One of the latest additions to the new Cultural Attractions of Australia collection is this wonderful experience at the National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne’s city centre. Guests will experience an exclusive and unforgettable evening of art, music, fine dining and wine.
The Gallery will be exclusively yours for the evening. Arrive at the NGV’s iconic waterwall entrance where you will be welcomed and escorted on a private tour to discover the extraordinary highlights of the NGV’s acclaimed international collection. Intimate live music performances will accompany your private viewing experience.
Then indulge in a degustation dinner, set within the gallery space in front of the NGV’s revered masterpiece, Giambattista Tiepolo’s The Banquet of Cleopatra.
Included:
Exclusive and private evening at Australia’s oldest and most visited art museum.
Private evening access to the NGV.
Highlights tour of the art collection by NGV Curator or NGV Guide.
Curated live music performances.
Degustation dinner in front of NGV’s most famous masterpiece, The Banquet of Cleopatra by Giambattista Tiepolo.
Professional video or photography taken of the event will be made available to guests.
Since 2012, Gourmet Escape has established itself as a world-class annual food and wine festival, highly anticipated by chefs and visitors alike. The festival brings together the world’s best chefs, sommeliers and food critics at over 50 incredible events in breath-taking locations.
2019 will see an exciting development of this multi award-winning festival, expanding from Margaret River to include two new regions, Swan Valley and Perth over a 10-day program, 08 November to 17 November.
Guests will love the range of extraordinary experiences to suit all ages; culinary festivals, fine dining opportunities and premium gourmet experiences in breath-taking locations.
Swan Valley
Swan Valley – Gourmet Feast in the Valley
A festival that has rustic charm, for all of the family to enjoy. Combining top-class food with live music in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Can be enjoyed as a day trip from Perth (25 mins travel time)
Perth Collaboration Dinner
Gourmet Escape will create a city culinary hub amplifying the best of ‘Culinary Perth’. This will be a memorable collaboration dinner with lauded chefs celebrating WA’s premium produce and wine.
Margaret River – Westpac Gourmet Beach BBQ
Enjoy privileged access to Castle Rock Beach, which is transformed into an uber-stylish waterfront eatery with giant tipis and live music for relaxed lunch BBQ feast with a beach party vibe. Castle Rock Beach is located within Meelup Regional Park, a Class A Reserve noted for its pristine environment and ecological significance.
Margaret River – Sunset Beats & Bites
Mix a handful of new wave winemakers, some local craft breweries and a good dose of cool beats. Add an iconic Western Australian sunset, delectable, delicious food and you have arguably Gourmet Escape’s most sought after party at the Sunset Beats & Bites event.
Margaret River – The Gourmet Village
At the heart of the Margaret River event programming is the must-see Gourmet Village, a buzzing world of culinary excitement and the perfect opportunity to experience the delectable delights the region has to offer. General admission tickets gain entry to the festivals many culinary delights
Contact the Alquemie team for tickets and travel packages!
For travellers visiting Tasmania, Mona (the Museum of Old and New Art) is a must-do in the way that the Guggenheim museum is a must-do in Bilbao. It’s a quirky, attention grabbing private museum unlike any other, with a collection of unusual art, described by owner David Walsh as a “subversive adult Disneyland.”
Alquemie has created an incredible VIP Art & Food Experience at Mona just for you.
Package includes return ferry transfers (in the Posh Pit, mind you) from Hobart to Mona, as well as museum entry, lunch in the Source Restaurant, a private tour of the vineyard and winery with Moorilla’s Ambassador, and a complimentary bottle of wine from our Muse series.
Itinerary 9:30am: Depart Brooke Street Pier for Mona in the Mona ferry’s super exclusive, super luxe Posh Pit.
10am: Arrive at Mona and begin exploring the museum…focusing on B3 – a major exhibition – accompanied by one of Mona’s Art Concierges.
11:30am: The Cut Crystal experience begins and it’s a rare pleasure, as most wines are designed to drink young these days. Cellaring demands foresight and patience—it’s a real gamble but the rewards can be stunning!
This experience includes a private tour of the Moorilla winery with one of the resident ‘wine dorks’ and an extensive, intimate wine tasting in their totally glamorous subterranean tasting room featuring new and mature wines from Moorilla’s Muse and Cloth Label series. You’ll be treated to vintages no longer widely available, find out how to match each wine with the perfect glass and learn the finer points of decanting sparkling, white and red wines.
