The Yarra Glen Business and Tourism Association is excited to announce the launch of our “S.L.I.P. - Shop Local It Pays” promotion, a new initiative which will encourage us all to shop locally and support the traders within Yarra Glen.

The “S.L.I.P.. - Shop Local It Pays” program will commence mid July and will be supported with a Loyalty Card.  The Loyalty Card can be used wherever you see the S.L.I.P. logo displayed.

There are more than 50 businesses participating in the program and each business will offer benefits and discounts to card holders.

The Loyalty Card, and a handy “S.L.I.P. - Shop Local It Pays” fridge magnet and shopping list will be mailed to Yarra Glen residents mid June.  Additional Loyalty Cards will be available at traders shops and venues that are participating in the program.

Details of this program will also appear in the Lilydale Leader newspaper and Mountain Views Mail.

Further details can be obtained from Cindy at Little Tackers Treasures, Ph: 9730 2662 (business hours)

This promotion has been possible due to funding received by the Yarra Ranges Council.

By supporting our local community we can build a more sustainable future together.  All your shopping needs are catered for at Yarra Glen, and, you will now be rewarded for shopping locally, let’s all get out there and “Shop Local (because) It Pays, in many ways! Click here to download the loyalty card participants list!

About Yarra Glen:

Home to 3000 friendly town folk who want to share their idyllic valley with you and showcase their achievements in agriculture, wine making, tourism and environmental management. Nestled between the Yarra River and the foothills of the Great Dividing Range with nearby Kinglake National Park and Toolangi State Forest , Yarra Glen is only 50Km from the centre of Melbourne . The natural landscape varies from the Billabongs by the river, to pasture for cows and horses, and of course our many vineyards, all with a backdrop of wooded mountain slopes providing shelter for Kangaroos and Cockatoos.

Wineries:

Vineyards have been in the Yarra Valley since Victoria ’s first vineyard was planted by the Ryrie Brothers at Yering Station in 1838. The vineyards were reverted to pasture by 1937 due to a poor economy and re-established in the early 1960’s.

According to the 2004 Wine Growers “Wine & Touring Guide”, Yarra Valley wines are Cool Climate wines grown in an area of mixed soil types, starting 45 km east of the Melbourne CBD and encompassed by the towns of Whittlesea, Kinglake, Toolangi, McMahon’s Creek,Powelltown, Gembrook & Belgrave. This area contains 2500 hectares of vines with an average yield of 5.3 Tonnes/hectare (50% less than the national average).

The main grape varieties being Chardonnay & Sauvignon Blanc in Whites & Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon & Shiraz in reds although over 40 wine varieties & blends (including organic, Kosher & some non-grape wines) are produced by over 100 wineries.

Dining:

The Yarra Valley Food Trail goes through the area. It includes “Farm Gate” sales of seasonal produce, Markets, speciality food shops and cafes and restaurants that use local produce.

We have great restaurants and cafes all over the area. Eleonores at Chateau Yering provides fine dining in an elegant setting, and there are great restaurants and cafes associated with most of our wineries, as well as independent restaurants and cafes. You can have a Degustation meal, wonderful breakfasts, lunches and dinners or just a platter featuring local produce. You will find simple food, slow food, food that is only limited by the chef’s imagination, and all of it is delicious. We are known primarily as a wine region, but our visitors are often surprised by the quality of our food. It would be hard to leave the Valley whilst still hungry, and you can take home some wonderful local produce to prolong your ‘food and wine’ experience!

Accommodation:

You will find a wide range of accommodation in the Yarra Glen area of the Yarra Valley. The most exclusive accommodation is to be found at Chateau Yering Historic House Hotel, the former home of the De Castella Family who settled here from Switzerland to grow grapes in the 1850’s. It is a member of the Relais & Chateau group of hotels.

Other accommodation ranging from in-house B&B.s, self contained cottages, larger houses and family accommodation as well as the historic Yarra Glen Grand Hotel. We even have budget accommodation at TarraWarra Abbey.

Conference facilities can be found at the Yarra Valley Conference Centre, the largest facility in this part of the Yarra Valley, Balgownie Resort apartments and Melba Lodge. Both Immerse and Balgownie Estate offer Spa treatments, while many of the B&B’s offer in-house massages too. You will be surprised at the variety but you will always get a great Yarra Valley welcome to your’ home away from home’.

A short distance from Yarra Glen you will find more accommodation including the Sebel Heritage Hotel and some motels in Lilydale and Healesville.