NOW EXPERIENCING:Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Drinks Directory|Family affair|Restaurant|Takeaways

Rare Hare Wine & Food Store

Tuesday: 12:00 – 5:00 PM
Jackalope Hotel, 166 Balnarring Road, Merricks North, VIC, 3926
Phone
(03) 5931 2500
Website
rarehare.com.au
Instagram
@rareharewine

Read time 3 Mins

Posted 01 May 2023

By
Michael Harden

Jackalope Hotel’s casual bar-bistro is a handsome, light-filled good time based around a central wood-fired oven, Willow Creek Vineyard wines and scene-setting views over the vines.

Outdoor garden at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Why you goJackalope Hotel’s dramatic, black-clad main building houses the hotel’s signature degustation restaurant and bar, but those after something a little more laid-back should head across the courtyard – past the imposing Jackalope sculpture by artist Emily Floyd – to the cellar door of Willow Creek Vineyard. There you’ll also find the charming and stylishly rustic Rare Hare. Brick-floored, with wooden communal tables, a shaded outdoor area overlooking vines and a central wood-fired oven that takes the lead on much of the food, Rare Hare is a big and bustling creature that knows how to have a good time. Those after a closer look at Willow Creek’s impressive output can do a wine tasting at the cellar door or choose to drink many of those same wines by the glass over lunch. The vibe is very much Mornington Peninsula right now – wine, food, art and design-focused – but with a relaxed, casual and friendly pace that embraces day-trippers and hotel guests alike.
What drink to orderGiven that Rare Hare shares digs with Willow Creek Vineyard, it would be madness not to try some of the estate’s wines, particularly as you can drink it while gazing out across the vines that helped bring them into being. The compact, single-page list includes wines made especially for Rare Hare – easy-drinking numbers like a crisp, dry rosé or a smart, nicely structured fumé blanc – from grapes sourced from the Mornington Peninsula and other parts of Victoria. Alternatively, you can take the estate-grown path and try the superb Petrichor Chardonnay or Willow Creek’s silky 2020 Pinot Noir. All the Willow Creek wines are available by the glass, and there are other wines (“mates’ grapes” – wines made by other, mostly Mornington Peninsula, producers) also available by the glass in case you want to play a game of compare and contrast.
Drink's at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Food at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
What to pair it withThe menu at Rare Hare is all about ease and sharing, although if you want your own plate of food, you can do that, too. With a list populated by the likes of Japanese miso, Italian-style cured meats, Greek labne yoghurt, Korea’s kimchi and more, there’s a kind of United Nations approach to wine-friendly food going on here. Don’t miss the potato bread from the wood-fired oven – it arrives with olive oil, but is ideal for mopping up the extra mussel cream that comes with the charred asparagus spears or the agrodolce (like an Italian sweet and sour) sauce accompanying the chargrilled marlin. Those who like to check the dessert end of things first will want to lock in the ridiculously good wood-fired chocolate-chip cookie with roasted-banana ice-cream.
Why we love itThe floor staff at Rare Hare are among its great assets, remaining cheerful and efficient even over summer when the place bursts at the seams.
Regular’s tip

For those who arrive with children in tow, Rare Hare not only offers ample space for the rugrats to run off some energy outside, but also has a spot-on kids’ menu (aka the Bunnies Menu), a brief list of sure-fire hits that includes a burger, fish and chips, Bolognese and a chocolate sundae at very reasonable kid-sized prices.

 

Fine and dine area at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Vineyard at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Don’t leave withoutTake a trip to the Willow Creek cellar door. There are several tasting experiences on offer, from the entry-level 20-minute tasting ($10, refundable with any wine purchase) to the premium Wine Exploration Experience that takes in a stroll through the vineyards, a wine tasting on the Jackalope pool deck and a set-menu lunch in Rare Hare.
Make it fancyIf you’re thinking you might like to make it a really long lunch, there’s always the option of staying the night at Jackalope Hotel. You’ll have to plan ahead, though. The 46 rooms at this chic (and expensive) hotel with their freestanding bathtubs and spacious balconies off the neon-splashed hallways can be hard to come by, especially during the Mornington Peninsula’s peak summer season. But the option of spending some time by the infinity pool overlooking the vineyard and then waking up to one of the best hotel breakfasts in the state is definitely worth a little forward planning.
Drinks at Rare Hare Wine & Food Store
Sponsor logo
In partnership with Melbourne Food & Wine Festival
Authour image
Michael HardenAfter 25 years writing about wine and food, Michael Harden is getting the hang of it.
Tags
Drinks DirectoryVego Food OptionsFamily affairOutdoor areaRegional VICCasual catch-upParty vibesRestaurantKiller cocktailsWheelchair accessibleCellar DoorTakeawaysTop notch wine listBarGood for groupsMeal and a bevNon-alc Options
REPORT A VENUE CLOSURE/REPORT AN ERROR
Related Articles