Australia is relatively new to making specialty cheese. Since 1994, Yarra Valley Dairy has been leading the charge.
It has a solid reputation for producing artisan cow’s- and goat’s-milk cheeses in hard, soft and marinated varieties. The cheese shop is one of the main attractions in the Yarra Valley, regularly inspiring afternoon drives from Melbourne.
Cheesemakers at Yarra Valley Dairy draw inspiration from around the world, with a particular focus on the smaller regions in France and Italy. You can taste four types of cheese from the glass counter.
The Ashed Pyramid, a creamy pyramid of goat’s cheese dusted in ash, is an eye-catching speciality. The Bullseye, a hard cow’s-milk cheese, got its name when cheesemakers used it for target practice after they messed up the recipe. The marinated feta varieties are submerged in olive oil, herbs and spices.
The accompanying milking-shed cafe is a good breakfast stop before a day of visiting Yarra Valley wineries. Grab a coffee, a cheese plate and enjoy the view from the early-1900s building looking out onto a neighbouring farm.
Like many venues in the Yarra Valley, the cheese shop spruiks the “one hour from Melbourne” selling point. If you choose to pop in for some afternoon tea, you could be back before the sun goes down.
Explore the Yarra Valley further in our detailed Out of Town to the Yarra Valley guide.
