Merricks North: Wine and Art

Wine and art give Merricks North two distinct sides. At LL Vineyard, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir take centre stage; Elgee Park is home to a landscape featuring more than 60 sculptures. There are also wine experiences with different time commitments and booking requirements, from a short tasting to a booked experience with lunch. If you’re looking for accommodation, you can compare your interests with the specific offerings and visitor conditions.

Wine and tastings

Chardonnay and Pinot Noir have been the only varieties grown at the 11-hectare LL Vineyard since 2018. The Jackalope Cellar Door offers three tasting experiences featuring Single Vineyard and Rare Hare wines. One option combines a one-hour walk through the vines with blending your own wine.

The Essential Wine Tasting at the Rare Hare Wines Cellar Door features a selection of current wines and takes 15 to 20 minutes; groups of fewer than eight people do not need to book. The time commitments therefore differ considerably: a short tasting is one option, while another combines a one-hour walk through the vines with wine blending.

The Rare Hare Wines Cellar Door at LL Vineyard offers wine tastings without advance booking seven days a week, from 11 am to 5 pm. Check the hours before your visit, as they may change.

A separate experience at Jackalope’s LL Vineyard and winery includes a behind-the-scenes look, wine tastings and a meal afterwards at Rare Hare. The experience runs daily at 11 am and requires a booking. Check the date when planning your visit.

Sculptures at Elgee Park

The Elgee Park landscape in Merricks North is home to more than 60 sculptures by renowned and emerging artists. Set among vines, gardens and buildings, the collection creates a distinctive cultural focus within the landscape.

Access is restricted. Elgee Park offers community tours and experiences for art and education groups; requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you’re considering a tour, contact the provider in advance to ask about availability.

Local cider production

Seven Oaks Farmhouse Cider is a family business in Merricks North. It grows English and French apple varieties for cider and produces both single-variety and blended ciders. Single-variety ciders feature one apple variety, while blended ciders combine several. The business is not open to the public, so don’t plan it as a public visitor or tasting stop.

Jackalope as a hotel and winery

Jackalope is a hotel and winery in Merricks North with 44 rooms, a 30-metre infinity pool, two restaurants and a cocktail bar.

Choosing accommodation and activities involves different considerations: for Jackalope, the key factor is the hotel’s specifically described facilities, while the wine experiences vary in duration and booking requirements, and Elgee Park considers requests individually. Keep these points in mind when considering Merricks North as an overnight destination.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Patchewollock, Glenlyon, Jeparit, Katunga, East St Kilda, Walpeup, Redesdale, Smythesdale.

For the broader travel overview: Victoria.