Why we do what we do…
… because time spent with our pups is precious – so spending an entire day with your dog, enjoying new wines, and being chauffeur driven like a rock star, is a winning way to create lasting memories! Our wine tours are paw-fect for celebrating a special occasion, and we’re hospitality professionals who love going that extra mile to spoil you and personalise your tour so it’s tailored entirely to your interests.
It’s all about you, experiencing our amazing wines here in the Yarra Valley all with your pup by your side.
What we actually do…
We plan your wine tour to maximise the amount of time you get actually tasting wine! We know the best dog-friendly cellar doors to take you to because we’re locals, and can tailor your day to include the wines you’d like to try, the type of lunch you’d prefer, and an on or off-lead walk for your pup. On the day, you are welcomed like friends by the cellar door staff who can’t wait to meet you, adore your dog, and pour you some wine.
We give you a unique ‘next-level’ experience – even picking you and your dog up from home! Talk about VIP! And the best part, we take you to new wineries you’d never find or knew existed, all of which are properly dog-friendly, ie we’re welcome inside. Really – what are you waiting for!?
Meet Your Guides
Jeff
Owner & Tour Guide
Jeff’s love of life is infectious – he’s the sort of bloke you meet, and wish was your friend. Never serious for long, he lives to make people laugh, tells a terrific story (mostly about himself), was in showbiz back in the day, is a musician (you’ll hear all about this, unless you’re very careful/lucky, on your wine tour) a sensational chef (who wrote this?!?) so he’ll happily chew your ear off about food too, and his latest obsession is golf – you have been warned!
As a child, his Border Collie, Socksy, was his first love, then came Black Jack, his Belgian Shepherd, and when he moved out of home it was a beagle called Tori who stole his heart. His expressionless Schnoodle George lived until he was 21, we think just to spite him.
Helen
Owner & Tour Guide
Hels is the brains behind the scenes at Pooches & Pinot HQ because she’s a natural organiser (polite term for bossy). Her years as an event manager didn’t go to waste as she now gets to create brilliant bespoke wine tours for each guest, designing their itinerary like it’s a mini-event. She writes the chattiest emails back and forth, gathering information from guests as she goes, to ensure they have the BEST possible day out on their tour, remembering guests’ dog’s birthday, their kids’ recent surgery, their wine preferences and dietary requirements (canine and human) and genuinely loves spoiling them.
She had three childhood dogs, all of whom were rescues and are buried, with gravestones, in her parent’s garden back in England (true fact), and her biggest four-legged love was Henry the toothiest Koolie, who, up until August 2025, was the CBO (Chief Barking Officer) of P&P too!
Henry
Tour Assistant (til he retired in August 2025)
Famed for his toothy grin, Henry was the inspiration behind, influencer for, and face of P&P’s brand. He worked from home and was a work-a-holic, prioritising sleeping and farting above all other tasks. When not chasing sticks, and negotiating deals with dog treat companies, he was a part-time model (see Instagram), tennis ball addict, and towel chewer.
He loved a good chicken neck, ice cubes, carrots (quartered please, and raw) and sleeping with his legs in the air. In his youth, he adored being pimped out on our wine tours for guests who didn’t have their own dog. Once into his senior years, we decided not to inflict that breath on anyone.
Henry left us on 21st August, after a lifetime of service, for exciting adventures with sticks, over the rainbow bridge.
