Isabella's at Rochford Winery

As the vines turn golden and the air in the Yarra Valley takes on a crisp autumn edge, there are few places more inviting for a long lunch than Isabella’s Restaurant at Rochford Wines. Just an hour from Melbourne, the winery’s sweeping vineyard views and relaxed sophistication make it an easy choice for a seasonal escape, particularly with the launch of Isabella’s new Autumn-Winter 2026 menu.

Overlooking rolling vines and the distant Dandenong Ranges, Isabella’s captures everything diners love about cool-weather dining in wine country — comforting dishes, local produce and wines designed to be savoured slowly beside floor-to-ceiling windows framing the changing landscape.

Created by Executive Chef Ramiz Shaikh and his team, the new menu celebrates hearty seasonal flavours while maintaining a refined touch. The returning Pressed Lamb Shoulder is one of the standout dishes, pairing tender, slow-cooked meat with fennel and mint salad, vibrant chimichurri and a rich red wine jus butter that feels perfectly suited to the cooler months.

Equally comforting is the Potato & Ricotta Gnocchi, where pillowy handmade gnocchi is coated in Napoli sauce before being finished with whipped ricotta, parmesan and toasted pine nuts. It’s the kind of dish that delivers warmth and nostalgia while still feeling polished enough for a winery lunch.

For something deeply satisfying, the 16-Hour Braised Beef Oyster Blade showcases the kitchen’s focus on slow cooking and layered flavour. Served with farro and freekeh grains, roasted pumpkin, basil pesto, golden raisins, almonds and smoked yoghurt, the dish balances richness with texture and brightness.

The Duck Confit is another highlight from the seasonal menu, accompanied by creamy potato dauphinois, slow-roasted parsnip, lavender and rhubarb, with red wine jus tying the dish together beautifully. It’s elegant yet comforting — exactly what you want from a Yarra Valley winter lunch.

Dessert is equally impressive, with the Pistachio & Almond Cake served alongside cardamom mascarpone delivering subtle spice and nuttiness, while the striking White Chocolate & Raspberry Dome arrives with poached berries and chocolate crumb for a decadent finish.

Of course, dining at Rochford is as much about the wine as the food. Sommeliers are on hand to guide guests through pairings from the winery’s premium cool climate portfolio, including Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon sourced across Rochford’s vineyard sites. According to Chief Winemaker Kaspar Hermann, the 2026 vintage has produced wines with “great vibrancy, lots of flavour and freshness of wonderful natural acidity”, making this season an especially exciting time to visit.

After lunch, guests can continue the experience with a tasting at Rochford’s new Spirit Bar inside the Cellar Door, showcasing the winery’s growing range of gins and whisky, alongside warming mulled wine during winter.

For visitors wanting to linger longer in the Yarra Valley, Rochford’s newer dining venue, Il Vigneto, offers rustic Italian fare and live music on Saturday evenings, rounding out the winery’s evolving culinary offering.

But for a quintessential Yarra Valley long lunch this season, Isabella’s Restaurant delivers exactly what autumn and winter dining should be — generous hospitality, beautifully executed seasonal dishes and vineyard views that are hard to leave behind.

While you’re there make sure you explore Rochford’s Cellar Door, where you can sample their stunning selection as well as enjoy mulled wine on weekends or sip on whisky and gin from the new Spirit Bar.

Location: 878-880 Maroondah Hwy, Coldstream

Phone: (03) 5957 3333

Link: https://rochfordwines.com.au/yarra-valley-restaurant-bookings