Enjoy a taste of the Yarra Valley at home with these mouth-watering food and wine pairings.
As a Melbourne-based food fanatic, Jessica Nguyen is no stranger to the Yarra Valley. The beautiful oldest wine region is just over an hour from Victoria's capital city, offering a charming country escape for anyone who loves wine, food or simply time in nature. 'It's one of the most beautiful parts of Victoria,' says Jessica, 'and everyone will find something to love there. There are so many wineries that you can have a completely different experience every time you visit.'
We asked Jessica about her favourite ways to pair Yarra Valley wine with food, and if she has any advice for anyone visiting the region. Ready to be inspired? Then have a read of what she had to say.
- Q.What are your tips for a first-time visitor to the Yarra Valley? Are there any must-try destinations on your list?
'My golden rule is that if you’re planning to do a day trip to explore some wineries, pick no more than three with a place to have some lunch along the way,' says Jessica. 'Your palette will be quite fatigued after the third tasting, so it’s important not to cram too many into the one day.'
If you’re staying for the weekend, Jessica recommends visiting Meletos for a casual lunch, or Oakridge for something more upscale. 'I always love checking out the produce at Yarra Valley Dairy, Yarra Valley Chocolaterie and Cherry Hill Orchards too,' she says, 'then heading to Four Pillars Distillery in Healesville for a gin tasting.' The award-winning distillery also does cocktails and cheese platters for those who are still hungry following lunch.
Yarra Valley sparkling with dumplings
As a cool-climate wine region, the Yarra Valley is known for producing some truly spectacular fizz. They tend to be dry, elegant and made in the méthode traditionelle, bringing those biscuity and nutty notes to the glass, as well as flavours of white peach and apple.
'Sparkling is often enjoyed on its own as a celebratory drink, or with things like oysters, but most people don't realise that it's delicious with dumplings,' says Jessica. 'The dry, fizzy taste of a sparkling provides a nice contrast to the sweet, rich and juicy taste of dumplings.'
Yarra Valley chardonnay with roast chicken
The Yarra Valley is known for its chardonnay and the style of chardonnay varies between producers. Some opt for a leaner, more fruit-driven example reminiscent of France's Chablis wines, while others prefer a fuller-bodied, more textural wine with oak influence.
Jessica recommends pairing this wine with roast chicken, 'Because a Yarra Valley chardonnay always pairs beautifully with lightly grilled or roasted meats. And roast chicken makes for a fantastic winter dinner, especially if you feel like drinking white wine instead of red.'
For a rich roast with all the trimmings, try drinking an oaked chardonnay, which will have more weight and texture than an unoaked example. This will help balance the gravy as well as any lemon zest used to marinade the chicken.
Yarra Valley pinot noir with pine mushroom, burnt butter and sage gnocchi
Like chardonnay, pinot noir is a real specialty of the region. Yarra Valley pinot tends to be bright and crunchy with lots of spice, making it the perfect wine accompaniment for this rich gnocchi dish. 'It's a delicious pairing,' says Jessica, 'as the lightness and acidity balances the burnt butter. Mushrooms and pinot noir are a classic combination too, so this really does tick all the boxes.'
Yarra Valley syrah with a charcuterie board
Love a medium-bodied shiraz? Then this is the pairing for you. The Yarra Valley is known for making a lovely, fresh style of syrah, with an emphasis on fruit rather than oak and peppery spice.
'Yarra syrah will pair really nicely with smoky, cured meats,' says Jessica. 'Think rich, fatty meats like prosciutto, bresaola, jamon and chorizo. You can also grab some cheese from the Yarra Valley Dairy to make up a truly impressive platter.'
Whatever you decide, remember that pairing food and wine is an adventure and it's meant to be fun. There are guidelines but no rules, so throw caution to the wind and experiment with different wines and flavour profiles. Who knows? Maybe one day you'll end up a recipe creator, just like Jessica Nguyen.
Heading to the Yarra Valley? Check out our Yarra Valley Vine Guide for all the ideas and inspiration needed to plan the ultimate Yarra trip.
