Things to do

Chocolaterie unveils expansive new Café, showroom and menu Celebrations with a Family Fun Weekend of free activities 7 – 8 December 2019

The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie has revealed an expansive new Café and showroom to coincide with seven years of bringing their wonderland to millions of chocolate loving visitors.

An expansive new Café with the best views in the Yarra Valley – now hosts 300 guests indoor and outdoor with modern seating including booths, communal tables, benches and bright colourful areas where a specially commissioned giant cocoa tree greets visitors. A new Café menu has been part of the makeover with breakfast, brunch, lunch and signature desserts on offer using locally sourced ingredients and as well as seasonal produce from the Chocolaterie’s own kitchen garden and orchard. Newly introduced to the menu are share plates now featuring arancini balls, fish tacos and a half metre Taste of the Valley board.

Other additions include viewing windows to watch the Chocolaterie’s talented French Pastry Chefs at work making dozens of different tarts, gateaux, tortes and cakes fresh each day plus a new giant ice cream cabinet to serve 24 different freshly churned ice creams and sorbets.

There’s an added focus on interaction too, with a Pick ‘n’ Mix experience for chocolate lovers to personalise their chocolate gifts; a Tasting Bar to join hosted tasting sessions, along with an additional Experience Room for hands on chocolate making workshops and educational sessions on the Chocolaterie’s involvement in the Cocoa Horizons program that supports farmers and their communities, ensuring their cocoa is sustainably sourced.

The new Café complements the expanded showroom choc-filled with thousands of different handcrafted chocolates made by the Chocolaterie’s European Chocolatiers along with the further development of the wetlands, 40 acres of landscaped grounds and an orchard that provides fruit & nuts for use in chocolate production and menu items. Free chocolate tastings on arrival are always on offer.

“As we were approaching our eighth year in the Yarra Valley, we wanted to expand and create a bigger and better experience,” said owner Leanne Neeland.

“We’re so pleased to have welcomed over 5 million visitors to our Chocolaterie since we opened in Decemeber 2012 and we can’t wait to share with people of all ages our exciting new additions and experiences,” adds Leanne.

“My husband Ian and I are proud to be employing nearly 100 local staff and we are thankful for the support from local farmers an businesses who supply our wonderful ingredients,” Leanne said.

To celebrate the new look Chocolaterie, a special Family Weekend of free activities and specially scheduled experiences are being staged on 7 and 8 December. A program of free giveaway mini dessert and ice cream treats, free hosted chocolate tasting sessions and visits from Santa are on offer over theweekend, while Christmas Chocolate Making ($8pp) for kids is being held on the Saturday and a kidsentertainer Woody will conduct ukulele workshops, family bush dances and a concert on the Sunday.

What: Celebrating the new look Yarra Valley Chocolaterie

Family Fun Weekend Saturday 7 & Sunday 8 December
A program of free pastry giveaways, ice cream giveaways, special tasting sessions, free chocolates & photos with Santa (10-2pm)
Christmas Chocolate Making Workshop $8pp – Sat 11-1pm
‘Woody’ concert, ukulele workshops, family bush dance – Sun 10-2pm

Where: Yarra Valley Chocolaterie & Ice Creamery
35 Old Healseville Rd, Yarra Glen, Victoria – 40 acres of landscaped grounds & gardens

When: Open every day 9am-5pm except Christmas Day
Free photos with Santa every weekend 10-2pm throughout December

Free Entry

Tel: 03 9730 2777

Web: www.yvci.com.au