Mornington Peninsula > Willow Creek Vineyard
Willow Creek Vineyard |
Marvelous 16.5/20
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166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North 3926, Victoria
Open 11am to 5pm, Monday to Thursday, 11am-9pm Friday and Sunday Cards MC,V,AE |
Tasting Bench
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The Verdict
To "Cellarbrate": Modern, cutting edge complex with friendly staff, beautiful views and a broad appeal. 1 door awarded. To "Wine about": The Rare Hare range of wines weren't on tasting How many bottles did we buy: 1 Suitable for: Couples, groups, families Visited July 2017 (weekday) |
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Getting There
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Country
State/Province
Region
Accessibility
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Australia
Victoria
Mornington Peninsula
Off a main road in the area, it has a gravel driveway approximately 500m long in very good condition
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Upon Arrival
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Parking
Setting
Commercial/Boutique
Ambiance
Airconditioning/Fireplace
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There are 2 large car parks on site, but there is a hotel and 2 restaurants on site so they will be well used
The cellar door is situated within the restaurant, Rare Hare, that is part of the Jackalope Hotel site, a new fixture on the Mornington Peninsula. It is a huge modern complex that sits amongst the vineyards and comprises two restaurants, a boutique hotel and a winery. The garden is very modern and landscaped with some interesting sculptures
Commercial
The tasting bench is to the left as you walk into the restaurant. The floors are tiled and you can look through the glass into the barrel room. The building is modern with large windows overlooking the vineyards. There are large expanses of exposed brick walls and lots of wooden accents
Yes/Yes
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Tasting Experience
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Number of wines on tasting
Particular wines or varietals known for
Wait time
Knowledge of wines
Staff attitude
Winery Tour Offered
Tasting seating available at counter
Tasting sheet/order form provided for notes
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5-10
Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
No wait, notwithstanding others tasting
Good knowledge of the styles and vineyards
Friendly and welcoming
Yes, barrel tasting and winery tour
No, but there are some tables and stools close by
Yes, order form available
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Food Offering
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Yes/No
Restaurant/Café/Tasting platter
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Yes
2 restaurants on site, we ate at Rare Hare, which is the more casual option. The menu is designed around small plates designed to be shared
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Hip Pocket
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Price range of wines
Tasting Fee
Refundable on purchase?
Tour Fee
Delivery cost per dozen
Club Membership with Discounts etc
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$28- $75
Free (Groups of 8 or more $5, by appointment)
Yes
$15
$15-$50
20% discount on committing to purchase 2 dozen per year. Other benefits, free freight, and hotel and restaurant discounts
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Other features, facilities and offerings
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Gift Shop
Toys/play area for kids
Dog friendly
By the way...
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Yes - deli products and wine accessories
Yes - there are colouring books
No
There is a lot of buzz around the peninsula about this new development and while the communal style of dining in Rare Hare may not be for everyone, we found the overall operation here very impressive
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