1.30pm: A two course lunch in the Source Restaurant drinking some of the wines that have been opened for the Cut Crystal tasting chosen by the guest…
3:30pm: A Mona Fart! (Food + ART) Art concierge will take guests back into the museum to look at B2 and B1 Monaisms’ – David Walsh’s collection with a pre-booking for unseen seen experience… this takes 45 minutes per couple (optional).
5pm: Guests end up in Faro with a pre-dinner Cocktail with Outrageous canapes and the James Turrell light experience.
6 pm ish: Guests sit down to a bespoke food and wine experience created by Mona Head Chef Vince Trim. With the priority access to some the new Pharos wing’s art rides – “Unseen seen and Weight of Darkness”.
Guests will be returned to their hotel at their leisure…their day will include a signed copy of Monaisms and a bottle of Domaine A Cabernet Sauvignon to take home.
To enquire about this please contact alquemie@alquemie.com.au
Arno Moulin, one of Alquemie’s Australia specialists recently spent a week travelling all around Tasmania. One of the highlights of his trip was a visit with Pepper Bush Adventures.
Pepper Bush Adventures offer unique and exclusive wildlife experiences throughout Tasmania, trips to the Tamar Valley to sample delicious Tasmanian food and wine and as well as secluded beaches in the Bay of Fires and visits to visit ancient forests and spectacular alpine mountain peaks.
He said his time spent with Pepper Bush Adventures was one of the best wildlife experiences ever! Below is a summary of his time with Pepper Bush in his own words….
Craig picked us up from Peppers Seaport in Launceston at 12:30pm– within 10 minutes we were driving through the glorious Tamar Valley; being autumn the colours were beautiful. We enjoyed some commentary about the wine region – which produces most of Tasmania’s wine!
We headed for Ben Lomond – Tasmania’s second highest peak. On the day the weather was foggy so we were unable to see the amazing views; but the drive was a fun adventure in itself on a 4WD only road. On the way up Craig discussed at what points above sea level different trees grow – which is more fascinating than it sounds! Once at the top the land is baron and rocky – which is an amazing contrast over the lush green hills and dense forest landscape surrounding the mountain. We then saw Tasmania’s only ski slope and a few eerie looking chalets – here we also saw a few Bennet’s Wallabies.
We then continued our way to the Quoll Patrol area and kept stopping on the way to visit ‘the bush supermarket’ – here Craig would pick pepper bush leaves and other kinds of berries & eucalyptus and provide commentary about the flora – these were then be used as ingredients for dinner!
On arrival at the property we enjoyed a 20 minute stroll around the property on our way to the ‘shack’. The walk is very beautiful through a forest plantation – and we saw more wallabies!
After our stroll we were then greeted with the MOST amazing cheese platter ever at the shack. On the platter we found smoked wallaby, lots of different Tasmanian cheeses, different styles of pastes like pear & quince – but the best bit was the freshly warmed bread with Tasmanian truffle oil!
Sitting across the camp fire enjoying a glass of Tasmanian wine and devouring the cheese platter – we were in awe of the surrounding landscape! This is pristine wilderness at its best!
The toilet is a drop loo – but well maintained and has a pretty awesome view!
Next course was wallaby meatballs – which were super tasty. Craig is an ex-butcher and it is easy to tell he only uses the best meat. The Tasmanian salmon was cooked right in front of us on the camp fire oven – with pepper bush leaves and lots of other yummy bush ingredients, the flavours and smells were wonderful!
Once the sun went down suddenly we started seeing wildlife coming out from the forest onto the surrounding paddock. Within about 15 minutes we were greeted by wallabies, possums (common Brushtails), quolls (honey coloured and black ones) and lots of pademelons! In the distance we also spotted a few wombats. At times they were only 1 metre away from us. Craig would then shine the torch allowing plenty of opportunities to take photos. For the next hour Craig provided commentary on the wildlife and discussed the habits of quolls and wallabies. There were probably about 200 animals around us within a vicinity of 100 metre radius. Everywhere we looked – they were everywhere!!
We got back into the vehicle and within 5 minutes we were out again spotting platypus in a pond just up from the shack! This is a very rare and amazing experience to see these weird animals in the wild!!
