‘The Yarra Valley is a very special part of the world. It is a place filled with the joys of life.'

Daniel Besen is perched precariously on a narrow beam above a vat of bubbling crimson soup. He labours with a long steel plunger, struggling to push the thick cap of Pinot grape skins downwards into the juice. This is his winery, but he insists on being part of the creative process. ‘You want to get the colour, tannin and texture into the Pinot Noir, so you plunge manually to integrate all of these elements harmoniously,’ he says. ‘The fruits of that labour are very nice indeed.’

‘Involvement’ is the name of Daniel’s game. At TarraWarra, the Besen’s Yarra Valley winery, he stirs barrels of chardonnay and helps prune the vines as well as overseeing the operation. ‘It is funny how much sweeter everything tastes when you’ve been involved.’

Another involvement is with the TarraWarra Museum of Art, Australia’s first major philanthropically funded public museum and another adornment to the Yarra Valley. ‘I’m a great supporter of Australian architecture, art and design in both my business and personal life, and this is a wonderful outlet for those passions,' he says.

Favourite Trip
See ‘One Perfect Day’overleaf for a trip that takes in the exquisite views, wines, produce and experiences of the Yarra Valley.

Favourite Food Experience
Dining at Healesville Hotel, where Michael and Kylie are wonderful hosts.

Favourite Object
A photo of the museum and winery. This image captures all of the elements of TarraWarra that I love – the well-established popular trees, green and lush vines, the winery and museum, and my favourite view down Long Gully.