Yarra Valley Tour for Non Wine Drinkers: Gin, Cider and Beer Without the Wine List

Yarra Valley tour for non wine drinkers: turns out you don't need to like wine to have the best day of your month here. Between an award-winning gin distillery, a fourth-generation cider orchard and a proper farm-to-table brewery, the Red Route has a full day of drinking sorted without a single glass of Chardonnay involved.

The Cider Stop: Napoleone Cider & Orchard Bar

Down in Coldstream, Napoleone's been growing apples and pears on the same family orchard for four generations, and the cider shows it — fresh, fruit-forward, made from what's actually growing outside the door. The Orchard Bar sits right between the trees and the vines, and you can order a tasting paddle of their best ciders and enjoy the view.

The Gin Stop: Four Pillars Distillery

Four Pillars is the distillery that's picked up International Gin Producer of the Year from the IWSC three times over (2019, 2020 and 2023), which is the kind of stat that makes a gin and tonic feel like a genuinely good decision. Botanicals, fresh citrus, proper tasting flights — booking's preferred here, so lock it in before you hop off. They also have a great gin-inspired snack menu which is well worth checking out.

The Beer Stop: Watts River Brewery

Watts River is the small, independent one — a proper farm-to-table brewery pulling around 80% of its brewing grain straight from the brewer's own family farm. Pale ales, a solid IPA, food to go with it, and none of the polish of a big-name operation. Closed Wednesdays, no booking required otherwise, so it slots in easily whenever your route takes you past, plus they make their own pizzas for a little afternoon snack.

Yarra Valley Tour for Non Wine Drinkers: How to String It Together

All three sit on the Red Route, so building a wine-free day is less "careful planning" and more "hop off wherever looks good." Mix in a lunch stop between them and you've got gin, cider, beer and food covered without a single tasting paddle of red wine in sight. It's not really a wine tour at all, if we're honest — the Yarra Valley just happens to be really good at more than one thing.

And because Hop It runs a shared public bus — up to 7 per booking, everyone riding together — nobody's stuck being the designated driver while the rest of the group works through the gin list. Everyone gets to actually enjoy the day, whatever's in their glass.

Hop. Stop. Taste. Repeat.

Plan your Red Route day in the Yarra Valley