On the drive back we were buzzing with excitement from seeing all the wildlife and a bit of red wine warming our tummies – it was talk talk talk! We arrived back at Launceston at about 10:00pm – of course in summer this is much later.
The Southern Highlands are only a short heli ride or an hour and a half drive from Sydney but are a world away. The scenery ranges from rolling farmlands and vineyards to lush eucalyptus forests and rainforest microclimates. On a Wild Food Adventure you’ll explore local villages and hiking trails, taste bush foods, swim in waterfalls, cycle through vast forests, take in the view from above via helicopter or sample some of the cool climate wines the region has become famous for.
Here are a few of the fabulous Wild Food Adventures on offer. Note that they all have a similar theme – delicious food and wine! Stay for the day or linger longer – there’s so much to do you’ll not want to leave.
FIRE | FORGE | FROTH
An artisan experience that is truly unique! Learn the skills of a Blacksmith with fire and forge in his workshop followed by lunch at an awarded Beer Brewing House to sample the local craft ales.
You’ll receive a 3-hour forge lesson from the Blacksmith on how to make your own fire poker, twisted skewer or drawn ‘S’ hook which you get to take away with you. This is followed by a visit to Southern Highlands Brewing Tap House where you can sit back and enjoy their locally brewed 4 beer sampler. Each beer is perfectly matched with a shared plate dish from their award-winning chef.
PADDLE | DINE | VINE
Enjoy a Canoes, Champagne and Canapes adventure at Yarrunga Creek as you discover the wildlife of the sunken forest then dine on a two-course French cuisine lunch and Mount Ashby wines at the Mount Ashby boutique vineyard. Roam the Bowral Produce Store (circa 1918) which houses 17th to 19th century French and local antiques. At the end of the day explore Cherry Tree Hill’s award-winning quality boutique wines and snack on shared plate of local produce as you taste the vast varieties of wines.
WATERFALLS | WANDER | WINE
Explore the natural beauty of the 40 Foot Falls in the Southern Highlands, followed by VIP access beyond the cellar door to taste cool climate wines from the region, and lunch near the antique stalls of Old Bowral.
Your day begins with a guided walk through stunning tall trees and traces parts of the old Boxvale Tramway Trail that used to haul coal through the Nattai gorge. The 40 Foot Falls at the end are the icing on the cake. Afterwards you’ll taste award winning cool climate wine at Artemis Vineyard, where you’ll meet the winemakers and explore this family run boutique winery.
Then enjoy a paddock to plate lunch with matching wines at Harry’s on the Green, nameed after the renowned English nurseryman and horticulturist, Sir Harry Veitch who dispatched daring plant hunters to foreign lands to find exotic treasures for his wealthy London clientele. Following lunch, discover over 75 dealers of antique and vintage wares at Dirty Janes. Finally roam through the iconic Book Barn and enjoy a VIP tasting with charcuterie or cheese platter at Bendooley Estate.
WINE | WINE | FINE DINE
This day is a food lovers’ dream which includes exploring picturesque vineyards, VIP access to taste cool climate wines from the region and dining at a 2 hatted award winning restaurant, Biota Dining.
Your day will include tastings at Gourmet Traveller Magazine’s “Best Tasting Experience” cellar door at Tertini Wines with alternative varietals on offer and also the Saint and St Maur Lot41 Series at the picturesque St Maur Vineyard. You’ll dine at hatted award-winning restaurant – Biota Dining (Fri, Sat, Sun, Mon) / Bistro Officina (Fri, Sat, Sun) or Katers (Tues, Wed, Thurs) enjoying an unforgettable shared plate lunch experience of local wild and farmed produce. You’ll meet the winemakers at Centennial Vineyards where up to 35 wines are on offer and enjoy shared plates of cheese, olives and dips with VIP access beyond the cellar door.
The Royal Mail Hotel in Dunkeld, just 3 hours drive from Melbourne, was our final stop on a road trip exploring the coastline between Adelaide and Melbourne to see what interesting snippets of the country lay still undiscovered. Having heard all the accolades about this boutique, award-winning gastro-hotel it was a pleasure to finally experience it in person.
The setting is spectacular – Dunkeld is a cute country town at the southern tip of the Grampians with a backdrop of the impressive Mt Sturgeon. Kangaroos galore hop over fields of wheat, and huge river red gums line trickling creek beds.
