TarraWarra Yarra Valley Winery, Restaurant & Cellar Door

TarraWarra Estate on Healesville-Yarra Glen Road is one of the Yarra Valley's marquee wineries, all modern architecture, a lake and estate-grown chardonnay and pinot noir. Dogs are reported as welcome in the outdoor areas, but the estate does not publish a formal pet policy, so phone ahead before you build a day around it.

Dogs at TarraWarra

Visitors report dogs being welcome at the alfresco dining tables and on the lawns and gardens, but not inside the restaurant or the cellar door tasting room. Confirm when you book, mention the dog, and ask for an outdoor table. Bring your own water bowl, this is a polished venue rather than a casual lawn bar, and it suits settled dogs who will lie quietly through a long lunch. It is not a run-around venue.

Pepsi: tell them about the dog when you book, not when you arrive. Outdoor tables go quickly on weekends and turning up hopeful rarely ends in a seat.

Worth knowing

The restaurant runs a set menu format, with a vegan menu among the options and wine pairings built around the estate chardonnay and pinot noir. The TarraWarra Museum of Art shares the property; dogs cannot go inside, but the grounds and paths around the building make a good leg stretch before lunch. Opening hours run 11am to 5pm, Tuesday to Sunday.

Getting there and parking

The address is 311 Healesville-Yarra Glen Road, Yarra Glen, about an hour's drive from Melbourne, with on-site parking. Midweek is the calm option; weekends bring tour groups and full alfresco tables.

Pair it with

Yarra Glen village is a few minutes back down the road, where The Vallie Store covers the coffee-and-provisions stop. If you want lawn time after lunch, Yarrawood Estate and Greenstone Vineyards both take dogs on their lawns, and SOUMAH of Yarra Valley is a relaxed dog-friendly stop on the Gruyere side.

More options are on the Victoria wineries guide and the Yarra Glen destination page.