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Best Dog Friendly Wineries Yarra Valley – Our experience with Pooches and Pinot’s Tasting Wine Tour in the Yarra Valley, visiting several dog-friendly wineries.
The Yarra Valley is a beautiful wine region in Victoria, just an hour from Melbourne. It is a popular destination for locals and tourists alike. As Melbourne residents we have visited the Yarra Valley several times with our two small dogs. We have always had a hard time walking the dog. But then Helen from Pooches and Pinot Wine Tours contacted us after reading our blog about South Australia’s dog-friendly wine regions for a personalized wine tour of the Yarra Valley. His hospitality and attention to detail in customizing our experience convinced us to try one of their wine tours. Through the Pooches Wine Tour and Pinot Tasting Experience, we experienced just how dog friendly the Yarra Valley really is and fell in love all over again with this beautiful wine producing region.
Best Dog Friendly Wineries Yarra Valley
Pooches and Pinot is a small wine tour company founded by Jeff and Helen, the two amazing people behind the operation. They do it all, including preparing personalized itineraries, collecting guests and driving guests and their dogs to the best dog-friendly wineries in the Yarra Valley. They offer half-day, full-day and customized tasting tours with pick-up and drop-off within the 75km perimeter of the Yarra Valley at an additional cost (pick-up and drop-off within the Yarra Valley is free). They are currently the only dog wine tour company operating in the Yarra Valley and are loved by the community and it shows when you travel with them.
Your Posh Pooch’s Gourmet Day
We did a tasting tour, which included visiting five wineries and at each stop tasting wines that were perfectly paired with different foods. All of the wineries we visited were dog friendly; We are welcome inside the cellar door or when the weather is not good. Van Pooches and Pinot Mercedes (there are two, we traveled with the smaller one) are roomy enough to carry your dog in front or behind you. Pooches and Pinot provide dog beds and seat belts, bandanas, tennis balls and puppy (and human) food. We decided to bring our own car seat and harness for the dog, but you can discuss all of that with Helen before the tour.
Our guide, Jeff (also co-owner of Pooches and Pinot) was very friendly, outgoing, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. My partner, a wine geek, really enjoyed learning more about wine and learning how to taste to really appreciate the complexity. Fun fact: Jeff is also a singer-songwriter, so if you’re a fan of 70s and 80s music, ask him to play one of his CDs; We really enjoy talking about all things car music.
Our first stop was Vince’s Rob Dolan, who set the scene perfectly for what was to come. This winery is absolutely beautiful and makes a perfect wedding venue (dog parents who want to get married at a winery!?). The wonderful staff here not only gave us a warm welcome but treated our children with the same warmth and hospitality. We were treated to a unique breakfast pastry paired with four of their wines, an exclusive item only for the Pooches and Pinot tour. The plate includes butter croissants with sparkling wine, Chardonnay with delicious escargot, Danish Pinot Gris with beautiful Danish raspberries and cherries and Pinot Noir.
But most of all, this winery has everything it takes to be not only dog-friendly, but also dog-friendly (like many places that claim to be dog-friendly these days). Here are some moments:
Pooches And Pinot Wine Tours, Tour, Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges, Victoria, Australia
At our second stop, Mandala Wines, we were greeted by the owner, Charles, who personally handled most of the wine tasting. We recommend doing wine tastings either indoors (yes, you can bring your well-behaved dog inside for a tasting) or outside. Here we have a charcuterie board featuring delicious meats, marinated vegetables/olives and homemade breadsticks with ingredients grown in the winery itself or on nearby farms. This pairs perfectly with some of the best wines we’ve had this year. We discovered that we are big fans of cool climate red wine. We liked the wine here so much that we bought a few bottles to take home. There is also a nice restaurant with outside seating for those who want to have lunch. Mandala Wines is the ideal destination for those who want to dive deeper into the world of winemaking.
We stopped at Still Gate for lunch where we were greeted by the lovely owner Brad. We sat on the wrap-around balcony overlooking the vineyard (completely covered with all-weather, dog-friendly café shutters). Ollie and the Winx were greeted with applause and a bowl of fresh water. Here we did a wine tasting followed by a glass of wine with their 3 course lunch. The lunch was impeccable, with all the produce from the winery, each ingredient shining with beautiful color and flavor. For someone with a background in wine excellence and a scientific background, I found it fascinating to hear Brad’s passion for the scientific methodology of winemaking and his attention to detail in everything he does at Steels Gate.
Payten & Jones is an eclectic little cellar door opposite world-famous giant Four-Pillars, offering wines with a contemporary twist. If you like graffiti, wine and fun places with very good vibes, this is your place. We were treated to a great selection of local wines, Spanish Vermouth, exclusive importer for Fot-Lee Vermouth and a delicious local cheese platter (exclusive of Pooches and other Pinots) that Ollie couldn’t beat.
Our last stop was Boat O’Craigo, where we had the unique experience of tasting five famous wines paired with five chocolates from the Cuvée Chocolates range. We were surprised to find that we loved not only their wine, but also their delicious chocolate (the salted caramel was a standout). Who knew chocolate went well with wine? Ollie and the Winx have a wonderful time here; He was allowed to stretch his legs on the grass. The staff loved the dogs and even wanted to take a photo with Ollie (aren’t they the cutest!). Pawfect ended before our day.
The Best Dog-friendly Wineries In The Beautiful Yarra Valley, Victoria
In conclusion, the Pooches and Pinot Private Tasting Tour is well worth it. It is tailored to your needs. Each winery offers a unique wine and food pairing experience, all included in the price. Best of all, you can chat with Jeff or Helen, both hardworking business owners – fun, local and knowledgeable guides who can drive you and the pups around and cater to your needs. Driving is fun without the responsibility.
I think you must now understand how much we love this experience, so it’s no wonder we recommend it to dog parents who want to kick back and relax in the Yarra Valley with great wine. Let someone else drive, literally and figuratively.
Hello dog lovers! I’m Iro, the proud owner of my two beautiful furries, Oliver and Winky Woof. I want to share our journey of raising two puppies and blogging about pets, including pet adventures, dog recipes, and suggestions for our dog’s best life! Follow us on social media for daily updates ♥
Everything you need to know about places to stay, unique pet-friendly activities like whale watching, and the best dog-friendly restaurants on the Sapphire Coast.
Things To Do In Yarra Valley
By checking this box, you confirm that you have read and agree to our terms of use regarding the storage of data submitted through this form. Sometimes our friends cancel plans, don’t want to drink on a work night, or are just being honest. There is a friend who is annoying but will not let you down – your dog.
Continuing our four-legged journey across the state, today we’re diving into the best wineries to visit with your dog so they can experience the beautiful scenery, top-notch food and quality drinks too.
Located on the beautiful Mornington Peninsula is Green Olive Winery, a stunning property serving Victoria with some of the best wines in the state.
Better than visiting here, you can take your furry friend on a tour of the expansive property, who knows what you might find. But the fun doesn’t stop there, you can enjoy a meal and a drink or two with your dog in their outdoor kitchen (as long as he’s on a lead.) Green Olive also has several dogs, Indy and Rasa, so your dog will some friends will take!
The Ultimate Guide To Pet-friendly Trips In Victoria
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