Private Yarra Valley Wine Tour With Lunch

The best part of this Yarra Valley outing is its private vehicle and personal driver, which lets you enjoy the wine instead of worrying about country roads, parking, petrol, or tolls. You visit Soumah, Yering Station, Hubert Estate, and Greenstone Vineyards, with a wood-fired pizza lunch built into the day.

I like the small group size, capped at 13, and the fact that lunch and three tastings are included. I also like the flexible feel reported by the company’s past customers, including help arranging a birthday day out with wine, vodka, and gin. The main drawback is simple: drinks at lunch cost extra, and the seven-hour schedule includes driving time.

Key points at a glance

• Private groups of 6 to 13: Your party travels together rather than joining a large coach.
• Four Yarra Valley stops: The route includes Soumah, Yering Station, Hubert Estate, and Greenstone Vineyards.
• Three tastings included: The day focuses on guided cellar-door visits, with time at each tasting stop.
• Pizza lunch at Hubert Estate: Lunch is served sharing-style, and dietary needs can be catered for.
• Named on-the-day guides: Jacob and James have both led past outings, while Coco handles communication and arrangements.
• Seven hours including travel: A 10:00 am start gives you a full day, but this is not seven hours of uninterrupted tasting.

A private route through the Yarra Valley

The Yarra Valley is close enough to Melbourne for a day trip, yet far enough away to give the day a proper country feel. Vineyards, winding roads, and cellar doors replace the city’s traffic and tall buildings. The route is designed around several short visits rather than one long stay at a single estate.

That format suits me. You get to compare different wineries, winemaking styles, and tasting-room personalities without having to plan the route yourself. Your driver handles the roads and timing, while you keep your attention on the glass, the food, and the views outside the window.

This is a private activity, so only your own party takes part. That matters if you are marking a birthday, arranging a family outing, or simply want to set the tone for the day without sharing a coach with strangers. The minimum is six people, and the maximum is 13, making it better suited to an established group than to a solo booking or a couple.

Pickup is offered, and past arrangements have included collection and return to accommodation. The exact meeting details should be confirmed when booking, since the supplied information gives a 10:00 am start but does not list a single fixed pickup address.

Soumah begins the tasting day

Your first stop is Soumah, where you spend about 45 minutes on a tailored tasting of Yarra Valley wines. This is a useful opening stop because it gets the day moving without asking you to commit to a long cellar-door visit right away.

A 45-minute tasting gives you time to sample the selection and ask questions, while still keeping the route on schedule. The word tailored suggests that the tasting can be shaped around the group, though you should not assume that every bottle or style will be available on every date.

I would treat Soumah as your introduction to the region rather than the main event. You are still fresh, the scenery is beginning to change, and the driver has the rest of the route ahead. If you are new to Yarra Valley wine, this first tasting can help you notice how the later wineries differ.

The stop is included in the tour price. You do not need to arrange a separate tasting ticket, and bottled water is provided on board, one bottle per person.

Yering Station adds a more educational stop

The second winery is Yering Station, an iconic Yarra Valley name where the tour includes a private tasting described as educational. The 45-minute visit keeps the pace brisk, but it should give you more context than simply moving from one pour to the next.

This is likely the stop where you will most appreciate having a guide and a private arrangement. A private tasting can make it easier for your group to ask questions together, rather than trying to follow a general cellar-door flow.

I like the placement of Yering Station after Soumah. By this point, you have already tasted local wine, so the information here has something to compare with. You can start thinking about the differences between estates instead of treating each glass as an isolated sample.

Do keep an eye on the clock. The tour covers four stops in roughly seven hours, and the duration includes travel. A 45-minute tasting is enough for an introduction, but not enough for a slow, extended winery visit.

Hubert Estate brings wood-fired pizza to the middle of the day

Hubert Estate is the longest stop, with about 90 minutes set aside for lunch. The meal is a generous sharing-style wood-fired pizza lunch, and dietary requirements can be catered for when arranged in advance.

This is an important part of the experience. Wine tastings are more enjoyable when you have a proper meal, and a shared lunch gives the group a natural chance to sit down and talk. It also breaks up the tasting schedule before the final winery.

Lunch is included, but drinks at lunch are not. A glass of wine is listed at about $13, so budget for that if you want to continue drinking with the meal. Bottled water is included on the vehicle, but that does not cover extra drinks ordered at the estate.

The sharing format works well for a social group, though it may be less appealing if you prefer to choose an individual entrée. The tour does not describe a fixed pizza menu, so dietary requirements should be supplied before the day rather than left until lunch.

Because the stop lasts 90 minutes, Hubert Estate is more than a quick meal break. You have time to eat without rushing, but the schedule still leaves enough daylight for the final tasting.

Greenstone Vineyards finishes with a different feel

The final stop is Greenstone Vineyards, described as a new cellar door with a fun and alternative tasting. This gives the day a change of mood after the more traditional winery visits.

I like having this kind of contrast at the end. Four similar tastings could start to blur together, especially for anyone in the group who is not a serious wine enthusiast. A different cellar-door style gives you one last point of comparison and may appeal to people who enjoy a less formal tasting experience.

The visit lasts about 45 minutes. As with Soumah and Yering Station, the time is enough for a focused tasting, but you should not expect a long private tour of the property.

