Yarra Ridge

From the lofty heights of Yarra Ridge, the Yarra Valley unfolds before you. It’s a vista painted with vineyards and shadowed by the Great Dividing Range. Yarra Ridge itself isn’t simply a peak. It’s a silent witness to a history stretching back over 30,000 years, to the time of the Wurundjeri people. They are the traditional landowners of this region, and their name for the Yarra River, “Birrarung,” means “place of mists and shadows.” The name perfectly captures the valley’s ethereal beauty. An Aboriginal dreamtime story tells how a wedge-tailed eagle carved the Yarra River into the landscape, creating the valley and shaping the very ground beneath Yarra Ridge. Today, the Yarra Valley is renowned globally as a premier cool-climate wine region. Along the ancient riverbed, nestled among the protective embrace of the mountains, lie 2,837 hectares of vineyards. The diverse geography of the Yarra Valley, influenced by Yarra Ridge and its surroundings, allows for varied climates and soil types. These variations give rise to a wide array of wines, from classic varietals to exciting new styles. Imagine the Ryrie brothers, Scottish-born pioneers, planting the first recorded vines here in 1838, at a property now known as Yering Station. By the late 19th century, winemakers believed Yarra Valley pinot noir and cabernet rivaled their French counterparts. A decline in viticulture followed in the 1920s and 30s, with dairying becoming more profitable. By 1937, commercial vineyards had disappeared entirely. The Yarra Valley’s viticultural story resumed in the 1960s. Driven by a renewed interest in winegrowing, new vineyards emerged, focusing on pinot noir, chardonnay, and cabernet. From these small beginnings, the Yarra Valley has blossomed into a world-renowned wine region, a testament to the enduring spirit of the land watched over by Yarra Ridge.