Canonical: https://peninsulainsider.com.au/wine/willow-creek-vineyard/ Publisher: Peninsula Insider Published: unknown Modified: unknown Format: public main text, generated from the canonical page; imagery and interactive controls omitted. Dates and caveats below retain their page meaning; this format is not a new fact check. [Wine Country]() Winery [Merricks]() Merricks North # Willow Creek Vineyard The vineyard at the heart of Jackalope Hotel, a showpiece single-site program and the home of both Rare Hare and Doot Doot Doot. Known for Jackalope Hotel Vineyard Rare Hare Cellar Door LL Vineyard Pinot Noir Doot Doot Doot Wine Program [Book a tasting]() +61 3 5931 2500 Willow Creek Vineyard · Merricks Why we’d go Willow Creek is the one Peninsula vineyard where the winemaking, the cellar door, and the two-hat restaurant are all drawing from the same block of vines, the coherence between them is the point. Willow Creek is the vineyard at the heart of Jackalope Hotel and the source of the fruit for Rare Hare's cellar door and Doot Doot Doot's wine list. The estate is a working single-site program, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and a short experimental range, and, despite the hotel wrapping the whole property in a design-hotel identity, the winemaking has maintained its own editorial voice. You taste Willow Creek most directly at Rare Hare, which runs the blend-your-own experience from the vineyard's own fruit, or you encounter the wines through the Doot Doot Doot matched pairing at dinner. The vineyard walk itself, between the two, is one of the most quietly beautiful routes on the Merricks North side of the Peninsula. Best encountered as part of a Jackalope day: cellar door at Rare Hare in the late morning, a vineyard walk, lunch on the lawn, and Doot Doot Doot at night. Worth knowing **Best for** Cellar door visits · Scenic views · Wine lovers · Design lovers If you only do one thing Book lunch at Rare Hare and taste the LL Vineyard Pinot Noir before you eat, it's the most direct expression of what this specific site produces. Works well with Rare Hare at Willow Creek · Baillieu Vineyard Filed under Cellar Door Walk View All Year Couples Group Winemaker Geraldine McFaul Varieties Pinot Noir Chardonnay Pinot Gris Sauvignon Blanc Worth seeking LL Vineyard Pinot Noir At a glance **Type** Winery **Location** 166 Balnarring Rd, Merricks North VIC 3926 · [Directions]() **Call** +61 3 5931 2500 **Guide** 2 Good Food Guide hats **Awards** AGFG 2 Hat Doot Doot Doot · AGFG 1 Hat Rare Hare **Website** [rarehare.com.au]() **Directions** [Get directions]() **Opening hours** - Every day 11am–5pm **Live status** [Check current hours →]() **Winemaker** Geraldine McFaul **Tasting fee** Charged **Halliday** [Halliday listing]() [Book now]() Editor's verdict Willow Creek Vineyard is the skeleton inside the Jackalope: the vineyard, the winemaker (Geraldine McFaul since 2008), and the estate character are all Willow Creek. The hotel, restaurants, and brand identity are all Jackalope. The combination is the Peninsula's most sophisticated wine tourism package: 44 luxury rooms, infinity pool, the two-hat Doot Doot Doot restaurant, one-hat Rare Hare bistro - and dogs are not just welcome; they are insisted upon. ## Visiting Walk-in daily 11am–5pm (final tastings 4:30pm); group bookings by appointment. Essential Tasting (fee refundable with purchase); Estate Tasting is the premium option. Dogs enthusiastically welcome at cellar door and outdoor dining. ## The wines **Key varieties:** Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Sauvignon Blanc. **Worth seeking out:** LL Vineyard Pinot Noir. ## Doot Doot Doot / Rare Hare 2 Good Food Guide hats. Rare Hare: 1 AGFG Chef Hat, Modern Australian casual. Doot Doot Doot: 2 AGFG Chef Hats, fine dining. Together they cover the full range from long lunch to special occasion. **Cuisine:** Modern Australian. [Reserve a table →]() ## Jackalope Hotel 44 luxury rooms with 30-metre infinity pool and spa. Adults and families welcome. ## Frequently asked questions ### Does Willow Creek Vineyard / Jackalope take walk-ins or do you need to book? Cellar door is walk-in friendly daily 11am–5pm (final tastings 4:30pm). Groups require bookings. Restaurant reservations recommended; hotel bookings required. ### Does Willow Creek Vineyard have a restaurant? Yes - two. Rare Hare (1 AGFG Hat, casual Australian) and Doot Doot Doot (2 AGFG Hats, fine dining). ### Are dogs allowed at Willow Creek Vineyard / Jackalope? Confirmed yes - 'Absolutely, in fact we insist!' Dogs welcome at cellar door and in outdoor dining areas. Not sure how to build a day around Willow Creek Vineyard? 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