Best Dog Friendly Wineries Yarra Valley – Now that Melburnians are starting to explore Victoria again, we thought what better weekend activity than planning a winery tour! But of course we haven’t forgotten our four-legged best friends, all of these wineries are friendly!
Tucks is a beautiful winery located on a ridge in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula wine region. Located next to its sister estate, Montalorta, Tucks offers a relaxing environment for wine and dog lovers. Tucks offers a wide range of food and wine, as well as dog-friendly areas on the patio or sprawling lawn. If you visit Tucks with your dog, be sure to tag your photos with #pupsattucks
Best Dog Friendly Wineries Yarra Valley
Another winery! Located in the heart of the Mornington Peninsula, Green Olive is a family run business consisting of two Kelpies (Russ and Indy) and two Marrems (Pisa and Bachie). Green Olive offers a complete farm experience that’s kid-friendly and dog-friendly. They grow olives, grapes, herbs and vegetables on their 27-hectare farm. So bring your dog and stroll through the vineyard while sampling fresh produce, local tapas and a selection of wines!
Your Posh Pooch’s Gourmet Day
Located in the Yarra Valley, this is one of South Bortol’s famous vineyards and your dog can join you, they have places where you can drink wine with your furry companion. De Bortoli is one of Australia’s most innovative wineries and was named Innovator Winery of the Year for fully integrated innovation in wine at the London International Wine and Spirits Competition. They were also recognized in the top 10 of the Australian Financial Review BOSS’s Most Innovative Companies list – the only winery to be named in the competition! So why not take a trip to this award-winning vineyard and show your dog what the hype is all about!
Established in 1838, Yering is known as Victoria’s first commercial vineyard. Yering is located in the Yarra Valley – the region with the best cool climate in Australia – and is considered one of the leading wineries in the region. Yering offers a wide variety of dining and entertainment options, from a cellar door and restaurant to an open bar and art gallery. Located in Yeringa, the restaurant offers spectacular views of the Yarra Valley and the art gallery hosts a number of exhibitions throughout the year, including the Yarra Valley Sculpture Exhibition and Awards – something for everyone, including the pups! In Yering, dogs are welcome in the open spaces (whirlwind – none of the rogue pups are going to explore on their own!).
Pioneers of Pinot Grigio! Need I say more?! T’Gallant is “inspired by Italy but firmly rooted in the Mornington Peninsula”. T’Gallant is located in an old apple orchard between the mountains of the Main Range. Although they’re known for their wines, they’re almost as famous for their pizzeria, which serves delicious wood-fired pizzas all year round. Oh, and T’Gallant loves his furry friends – in fact, they think they’re “paws”! So next time you’re heading to the Mornington Peninsula, stop by T’Gallant, where you can relax with your dog on the outdoor patio with a glass of prosecco in one hand and a slice of prime pizza in the other!
Share your experiences with us if you visit any (or all!) of these wineries! We recommend calling ahead to make sure the location can accommodate you and your dog on the day you need. Also, if you’re planning on traveling to the vineyard with your dog, be sure to check out our tips for traveling safely with your dog! More information can be found here. The Yarra Valley is less than an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It is known for its many wineries, good food and, of course, great views. It’s also a great place to bring your furry friends, with plenty of options for dogs so they don’t miss out on the fun!
Pooches & Pinot: Dog Friendly Wine Tours
We know everyone on Bourke St enjoys a good wine, a cozy brunch and spending time with their sons. Leading private wine tours of the best cellars, breweries and wineries to visit in the dog-friendly neighborhood, Puches and Pinot know exactly where to go when it’s time to have some fun with their four-legged friends.
With their knowledge and help, we’ve put together the ultimate dog guide to the Yarra Valley with top recommendations for the best cafes, places to stay and walks you can enjoy together. And if you want to visit some dog-friendly wineries in the area, do more than book a private Pucci and Pinot tour!
There are many dog friendly accommodation options in the Yarra Valley, from farmhouses to beautiful apartments and caravan parks. Here’s our summary:
You can enjoy great food and hospitality at many dog-friendly outdoor cafes. Some cafes even offer puppy treats so no one misses out! Our experience with Pooches and Pinot’s Tasting Wine Tour in the Yarra Valley, visiting some of the best dog-friendly wineries.
Things To Do In Yarra Valley
The Yarra Valley is a beautiful wine region in the state of Victoria, just an hour’s drive from Melbourne. It is a popular destination for both locals and tourists. As Melbourne residents we have been to the Yarra Valley many times with our two pups. We have always had a hard time dealing with dogs. But Helen from Pooches and Pinot Wine Tours contacted us after reading our blog about South Australia’s wine regions to organize a personalized wine tour of the Yarra Valley. His friendliness and attention to detail in setting up our experience convinced us to try one of their wine tours. During the Pooches Wine Tour and Pinot Tasting we experienced how dog friendly the Yarra Valley really is and fell in love all over again with this beautiful winery area.
Pooches and Pinot is a small Wine Tour company founded by Jeff and Helen, the two amazing people behind the operation. They do everything including creating a custom itinerary, collecting guests and taking guests and their children to the best dog friendly wineries in the Yarra Valley. They offer customized half-day, full-day and tasting tours with pick-up and drop-off within 75km of the Yarra Valley for an additional fee (Yarra Valley pick-up and drop-off is free). They are the only dog guided wine tour company currently operating in the Yarra Valley and are well loved by the community and it shows when you travel with them.
We took a tasting tour that included a tour of five wineries and a wine tasting that was perfectly paired with different foods at each stop. All of the wineries we visited were completely dog friendly; if the weather wasn’t ideal, we were waited on at the cellar door or in the covered areas. The Pooches and Pinot Mercedes van (there are two of them, we drove in the smaller one) is spacious enough to take a dog in the front or back. Doggies and Pinots provide pups (and humans) with dog beds and harnesses, tennis balls and snacks. We chose the car seat and harness for the Great Dane ourselves, but you can inform Alena about all this before the trip.
Our guide Jeff (who also co-owns Pooches and Pinot) was extremely friendly, personable, passionate and knowledgeable. My partner, who is new to wine, enjoyed learning more about wine and how to taste it to appreciate the complexity. Fun fact: Jeff is also a singer-songwriter, so if you like 70s and 80s music, ask him to play some of his CDs; we loved talking about music in the car.
Our Top Yarra Valley Dog-friendly ‘fireside’ Wineries And Stays For 2024
Our first stop was Rob Dolan Wines, which set the perfect stage for what was to come. This winery is so beautiful and perfect for a wedding (do dog parents want to get married at a winery!?). The wonderful staff here not only made us feel welcome, but also treated our pups with the same warmth and hospitality. We were treated to a unique breakfast pastry with four wines, exclusive only to the Pooches and Pinot tours. On the plate was a creamy croissant with sparkling wine, their famous Chardonnay with a lovely escargot, a Pinot Gris with a raspberry Danish and a Pinot Noir with a beautiful cherry Danish.
But most importantly, this winery met all the requirements to be dog friendly, not just dog tolerant (like many places that claim to be dog friendly these days). Here are some highlights.
At the second stop, Mandala Wines, we were greeted by the owner, Charles, who personally conducts most of the wine tastings. We had the option of doing the wine tasting inside (yes, you can bring your well-behaved dog) or outside. Here we were treated to meatloaf with delicious corned beef, pickled vegetables/olives and breadsticks made with local ingredients.