The Royal Mail has a huge range of accommodation to suit any needs – there are garden or mountain view rooms and one or two bedroom apartments all located at the main hotel, or for those wanting more of a country immersion and privacy, there are one or two bedroom bluestone cottages and the Mt Sturgeon Homestead (sleeps 12), which are just three kilometres away on 70 acres of land with outstanding views of Mt Sturgeon.
And whilst the luxury accommodation is lovely, it’s not for the extremely comfortable beds and amazing rain showers that people come to the Royal Mail – it’s for the food. But as I discovered, there is a lot more to Dunkeld and the Royal Mail than just the food. We stayed for two nights but I’m inclined to think it’s worth staying for three to really make the most of it.
Food Glorious Food
The Royal Mail really does know how to do food with two highly acclaimed dining options; fine-dining Wickens at the Royal Mail and the more casual Parker Street Project. Even our breakfast at Parker Street Project took things up a notch with exceptional house-cured salmon smoked with eucalyptus leaves, mushrooms marinated in a sweet vinegar and french toast on a level I’d never tasted before.
The chefs in action at Wickens
But it’s the eight-course degustation signature experience at Wickens restaurant that gets tongues wagging. Executive chef and restaurant namesake Robin Wickens along with his talented team, create a daily menu based on fresh produce from the orchards, olive groves and extensive organic kitchen garden, which grows more than 400 edible species per year.
Food or Art? One of our eight courses.
There’s a wine-list is almost as thick as a PhD thesis and the floor to ceiling windows with views of Mt Sturgeon and Mt Abrupt give a feeling of dining in nature. When we arrived as the sun set, two kangaroos grazed peacefully out front. Delivered with a service that is second to none, our eight-courses took us on a flavour journey that highlighted the skills of the chefs and the in-season local produce.
Activities at the Royal Mail Hotel
To balance out the calories from the epicurean delights, there is plenty to keep guests busy and fit. On our first afternoon we strolled along a beautiful hotel walking trail that took us past mobs of kangaroos to a grove of ancient river red gums. The following day we tackled a walk to the summit of Mt Sturgeon where we were rewarded with 360 degree views and on the way down an emu crossed our path as an added bonus. There are several other walking options – some start straight from the hotel or some within a short drive. In the coming years track upgrades and new track openings to create the world-class Grampian Peaks Trail will give guests even more reason to visit.
Kitchen Garden Tour at the Royal Mail Hotel
At 11am each day, the Royal Mail Hotel offers guests free kitchen garden tours. We were guided by Wickens chef Tom who gave us insights into the workings of the garden and how the menu is decided for the restaurants. White ducks waddled freely (they were put there to eat the insects) and bees buzzed busily between flowers as we learnt about the ton of zucchini growing beneath our feet and how the pretty marigold flowers were planted for more than just aesthetic value.
For wine lovers (and who isn’t?), there are daily cellar tours which include comparative tasting of a local and international wine from the cellar.
The Royal Mail also has a conservation department with a captive breeding program that aims to increase numbers of and raise awareness of threatened species such as Eastern Quolls and Tiger Quolls. Guests can join the local conservationist each day as she feeds them. It’s a rare opportunity to get up close to these endangered (and nocturnal) carnivorous marsupials and to see the work that is being done to protect them.
The Royal Mail Hotel also makes a great base to see regional Victoria by helicopter. Day trips can be organised to local wineries, Port Fairy for lunch or to see the Twelve Apostles.
Talk to Alquemie to include The Royal Mail in your next Australian itinerary.
Accolades
The Royal Mail Hotel has been awarded scores of esteemed accolades including;
Two Chef’s Hats by the The Age Good Food Guide 2015, 2016 and 2017, The Best Wine List Australasia at the 2014 Fine Wine Awards and Three Stars by the Australian Gourmet Traveller in both 2012 and 2013. The Australian Gourmet Traveller also awarded the Royal Mail Hotel the Regional Restaurant of the year for four consecutive years from 2009 to 2012.
Wine Spectator USA has awarded its highest accolade, the Grand Award, to the Royal Mail Hotel from 2012 to 2017. The Hotel was also added to the Hall of Fame for both Wine List of the Year and Country Restaurant List at the 2013 Australia’s Wine List of the Year Awards.
