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A foodie tour of the Yarra Valley

Planning a last minute long weekend away with (or without) the kids? Justine Costigan shares her tips for exploring the Yarra Valley's great food culture.

Justine Costigan

A take home option from the Yarra Valley Pasta Shop ... Fresh fettucine and a tub of basil pesto pasta sauce.
A take home option from the Yarra Valley Pasta Shop ... Fresh fettucine and a tub of basil pesto pasta sauce.Gary Medlicott

The Yarra Valley is blessed with beautiful scenery and some of Victoria's best grape growers and winemakers. As well as the long trail of cellar doors – from small family businesses to wine empires – it's also home to a dedicated group of cider and beer brewers, farmers, coffee roasters, cheesemakers and many other artisan food producers, with a growing cafe and restaurant culture keen to support them. Here are six options for exploring the Yarra Valley's great food culture on the long weekend.

Yarra Valley Pasta

The Colaneri family has been making pasta in the valley since 1997 and their fabulous ravioli include some stunning variations: think beetroot; caramelised onion, goat cheese and almond; fennel; and the hugely popular gorgonzola, prosciutto and fig. Home-made sauces including bolognese, tomato and basil, and tomato, olive and caper are also available. Grab a cool bag and buy some to take home.

Wines, food and beautiful scenery ... Yarra Valley is known for all three. Pictured are vines from the De Bortoli winery.
Wines, food and beautiful scenery ... Yarra Valley is known for all three. Pictured are vines from the De Bortoli winery.Andrew Chapman
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321-325 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, 03 5962 1888. Open Mon-Fri 9am-5pm, Sat 9am-1pm. Closed Monday 10 June. yarravalleypas-ta.com.au

Yarra Valley chocolaterie and ice-creamery

A large showroom featuring more than 150 kinds of chocolates and sweets, a viewing window to the chocolatiers at work and inventive chocolate displays (plus loads of free tastings) has made a visit to the chocolaterie a Yarra Valley must-do since it opened late last year. In cold weather, head straight for the cafe's hot chocolate – a luscious mix of couverture chocolate pastilles (dark, milk or white) and hot milk that comes with a pouring jug of chocolate and a whisk for frothing. Good fun. A covered deck and 16 hectares of rolling lawns, orchard and native garden means sugared-up kids can burn off the extra energy.

Sweet treats ... Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery opened its doors late last year.
Sweet treats ... Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery opened its doors late last year.Rob Carew

35 Old Healesville Road, Yarra Glen, 03 9730 2777. Open daily 9am-5pm. yvci.com.au

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Zonzo

A view across a wide lawn to rolling hills covered with vines means children have plenty of space to run around at this welcoming Italian-style winery, so a lazy long lunch is a definite possibility. The fixed-price sharing menu ($45) is an easy choice but you can also create your own grazing menu from the extensive assaggini, house-made pasta and wood-fired pizza. The well-priced children's menu echoes the quality and care with a choice of simple pizza and pasta dishes. High chairs (first in, first served) and change tables are a bonus.

A pizza from Zonzo at The Train Trak Winery.
A pizza from Zonzo at The Train Trak Winery.Gary Medlicott

Train Trak Winery, 957 Healesville – Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen, 03 9730 2500. Long week-end opening hours: Fri lunch and dinner, Sat lunch only (noon-2pm), Sun lunch and dinner, Mon lunch only. Book-ings recommended. zonzo.com.au

Essenza

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This chic little cafe with a glam Euro feel was once a narrow alley but now brings a city-style ambience to Healesville's main street. Devoted to great produce, with an Italian influence, the simple menu includes breakfast staples as well as panini, and salumi and cheese tasting boards. Drop in for a smooth Silva coffee and cornetto with Jam Lady Jam or linger over antipasto and cheese with an Italian stick tea at lunch.

189-191 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, 03 5962 5081. Open daily 7.30am-5pm. essen-zayarravalley.com.au

Warburton Pantry

With so much beautiful countryside including the Yarra Valley Ranges, Yarra River and plentiful bush walks and scenic waterfalls on your doorstep, supplies for a picnic or scenic walk are a must. At the Warburton Pantry, pick up home-made sausage rolls, fresh local bread, Yarra Valley cheese and home-made chutney, wine and house-made cakes for a special picnic. Or eat in before you head out. Check out parkweb.vic.gov.au for some stunning local walks.

3383b Warburton Highway, Warburton, 03 5966 9688. Open daily 9am-5pm. warburtonpantry.co-m.au

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The Healesville Hotel

The Healesville Hotel has expanded into a mini-empire with hotel and cottage accommodation, next door cafe and produce store, Kitchen & Butcher deli/butcher and a cafe outpost at the Healesville Sanctuary. Stylish and welcoming, the hotel glides effortlessly from beer garden casual (with a cubby to keep kids happy) to the old school dining room glamour. Best of all is the cosy bar with stylish comfort food and open fires. In every part of the empire, great food, with an emphasis on local produce, rules.

Tip: Harvest Sanctuary at the Healesville Sanctuary has clever barbecue packs with handmade sausages, fresh bread, onions, relish, sweets, fruit and drinks to go.

256 Maroondah Highway, Healesville, 03 5962 4002. Healesville Hotel Bar & Garden open daily from noon-9pm. Harvest Cafe, open daily from 8am-4pm. Sanctuary Harvest open daily 10am-4pm. yar-ravalleyharvest.com.au

For the diary

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The Yarra Glen Farmers Market, Sunday June 16

Held on the third Sunday of each month at Yering Station, the market is the best place to sample the Yarra Valley's exceptional produce including local baked bread, wine, honey, preserves, chocolates, ice-cream and cakes.

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