Situated in the heart of the stunning Yarra Valley, the Chateau Yering Hotel offers a luxury modern getaway with all the sophistication of the 19th century. This 180-year-old Heritage-listed estate offers a full five-star experience from its highly acclaimed restaurants to the beautiful views of the Yarra River and the Great Dividing Range beyond. Being the site of the first ever vineyard planted in the Yarra region and boasting its own stone wine cellar full of a comprehensive collection of Yarra Valley wines, this destination is a must-visit for any wine enthusiast.
This sumptuous hotel offers 32 luxury suites, each individually decorated to reflect the affluence and grandeur of the building’s era. Elly Milner – the Chateau’s interior designer – sourced antique furniture, art pieces, and fine fabrics from all over the world to transport you to the refined eighteen hundreds. The perfect symbol of this lovely care and design is the Yering suit; located in pride of place at the upper floor of the Chateau and with its own private staircase.
The wondrous gardens surrounding the entirety of the Chateau Yering Hotel are also Heritage listed and have being reinvigorated to their full glory. This full external restoration is inclusive of a magnificent antique bronze crane which is the centrepiece of the formal front garden. At the rear of the property there are walking trails stretching across the estate’s 2.7 kilometre frontage of the Yarra River and towards Yarra Glen, a prime picnic facility with lovely views.
Named after one of the original owners of the Chateau, Eleonore’s is the Chateau’s elegant fine dining restaurant. Eleonore de Castella had been enticing the ‘high society’ to the Chateau since the mid-19th century, it’s only fitting that such a restaurant continue this honour in her name. Utilising fresh local produce and the skill of the restaurant’s team of international chefs, this dining experience has maintained a one-hat rating in the Good Food Guide for thirteen consecutive years along with being Winner of Australia’s Best Fine Dining Restaurant.
Similarly, the hotel’s light-filled Sweetwater Café is just as beautiful. Although this café was a later addition to the property, it is still built in the style of the 19th century as a gorgeous atrium. Breakfasts and extravagant weekend brunches held here offers the highest elevation to a bed-and-breakfast experience.
To complement the high achievements of the Chateau’s restaurants and the hotel itself, the facilities offered are of the highest quality. After a game of tennis on the private courts, guests can relax in the outdoor pool or play a round of croquet of the green lawns. Later in the evening patrons can visit the fully stocked cocktail bar, unwind by the open fireplace in the library, or indulge without even needing to leave the suite with a massage or facial.
Best of all, the Chateau Yering Hotel can also organise your private pick up or drop off to the international airport, and of course, the finest way to beat the Melbourne traffic is via a helicopter.
If you would like to experience this opulent retreat the hotel offers many five-star accommodation packages. A must have for any wine lover is the Chandon Package. This adventure includes a one night stay in the luxurious Yering Suite with a bottle of the finest Domaine Chandon NV Sparkling in your suite on arrival, followed by a self-guided tour and tasting at Domaine Chandon Winery, and ending the night with a three course a la carte dinner and cocktail at Eleonore’s.
Whether you enjoy fantastic views, the best fine dining, or an incredibly elegant all-encompassing experience the Chateau Yering Hotel has it all. For your next vacation away, let this exquisite destination take you back in time and marvel you with its refined nature.
By McKenzie Downey