On 12 July 2016, the UK’s Fine Wine awarded the Royal Mail the top ranking of three stars. Furthermore, the Royal Mail Hotel was charged with a Jury Prize, an award which saw the hotel selected by the judges as having one of the top 50 wine lists in the world.
In 2016 & 2017 the RACV Victorian Tourism Awards named the hotel as Victoria’s Best Deluxe Accommodation. In 2017, QANTAS Australian Tourism Awards named the Royal Mail Hotel winner of Tourism Restaurants, recognising excellence in food and wine tourism.
Set against the iconic backdrop of the stunning Margaret River Region in Western Australia, Margaret River Gourmet Escape is a world-class food and wine festival like no other.
Held across four extraordinary days, the festival brings together the world’s best chefs, sommeliers and critics to host over 45 incredible events in over 20 unique and breathtaking locations in the region.
The thriving Gourmet Village is the heart of the festival, located at Leeuwin Estate Winery, with visitors further experiencing the region by a host of satellite events in stunning Margaret River locations. These satellite events offer an unforgettable and unique food & wine experience delivered personally by the world’s leading culinary talent. Margaret River Gourmet Escape celebrated its sixth year in 2017 and has developed a reputation as the world’s most credible and highly anticipated food and wine festivals – by chefs and visitors alike.
Located in stunning locations throughout Margaret River, Gourmet Escape creates unforgettable events combining world class food & wine experiences delivered by the world’s leading chefs and sommeliers. Indulge in long-table lunches in the vines, savour once-in-a-lifetime dinners from the world’s best chefs, participate in world class wine tastings, feast at a firefueled forest meat-lovers grill, chill out by the sunset while a cult DJ plays mellow beats, or feel the sand between your toes at the best beach BBQ you’ll ever experience – you will come away with an unforgettable food & wine festival experience.
Feast in the Forest
Celebrating wood, flame, smoke and cooking the way we’ve done for centuries, the Feast in the Forest highlights the uniqueness of the Margaret River region’s natural environment by taking guests into the heart of a magnificent Karri forest for a meat-focused dinner.
Gourmet Beach BBQ
Enjoy privileged access to Castle Bay Beach, which is transformed into an uber-stylish waterfront eatery with giant tipis and live music for relaxed lunch and dinner BBQ feasts with a beach party vibe. Castle Bay Beach is located within Meelup Regional Park, a Class A Reserve noted for its pristine environment and ecological significance.
Sunset, Beats & Bites
Mix a handful of new wave winemakers, some local craft breweries, with a good dose of cool beats, add an iconic Western Australian sunset, delectable, delicious food by the talented team at White Elephant and you have arguably Margaret River Gourmet Escape’s most sought after event.
Please contact Alquemie for more information about the Margaret Rive Gourmet Escape.
Photo By: Russell Ord Photography ( www.russellordphoto.com )
Photo By: Russell Ord Photography ( www.russellordphoto.com )
In recent years the Mornington Peninsula has stepped up it’s game. It’s always been a favourite weekend retreat of Melburnians but these days a plethora of world-class luxury accommodation and wineries, along with incredible scenery make it a must-do add on if you’re visiting Melbourne, and at only 90 minutes away from the city you’d be silly not to go. Here are just a few of the reasons you should visit:
Wineries & restaurants galore
Polperro by Even Keel winery has some delicious wines
The Mornington Peninsula is idea for producing cool climate wines such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Tempranillo and Pinot Gris, and there are more than 50 cellar doors to keep you busy. Being only 90 minutes away from Melbourne makes a day visit much more accessible than regions such as the Hunter Valley in New South Wales or Barossa Valley in South Australia, but given the huge number of wineries this wine region is best explored with time on your side.
Some of the standouts are:
Polperro by Even Keel Small and boutique in a beautiful setting. Also with four luxury villas. (see below)
Jackalope
A great place to stop for lunch or dinner or stay a few days. (see below)
Port Phillip Estate A large and commanding winery with some boutique accommodation. Also a great spot for a long lunch with a view.
Foxey’s Hangout Excellent casual dining with scenic vineyard views. Just go with the Chef’s Menu where you’re served up what the chef decides on the day. It is great value but unfortunately you can not book.
Montalto Popular and well-known winery with stunning views overlooking vines and a sculpture park.)
Ocean Eight One of the most spectacular vineyards on the Peninsula. The cellar door openings are a bit limited but we have access to private barrel tastings.
