Two themes define Merricks North: winemaking at LL Vineyard and the sculpture landscape at Elgee Park. When planning your visit, it is worth noting the different formats on offer, from short tastings and experiences that include a walk through the vines to group tours that must be arranged in advance. This will help you decide whether to focus your stay on wine, art, or a combination of both.
Winemaking and Tastings
Since 2018, LL Vineyard in Merricks North has grown exclusively Chardonnay and Pinot Noir across its 11 hectares. These two varieties are the winery’s clear focus. LL Vineyard also offers a range of tasting options that differ in format and duration.
Jackalope’s Cellar Door in Merricks North offers three wine tastings featuring Single Vineyard and Rare Hare wines. One option includes a one-hour walk through the vines and the chance to blend your own wine. This format combines a tasting with a specific activity in the vineyard. If you would like to allow more time for wine during your stay, it is an alternative to a short tasting at the Cellar Door.
A separate experience at Jackalope’s LL Vineyard and winery includes a behind-the-scenes look, wine tastings, and a subsequent lunch at Rare Hare. It takes place daily at 11 am and requires a booking. As schedules and availability can change, it is recommended that you check the details before planning your visit.
The Rare Hare Wines Cellar Door at LL Vineyard currently offers tastings without prior booking seven days a week from 11 am to 5 pm. The “Essential Wine Tasting” features selected current wines and lasts 15 to 20 minutes; groups of fewer than eight people do not need to book. For planning purposes, this makes a clear distinction between the short tasting, the one-hour walk included in another option, and the booked experience that starts daily at 11 am. Check tasting hours before your visit.
Sculptures and Access at Elgee Park
More than 60 sculptures by renowned and emerging artists are set on the grounds of Elgee Park. They are surrounded by vineyards, gardens, and buildings. The collection adds a cultural dimension to exploring Merricks North that differs from wine tastings.
Elgee Park offers tours for the community, as well as experiences for art and education groups. Requests are considered on a case-by-case basis. Public access is limited, and group tours are by arrangement. If you would like to plan such a tour, you should submit a request in advance and wait for a response.
A Local Product Without Public Visits
Cider is also part of the local producer scene. Seven Oaks Farmhouse Cider is a family business in Merricks North that grows English and French apple varieties for cider. The result is both single-variety and blended cider. The business is not open to the public, so its significance to the area lies in its local product rather than in a visitor experience open to the public.
Staying in Merricks North
Jackalope is a hotel and winery in Merricks North with 44 rooms, a 30-metre infinity pool, two restaurants, and a cocktail bar. This provides a specific local hotel option for planning an overnight stay. The listed facilities are hotel amenities; room and facility details may change. Check the latest information before booking.
Discover more destinations: Coleraine, Inverloch, Castlemaine, Sale, Smythesdale, Nicholson, Barongarook, Apsley
For the broader travel guide: Victoria.
