built a reputation as one of the most stylish cellar doors in the Yarra Valley, and the food menu matches that reputation. Drawing on the family’s Italian heritage, Soumah’s kitchen serves share-style plates designed for relaxed, social dining — think handmade pasta, wood-fired dishes, and produce sourced straight from the property’s own kitchen garden.

The setting is contemporary and welcoming, with both indoor dining and outdoor terrace seating looking out over the vines. It’s a wonderful venue for groups who want a slightly more casual, convivial lunch experience, with plenty of dishes designed to be shared around the table. Soumah’s wines — particularly their Savarro and Sangiovese — are also a great match for the food-forward menu.

### 3. Killara Estate

[](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Killara-Lunch.png)

A generous spread of shared plates at Killara Estate — perfect for group lunches in the Yarra Valley.

Killara Estate offers one of the most complete Yarra Valley experiences going around. With a beautifully appointed restaurant, sweeping vineyard and valley views, and a genuinely warm approach to hospitality, it’s a firm favourite with our guests.

What sets Killara apart for group lunches is the flexibility of the venue — there’s ample space to accommodate larger bookings comfortably, along with a menu built around fresh, seasonal Australian fare designed to please a variety of tastes. It’s an easy venue to work with for groups, which matters a lot when you’re coordinating a day out for family, friends, or colleagues. Add in the estate’s polished cellar door and you’ve got a lunch stop that consistently impresses first-time visitors and Yarra Valley regulars alike.

### 4. Tokar Estate

[](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Tokar-Lunch.png)

From salt and pepper squid to chilli prawns, Tokar Estate’s lunch menu is built for sharing.

Tokar Estate combines old-world Tuscan-inspired architecture with modern Yarra Valley wine and food. The restaurant’s grand, light-filled dining room and expansive terrace make it a picturesque setting for lunch, particularly on a sunny day when the vineyard views are on full display.

The kitchen focuses on refined, seasonally driven dishes that pair naturally with Tokar’s estate-grown wines, and the venue has plenty of room to host groups without feeling cramped or rushed. Tokar is a wonderful choice for guests who want a slightly more elevated lunch experience, while still enjoying the relaxed, come-as-you-are atmosphere the Yarra Valley is known for.

### 5. Domaine Chandon

[](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/Domaine.jpg)

Raising a glass at Domaine Chandon — sparkling wine and a relaxed shared lunch overlooking the vines.

No list of Yarra Valley lunch venues would be complete without Domaine Chandon. As one of the valley’s most established and internationally recognised producers, Chandon pairs its famous sparkling wines with a menu built for long, leisurely lunches — think shared plates, wood-fired pizzas, and a relaxed terrace looking straight down the vineyard rows to the Yarra Ranges beyond.

Domaine Chandon has hosted large groups and events for decades, so the team is well versed in managing bigger bookings smoothly and efficiently. It’s a venue that consistently delivers — beautiful setting, reliable service, and of course, some of the best sparkling wine in the country. For many of our guests, a stop at Chandon is the highlight of the day.

### What Makes These Wineries Great for Groups

While the Yarra Valley is home to dozens of excellent cellar doors, these five have earned their place on our list for a simple reason: they’re brilliant for group bookings. Great food and wine is one thing, but when you’re organising lunch for eight, twelve, or twenty people, you also need:

- Enough seating and space to host a group comfortably

- A team that’s easy to communicate with when booking

- A menu that works well for a variety of tastes and dietary needs

- An atmosphere that suits a relaxed, social lunch

Rochford, Soumah, Killara, Tokar Estate, and Domaine Chandon consistently tick all of these boxes, which is why they feature so regularly in our Yarra Valley itineraries.

### Let Chillout Travel Take Care of the Details

Chillout Travel has been running wine tours to the Yarra Valley for nearly 25 years, and in that time we’ve come to know this region — and its people — better than just about anyone. We’ve built genuine relationships with the wineries we visit, which means smoother bookings, better tables, and a day that runs exactly as it should.

We offer two ways to explore the Yarra Valley with us:

**Small group / public tours** — perfect for singles, couples, or small groups of friends who want to join a shared day tour without the hassle of organising it themselves. You’ll travel with a friendly mix of fellow wine lovers, guided by an experienced local driver who knows the region inside and out.

**Private tours** — ideal for larger groups of up to 20 people, whether you’re planning a birthday celebration, work function, hens’ day, or simply a day out with friends and family. Choose your own itinerary from our favourite wineries — including all five featured above — and let us handle the logistics while you focus on enjoying the day.

Whichever option suits you, you can relax knowing you’re in experienced hands. No driving, no navigating, no awkward parking — just great wine, great food, and great company.

### Ready to Book Your Yarra Valley Wine Tour?

If a long lunch surrounded by vineyards sounds like your kind of day, get in touch with the Chillout Travel team. We’ll help you build the perfect Yarra Valley itinerary, whether that’s a relaxed public tour or a fully private group experience tailored to you. [Click here for Contact us form ](https://chilloutwinetours.com.au/contact-about-us/)