Merricks General Store
Excellent for lunch. Also serves as the Cellar Door for Baillieu Wines and Elgee Park (Baillieu Myer’s vineyard).
Golfer’s paradise
Play on some of Australia’s best golf courses on the Mornington Peninsula
If you love golf then you’ll want to come to the Mornington Peninsula. Australia’s premier golfing region plays host to 15 clubs and 20 golf courses. Three of these are in Australia’s top ten, plus another six in the top 100. There’s a golf course to suit every skill level and many boast spectacular ocean views. No where else in Australia offers such a broad range of courses in such a small area.
Click on the links below to find out more about two of the top golf clubs in Australia.
From the calm crystal clear waters of shallow beaches all the way along Port Phillip Bay from Mornington to Portsea to the rugged back-beaches of the wild ocean on the other side of the Peninsula, there is plenty of choice for the novice to the experienced swimmer or surfer. The back-beaches could be said to resemble the coastline of the Great Ocean Road with wild waves, dense tea-tree covered sand-hills and eroded outcrops. There are some great walks along the back-beaches and at low tide there are plenty of rock-pools that are deep enough to swim in and cool down.
Note: There are life-guards at some beaches during summer however only confident and strong swimmers should venture into the surf.
Point Nepean National Park
Well worth a visit if you enjoy walking and history is Point Nepean National Park. It’s the furthest point from Melbourne on the Peninsula and was once a defence base. There are a series of military fortifications as well several walking tracks that lead to interesting viewpoints of Melbourne and Queenscliff on the opposite side of the bay.
Cape Schanck Lighthouse
There are numerous walks at Cape Schanck of varying lengths that take you along rugged coastal landscape. Visit the lighthouse, Bushrangers Bay and enjoy the several lookouts with views of Devils Desk and Pulpit Rock.
Boutique Luxury Accommodation
Jackalope Hotel
The impressive Jackalope sculpture greets guests upon arrival
This sleek new hotel has hit the ground running and got tongues wagging. Ultra modern and sexy, the juxtaposition of it’s black walls and unique art works are at odds with the surrounding vines and makes a striking impact.
With 42 suites, 2 onsite restaurants (Doot Doot Doot and Rare Hare), a cocktail bar and it’s own winery, Jacklaope is a destination in itself and a must for people wanting a lively funky escape from Melbourne. Find out more >
Polperro
Polperro Villas are perfect in winter or summer.
Polperro is perfect for that peaceful romantic getaway and a great base for exploring the region. We love the gorgeous suites (only four in total) overlooking the vineyards. You could spend all day in them, if only there wasn’t so much to do! Find out more >
If you thought the Mornington Peninsula needed a boost of creativity then look no further than Jackalope Hotel. Like it’s namesake creature of American folklore, Jackalope is designed to offer guests an escape from reality. Arriving in early 2017, this mythical hybrid of old and new is just what the region needed. Already winning the accolades of Hotel of the Year, New Hotel of the Year and Regional Hotel of the Year in the Gourmet Traveller Hotel Awards 2017, Jackalope has set tongues wagging for a conceptual approach to art and it’s dark colour palette which is at odds with the more traditional accommodation offerings near by. I visited Jackalope in September 2017 and was impressed with what I saw.
The striking black exterior is in contrast with the surrounding vineyard
With 46 rooms, a 30-metre outdoor pool over looking the vineyards, on-property winery and cellar door, a casual and fine-dining restaurant, plus a cocktail bar, Jackalope has filled the much needed gap where mid-sized luxury hotels were lacking on the Mornington Peninsula. Plus it’s only about 1 hour from Melbourne and the nearest helicopter landing is only 15 minutes away.
Jackelope room with vineyard view
Quirky commissioned art installations, nightclub style hallways and unusual architecture all add up to one fantastic feast for the eyes. Despite it being out of place, it all seems to make sense once you’re there.
Jackelope’s hallway wouldn’t be out of place in a nightclub
The 42 luxury rooms have private terraces and the option of deep soak baths in four luxury suites. Sizes range from 52-85 sqm and you can choose from Garden view or Vineyard view (recommended). In contrast to the abundant art in the common areas, the room interiors are decidedly understated with simple black walls and lush furnishings leaving the view as the key piece of art.
