The Yarra Valley, one hour east of Melbourne, is Australia's most prestigious cool-climate wine region. The valley's diverse altitudes (50–400m) create two distinct zones: the warmer Lower Yarra (Chardonnay, sparkling) and cooler Upper Yarra (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay). Great Yarra Pinot Noir rivals top Burgundy in elegance and complexity, while Chardonnay shows restraint and mineral precision uncommon in Australian whites. Yering Station, Coldstream Hills, and Oakridge have defined the region's style since the 1980s.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | — | A landmark Yarra vintage — among the finest Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in recent memory. |
| 2022 | — | Fine conditions; Upper Yarra particularly successful for structured, age-worthy Pinot Noir. |
| 2021 | — | Outstanding recovery vintage — Pinot and Chardonnay of exceptional freshness and depth. |
| 2020 | — | Bushfire smoke affected many wines; some producers in unaffected areas produced good quality. |
| 2019 | — | Benchmark Upper Yarra Pinot Noir vintage — wines of Burgundian elegance and precision. |