The Yarra Valley Chocolaterie will stage a month long celebration of the classic winter beverage to heat up the coldest of months. A total of 31 hot chocolates over 31 days in August will be served at the Chocolaterie via a revolving weekly menu of flavours featuring dark, milk, white, ruby or caramelised white couverture chocolate, artisan ingredients and a giant handcrafted marshmallow. Different ‘Showstopper’ creations will reward those braving the winter chill to venture to the Yarra Valley with elements such as chocolate-dipped kronuts, brownie cups, chocolate creatures, exploding balls and melting discs adding extra interactive decadence. Visitors can also add a Tasting Session to the Hot Chocolate Festival itinerary. Devotees of the winter warmer can enrol in 45-minute sessions, scheduled throughout August to sample eight different flavours – then get hands-on creating three ‘hot chocolate spoons’ from 50 different ingredients to whisk up their own personalised hot-choc anytime. Bookings essential.