I have a Yarra Valley-focused tasting coming up this summer and I know very little about Australian wine so I’d like to do a bit of exploring prior to the tasting to get my feet under me. Can anyone recommend a handful of bottles to try over the next couple of months to get a sense for what the Yarra Valley offers? Preferably wines and vintages that are relatively available in the US. I’ll probably grab four or five bottles for this particular introduction. Thanks in advance!
It’s a “cooler” Australia. Region near Melbourne. The original enthusiasm was around Pinot Noir, but I’ve always felt its world class wines were from other grapes. Mount Mary Quintet, an elegant and long lived Bordeaux blend; and Yarra Yerring Dry Red #2, a cote Rotie like Syrah (with dashes of white Rhône grapes).
Both available in the US, but expensive and recent releases too young.
I’m not up to date with the best Pinot Noirs out of Yarra these days.
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If you find yourself in Chicago, I’d be more than happy to pop a nice aged example!
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But, but, Parker didn’t like it 
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That would be terrific! My wife has family in Chicago so I may take you up on that but we don’t have any concrete plans to visit at the moment. And if you find yourself in Maine, don’t hesitate to bring a bottle along with you. It’d be fun to compare alongside some similar-age Bordeaux. 
Mount Mary, Yarra Yering, By Farr/Bindi(technically not in Yarra but close enough) , Oakridge and Bass Philips should be a good starting point
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Do you think 2016 is old enough to drink and a good vintage for Yarra Yering Dry Red No. 2? That vintage seems to be available.
Yes 2016 will be good, we have the 2018 in stock and it is showing very well. The No.2 is my favourite from YY, however their Chardonnay should not be overlooked.
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Id say for both Chard and Pinot Giant Steps is a good example. Timo Mayer is also there, but I would say he is an exceptional producer both in quality and style. He has a broad range from Syrah, Pinot, Gamay and Nebbiolo, but is also a little pricier, but also can be a little more involved with stems and maybe not “typical” in style for the region.
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This should get you started!
Mt Mary
Yarra Yering
Yeringberg
Oakridge
Mayer
Mac Forbes
Hoddles Creek
Giant Steps
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yes good call on Giant Steps, Applejack is a great vineyard. Timo Mayer is unique and some like his style some do not…
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I’d second Mac Forbes, I really enjoy his Village cuvees
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Thanks so much for your help! I’ll see which of these I’m able to source. Are there vintages you would recommend for Yarra Pinot and Chard for drinking now?
Great list Brodie.
Pinot Noir and Chardonay the headline acts but Cabernet blends also very good. Shiraz can do well and also white Rhone varietals. Some more specific reccos.
Chardonnay - Oakridge,864, Giant Steps Single Vineyards, Hoddles Creek
Pinot Noir - Oakridge 864, De Bortoli, Hoddles Creek, Mac Forbes, Levantine Hill
Cabernet Blends - Yarra Yering No 1, Giant Steps Harrys Monster, Yeringberg, Mt Mary Quintet
Shiraz - Yarra Yering Underhill, Yering Station
Sparkling - Oakridge Blanc de Blancs
White Blend - Mt Mary Triolet
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Look for 2021s and 2022s, '23 was a bit of a challenge. '24 looks promising.
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Second vote for By Farr and Bindi. The latter in particular is one of my favorite Aussie producers though as noted, they are technically not in the region.
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By Farr is in Geelong (150km away)
Bindi is in Macedon (105 km away)
Bass Phillips is in Gippsland (140km away)
None are in Yarra Valley and are none are close
These are totally and utterly different wine growing regions with nothing in common with Yarra Valley. Different climates, different soils etc etc
For folks from USA; it is analogous to saying I want a Napa Valley tasting and folks recommending wines from Sonoma Coast or Lodi.
Sorry but I have to disagree with these recommendations. and BTW I love Bindi wines as well.
Of course if the OP actually wants a tasting of wines from the state of Victoria, then we would be making different recommendations.
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We only had part of a day to visit Yarra Valley in February but had many excellent wines at Oakridge and Giant Steps and have purchased some of each in the US.
Minor technical point but if your tasting is supposed to be purely Australian, note that Giant Steps is owned by Jackson Family.
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Good point, But By Farr is an excellent producer and shows more of their style than the Geelong region, If doing a Yarra tasting I would always add a couple of wines from outside Yarra to show the excellent quality of that region in general.
Cheers
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yeah thats why i put a caution about Timo. Hes definitely defined in style, but don’t want to limit to only traditional examples.
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