Tokar Estate

Tokar Estate is a family-owned boutique winery on McMurtrie Road at Coldstream, set high enough to give the cellar door long, elevated views across the Yarra Valley. For dog owners the value is the outdoor seating with those views, where a well-behaved dog can sit with you over a tasting or a grazing platter.

The dog setup. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome in the outdoor areas of the cellar door, not in the indoor restaurant or tasting room. The outdoor seating is the prize for the view, but it is limited, so book ahead rather than chance a walk-in with a dog. Bring your own water and bowl.

Good to know. The estate does the Yarra Valley staples well, with pinot noir, chardonnay and tempranillo, plus premium tastings and chocolate-and-wine pairings. Food runs to cheese boards and grazing platters, so it suits a long, seated stop rather than a quick taste.

Getting there. Ample free gravel parking surrounds the cellar door at 36 McMurtrie Rd, with a flat gravel path from the car park to the door. It is roughly an hour from the Melbourne CBD.

Nearby with the dogs. Yarra Glen village, five to ten minutes on, has dog-friendly cafes with outdoor seating, and several neighbouring Maroondah Highway wineries take dogs outside.

Book the outdoor seating ahead, especially on weekends, since the dog-friendly tables are the ones with the view and they go first. Good for a long, scenic sit-down.

Sources

• Tokar Estate - Cellar Door · tokarestate.com.au

Compiled from public sources and verified listings. Always confirm current rules with the venue or council before you travel.