The supplied tour details advertise three wine tastings, while the route includes four winery-related stops. Hubert Estate is primarily the lunch stop, and Greenstone is the final tasting visit. If the exact tasting arrangement matters to you, confirm it with Coco’s Tours before booking.

What the driver adds to the day

A private wine tour is only as good as its transport and timing. Here, the driver or tour guide takes care of petrol, tolls, navigation, and the road between cellar doors. That removes the awkward question of who stays sober enough to drive.

The tour information names Jacob and James in connection with past outings. Jacob is described as keeping the group on time while maintaining a relaxed atmosphere, and James is described as entertaining during a birthday trip. Coco is the main contact for arrangements and has handled group planning through a quick online form.

Those details point to a practical strength: communication. One large group used Coco’s Tours for an 11-person birthday celebration, with wine, vodka, and gin included in the chosen plan. That does not mean this exact itinerary automatically includes spirits, but it shows that the operator may be able to discuss a different tasting mix for a private group.

You should still view the day as organized rather than completely free-form. The driver keeps the route moving, and each stop has a set time. If you want to spend several hours at one favorite estate, this is probably not the right format.

Is the listed price good value?

The listed price is $142.73 per person. Since it includes private transportation, a driver or guide, petrol, tolls, three wine tastings, bottled water, and lunch, the value is stronger than the headline number first suggests.

The private vehicle is the biggest part of that value. Hiring transport separately, paying for fuel and tolls, arranging tastings, and finding lunch would take time and could cost more, especially for a group spread across several cars. You are also paying for someone else to manage the route and keep the day on schedule.

Still, the price is not fully all-inclusive in the broadest sense. Lunch drinks are extra, with a glass of wine listed at about $13. Sunscreen and umbrellas are also not provided, so bring your own if the weather calls for them.

The minimum group size of six affects the value. For six people, the per-person price may feel reasonable because the private transport cost is shared across the whole party. For a group of 13, the same rate buys a private day with a larger social atmosphere, but you should be comfortable with a fuller vehicle.

I would compare this tour with the cost of a standard shared wine excursion, but not on price alone. The private pickup option, the ability to arrange a celebration, and the absence of a designated driver can make this a better fit for a group that values ease and privacy.

Who will enjoy this seven-hour outing?

I would recommend this tour most strongly to groups of six to 13 people who want a ready-made day in the Yarra Valley. It suits birthday groups, visiting friends, family outings, and small work or social groups that want to stay together.

It is also a good choice if nobody in your party wants to drive after tasting wine. The included vehicle and driver remove that concern, while the bottled water and lunch help keep the day comfortable.

Wine beginners should find the route approachable. The visits are short, and the Yering Station tasting is educational. You do not need to plan a personal winery route or know which estates to choose.

Serious wine collectors may want more time at each winery. The schedule favors variety and convenience over a slow, detailed examination of one estate. You also have less control over the exact pace than you would with a car and a self-planned route.

Solo visitors and couples should note the minimum of six. This is not a casual hop-on wine bus where you can book one seat and join a mixed group. It is built around a private party.

Practical details to sort out before you go

The tour starts at 10:00 am and lasts about seven hours, including the drives between stops. Pickup is offered, but the available information does not specify every pickup address, so confirm where the vehicle will meet you.

The activity is available by mobile ticket, and booking confirmation is sent within 48 hours, subject to availability. The minimum drinking age is 18, and most people can take part.

Bring sunscreen and consider packing an umbrella. Neither is included, and Yarra Valley weather can affect how comfortable you feel moving between the vehicle, cellar doors, and lunch.

You receive one bottled water per person on board. Lunch is included, but order and pay for any additional lunch drinks separately. Tell the operator about dietary needs in advance so the meal can be prepared appropriately.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded or accepted.

Should you book Coco’s private Yarra Valley tour?

Book it if you have six to 13 people and want a simple, social day with private transport, three tastings, and lunch already arranged. The route gives you four distinct stops, and the driver takes care of the practical work that can make a wine day tiring.

I would be especially comfortable choosing it for a birthday or group celebration. Coco’s Tours has handled large birthday arrangements, and the communication process appears suited to groups with specific plans.

Think twice if you want long, unhurried visits at a single winery, a completely custom route, or drinks included with lunch. For everyone else, the combination of food, wine, scenic driving, and a private vehicle makes this a well-organized way to spend a day outside Melbourne.

FAQ

How long is the private Yarra Valley wine tour?

The tour lasts about seven hours, including travel time between the stops.

What time does the tour start?

The stated start time is 10:00 am.

How many people are required to book?

The minimum group size is six people.

What is the maximum group size?

The maximum is 13 people.

Is transportation included?

Yes. Private transportation, a driver or tour guide, petrol, and tolls are included.

Is pickup available?

Yes, pickup is offered. Confirm the exact meeting location when booking.

Which wineries are included?

The route visits Soumah, Yering Station, Hubert Estate, and Greenstone Vineyards.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is a generous sharing-style wood-fired pizza meal at Hubert Estate.

Are drinks at lunch included?

No. Drinks at lunch cost extra. A glass of wine is listed at about $13.

What is the cancellation policy?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the local start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted or refunded.