Seville Hill Winery is a place you’ll find at 8 Paynes Road in Seville — where the edge of Melbourne’s eastern suburbs finally gives way to the picturesque Upper Yarra Valley’s vineyards and orchards. It’s a small outfit, really a family winery rather than some big commercial place: people head out here for the Cellar Door, Seville Hill Vineyard, the occasional jazz night and some of the region’s more unusual wines — you know, not just Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
That’s part of the charm for me: Seville Hill has managed to avoid becoming one of these grand Yarra Valley estates. The current wine tasting is about a 45-minute affair, covers five wines, and costs A$10 a head. And the best bit is, it’s just intimate enough that you get a real feel for the family’s property behind the label.
The Cellar Door And Vineyard
John and Josie D’Aloisio started Seville Hill back in 1991 – following on from the family’s earlier involvement in the local agricultural industry. They’ve got a history of growing fruit and vegetables, and that past still shows in the vineyard. The soil is red volcanic stuff, and because of its elevated position, the winery reckons it’s one of the cooler spots around Seville.
That past still comes through when you walk the vineyard—it doesn’t feel like you’re visiting some big, separate place. The orchards, the vines, and the rolling farmland all blend together as the land rises towards the Warburton Valley. There’s a lot less pomp and ceremony here than you get at some of the bigger wineries in the Yarra Valley. But then that’s part of what makes it so appealing.
Seville Hill Wines cover all the bases — you’ve got your Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Cabernet Sauvignon, but they also do some Italian varieties like Merlot, Sangiovese, Nebbiolo, Barbera and Tempranillo—and they even make some Sparkling Wines. If you’re planning on doing a few cellar doors, those Italian varieties really make a difference. They add a bit more variety to the red wines and break up the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Choose The Right Time To Visit
As of September 2026, the Cellar Door is open on Saturdays and Sundays, 10 am–5 pm. A standard tasting costs A$10 per person, includes five wines and lasts up to 45 minutes; groups are capped at 10 people.
Official pages differ slightly on bookings: one says they are required, another recommends them for larger groups. The practical answer is simple: book before making the drive.
Summer Jazz
From roughly October to April, the mood changes. Summer Jazz moves onto the terraced lawn and deck, although individual dates vary. A February 2026 session ran from 12.30–4.30 pm, with a jazz musician, Live Music, food and provisions to continue indoors in poor weather.
A four-hour jazz afternoon is not an extended tasting; it changes the shape of the day. I prefer Seville Hill when there is enough time to let the afternoon settle rather than treating it as another pin on a winery map. The open lawn, vineyard and distant ranges make more sense at that pace.
Shedfest
Shedfest runs on 10–11 October 2026, from 11 am to 5 pm, bringing more than 16 family-owned wineries into the weekend. Entry is A$35 per person; at Seville Hill, tapas-style bites and cheese boxes are A$20. For two, A$110 covers entry and one food item each — a useful starting figure before another glass, a bottle to take home, or the cost of getting around.
Plan Your Stop
Allow about one hour for an ordinary visit; the tasting itself lasts up to 45 minutes. Do not assume a full restaurant operates every weekend. Food is well documented for jazz and special events, so confirm availability if lunch or wine pairing is important.
Seville Hill is listed as family-friendly and has a car park, but detailed information on step-free access, accessible toilets and parking is not sufficiently published. Travellers with mobility requirements should check directly. Dogs are welcomed at some events, but ordinary Cellar Door rules should also be confirmed.
Build A Better Wine-Day Route
There is little reason to criss-cross the valley afterwards. Payne’s Rise, at 10 Paynes Road, is beside Seville Hill at number 8 and currently opens Thursday–Sunday, 11 am–5 pm, with a seasonal lunch kitchen.
The two make a natural pairing without feeling repetitive: a small, personal tasting at Seville Hill, then lunch at Payne’s Rise. It is a better use of the day than chasing cellar doors across the Yarra Valley.
Beyond Paynes Road, orchards and vineyards spread across the Shire of Yarra Ranges towards the Warburton Valley. What stayed with me was the country between the wineries as much as the wineries themselves. Two or three good stops leave time to see it; five or six reduce the day to arrivals, tastings and departures.
For a change of pace, the Lilydale to Warburton Rail Trail passes through Seville. With children in summer, Seville Water Play Park is another useful break from the cellar doors.
If more than one winery is on the plan, sort out the driving before the first tasting. Most fully licensed Victorian drivers must remain below 0.05 BAC, while several licence categories require 0.00. A designated driver or other transport is the sensible choice; counting tasting pours is not a reliable measure of BAC.
Stay Near The Vines Or Continue On
Seville Hill’s Bundaleer House sits at the foot of the vineyard, with three bedrooms and room for six. As of September 2026, rates start at A$360 per night for two to four guests, increasing to A$450 for five guests and A$540 for six guests, with a two-night minimum. Four people sharing pay A$720 for two nights — A$90 each per night.
Stay here, and the vines are outside the door, with no need to leave Seville once the cellar doors close. For dinner choices and more life after dark, Yarra Glen makes the stronger base.
