Yes, Thursdays to Sundays. Pastries, sandwiches and the famous Peach Melba dessert.

Coombe Estate

Q: What makes Coombe Yarra Valley wines special?

They’re estate-grown wines with a cool climate style — elegant structure, balanced acidity and a sense of place tied to Melba’s former property.

Step through the hedge and into Coombe Yarra Valley, and you’ll feel the past meet the present. The first time I drove down Coombe Lane, past the historic clock tower and into the courtyard, I knew this wasn’t just another cellar door on the Yarra Valley circuit. It’s where the spirit of Dame Nellie Melba still lingers — in the gardens, the architecture and even the wine.

If you ever wanted a day of cool climate Pinot Noir and grand storytelling, this is the place. Between Melba’s Coombe Cottage and the a la carte restaurant, you’ll find seven acres of beauty, art and gourmet delights — all within an hour of Melbourne.

The Story Behind the Gate — A Legacy Worth Keeping

Before it was a wine destination, this was Melba’s sanctuary — known as Coombe Cottage. Purchased in 1909 by opera singer Dame Nellie Melba, the Coldstream estate was her private retreat from the spotlight. She filled it with art and artefacts from her travels and the odd celebrity guest — Winston Churchill and royalty among them.

The house is still in the Melba family, and her great-grandson, Peter Clemenger, founded Coombe Farm Estate to ensure the property’s evolution from private home to living landmark. The surrounding Coombe Hill estate, Warren House and the original motor house still have their Edwardian charm and have been restored to the same standards Melba would have demanded.

Melba’s Garden Walk and the Rose Arbour are a living tribute — a fragrant journey through time guided by trained horticultural staff and Melba historians who will share the soprano’s larger-than-life stories.

A Walk Through Time — The Heritage Gardens

Landscape designer William Guilfoyle of Royal Botanic Gardens fame shaped these seven acres into one of Victoria’s most beautiful private gardens. You’ll wander beneath elms, past native gardens and towards the historic clock tower and Coombe Conduit, all part of Melba’s original vision for a self-sustaining estate. In spring, wisteria climbs the stone walls near Coombe House, in summer, the climbing roses near the Coombe Garden Walk bloom, and in autumn, the oaks along Coombe Warren Lodge turn to amber and crimson.

From Opera Notes to Wine Notes

The Coombe Yarra Valley wines are estate-grown, hand-made and full of local flavour. From the Coombe Hill estate vineyards to the cool slopes near Coldstream, the soils and microclimates produce wines that reflect the region’s gentle mornings and crisp afternoons.

Here’s a closer look at their range:

Wine	Tasting Notes	Highlights
Pinot Noir	Aromas of ripe red cherries, satsuma plum, and subtle French oak; mid-weighted palate and silky texture.	Award-winning from Coombe Farm Estate, perfect with duck or mushroom risotto.
Chardonnay	Brilliant pale straw colour, with white peach, dried honey, and cashew scents; biscuit characters from yeast lee ageing.	Shows beautiful balance and bottle age potential.
Sparkling Wine	Lifted a red apple and citrus notes, fine bead, subtle baked apple, and biscuit nougat.	Crafted in the Traditional Method, echoing Melba’s European travels.
Rosé	Light, dry, and floral with nectarine fruits and a touch of strawberry.	Perfect for picnics or garden high tea.
Cabernet Sauvignon	Dark cherry, blackcurrant, and cedar spice.	Structured yet elegant — a true Coldstream classic.

Each pour tells a story — part viticulture, part melody. The Coombe Yarra Valley wine tastings are relaxed but informative, often led by cellar-door staff who’ve worked across multiple Yarra producers. They’ll happily explain the soil composition or vintage variation while topping up your glass.

Insider Tip: ask about their “Special Order Product” listings or Online Orders with click & collect — handy if you’re road-tripping and don’t want bottles rattling around the boot.

The Cellar Door Experience — More Than a Tasting

I’ve visited a lot of cellar doors, but few strike the balance between polish and personality quite like this one. The Coombe Estate Cellar Door sits inside a beautifully restored stable — all exposed beams, original brickwork and sunlight bouncing off polished timber. You’ll get a choice between a standard tasting flight or a premium selection, which often includes limited-release or museum wines.

They serve water and small nibbles (a nice touch, especially if you’re pacing yourself between wineries). And yes — you can take your glass out into the courtyard, where the scent of lavender mingles with wood smoke from the kitchen next door. Insider tip: ask for their Pinot Noir vertical tasting if it’s available. It’s a fascinating look at how the same vineyard evolves across vintages — especially after a wet Yarra Valley year.

A Long Lunch Worth Savouring

If you’ve ever dreamt of a “proper” Yarra Valley lunch — the kind with linen napkins, estate wine in your glass and a garden view — the Coombe Restaurant delivers. The menu champions local produce, with dishes that change seasonally. Chef Neil Cunningham and his team go big on fresh flavours — think confit duck leg with Yarra Valley pinot jus or a delicate seafood risotto that pairs perfectly with their Chardonnay.

The dining room looks straight out onto the gardens, framed by century-old hedges and climbing roses. It’s classy without being pretentious — you can walk in wearing boots and still feel welcome.

Local ingredients you might spot:

Coldstream Dairy goat cheese
Healesville Smokehouse trout
Yarra Valley truffles (winter special)
Olives from Mount Zero

And for dessert? The Melba Peach — a nod to the opera star’s famous dish, reinvented with Yarra Valley flair.

Events, Weddings and the Yarra Valley Connection

Coombe Estate isn’t just a winery — it’s one of the region’s most popular event venues. With vineyard views, garden backdrops and a historic homestead, it’s a photographer’s dream.

They host everything from intimate elopements to full-scale weddings under fairy-lit marquees. Corporate groups love it too — especially for long-table lunches or product launches. But even if you’re not tying the knot or closing a deal, you can catch one of their music events or seasonal dinners that showcase local chefs and winemakers.

If you’re visiting the Yarra Valley for the weekend, Coombe pairs nicely with:
Coldstream Hills (wine tasting)
Healesville Sanctuary (wildlife)
Four Pillars Gin Distillery (nightcap)
TarraWarra Museum of Art (culture)

Practicalities — How to Plan Your Visit

Getting to Coombe is simple: follow the Maroondah Highway from Melbourne, about 60 kilometres east. You’ll spot the tall hedge and Coombe Hill Golf Course opposite the main gate — a good marker that you’ve arrived.

Detail	Info
Location	673 Maroondah Highway, Coldstream VIC 3770
Opening Hours	Cellar Door: Wed–Sun 10 am–5 pm / Restaurant: Wed–Sun 12–3 pm
Bookings	Recommended for tastings and essential for dining
Accessibility	Wheelchair-friendly paths and facilities
Family Friendly	Yes (though garden tours are better suited to adults)
Best Season	Spring for gardens, Autumn for wine colour
Contact	(03) 9739 0173 or [email protected]

Travel tip: In summer, bring a water bottle — the courtyard gets warm by midday. In winter, the fire is roaring, and it’s one of the coziest lunch spots in the Valley.

A Personal Story

Last time I visited Coombe, I only meant to stay an hour. A tasting, maybe a few photos, then on to Healesville. But the Chardonnay was crisp, the duck confit smelled too good, and before I knew it, I was wandering through the garden with a coffee, and the day had simply slipped away.

There’s something timeless about this place — like it makes you slow down and listen to the echoes of Melba’s era while you’re sipping the present. I reckon that’s the magic of Coombe: it’s not a museum frozen in time nor a modern winery trying too hard. It’s both — beautifully — a living landmark.