My recommendation would be to take a Signature suite with loft ceilings, an expansive 30 sqm terrace overlooking the vines, a double sided indoor/outdoor fireplace, a six-seater indoor dining table, kitchenette, cocktail bar and a personal wine cellar.
Inside: 85 sqm/914 sqft
Terrace: 30 sqm/333 sqft
West-facing (sunset aspect), overlooking Willow Creek vineyard
King Bed
Alfresco dining for six and outdoor lounge
Double-sided indoor/outdoor fireplace
Kitchenette, bar, private wine cellar
Deep soak, black stone bath tub
Complimentary breakfast served in Doot Doot Doot
Complimentary minibar (excluding wine)
Rooms are luxurious but sparsely decorated
Whilst there is no on-site spa, the hotel has several in-house masseurs ready to take your relaxation to the next level. You can enjoy a massage in the privacy of your own room (followed by a soak in your deep Japanese bath) or there are other private areas to accommodate you.
Enjoy an in-room massage on your private balcony.
When it’s time for an afternoon beverage then Jackalope won’t disappoint. You certainly wouldn’t expect to find an on-site cocktail bar like Flagerdoot amongst the vineyards. Sample the alchemy of experimental in-house creations such as ‘Mushroom & Maple’ made from Shiitake mushroom, maple, chocolate bitters, bourbon whiskey. With dark parquet floors, handpicked gold leather seating and a chic, industrial-chemistry lab feel to it, Flagerdoot attracts the curious hoards on a weekend, eager to see what all the fuss is about.
Flaggerdoot cocktail bar is an unexpected delight.
Also attracting day visitors and guests alike are the two superb dining options and rumours of the delicious food at Jackalope are true. Doot Doot Doot, the upmarket fine-dining option has a ten thousand bulb chandelier, five-course seasonal degustation of local produce fresh from the kitchen garden and a unique selection of limited-release wines. It’s visually impressive by day and even more so at night when then chandelier comes alive.
Open for lunch: noon – 3pm, Saturday and Sunday and dinner: 6pm – 9pm (last order), 7 days.
For more casual dining head to Rare Hare. I ate a sumptuous lunch there and despite the winter rain outside it was warm and toasty and buzzing with diners. Highly recommended is the Negroni cured trout with horseradish cream and dill on rye toast, and the Salmon cutlet cured in white miso, sesame and ginger. Open from Monday to Thursday 11am to 5pm and Friday to Sunday from 11am to 9pm it makes a great place for a lazy long lunch or a dinner whether you’re staying in the hotel or not.
Nearby Red Hill properties Polperro and Port Phillip Estate both mentioned that they send guests to Jackelope to dine.
The casual dining option of Rare Hare serves up fantastic share plates.
Before or after you feast, visit the Cellar Door of Willow Creek Vineyard. The entrance of Rare Hare backs on to a great room where wine barrels line up to the ceiling and guests can sample the wares. If you like Rosé you’ll be in for a treat.
The Rare Hare Range
It was winter during my visit but the 30 metre pool will be the perfect place for guests to wile away a sunny summer afternoon, glass of wine in hand. Overlooking the vineyard, it’s for guests only and even in the winter the steamy attached jacuzzi was being used.
Overall the hotel feels like a place to enjoy with friends or for a celebration rather than for romance and peace and quiet. Maybe this is due to the two on-site restaurants and quirky cocktail bar, or maybe it’s just the funky vibe of the place – it’s all about good times, great laughs and a unique experience to be shared. Jackalope has made an impression and is here to stay. To add Jackalope to an Australian itinerary contact alquemie@alquemie.com.au.
If you’re after a peaceful weekend getaway from Melbourne then look no further than Polperro Villas at Red Hill on the Mornington Peninsula. Only 90 minutes from the city, it is simply the perfect place for romance and relaxation. Just four luxurious villas are privately located on 25 acres of working vineyards in the heart of the famous wine region Red Hill, Mornington Peninsula. Here’s why we love it….
Polperro Villas sit on 25 private acres of vineyards.
The villas have a gorgeous large spa bath.
Each luxury villa features a king size bed, designer styling, an open fire place, a central spa bath and a private deck with vineyard views.
Polperro Villas are perfect in winter or summer.
On the property is also an intimate cellar door showcasing the full range of wines from Polperro and Even Keel founder and winemaker, Sam Coverdale.
Sample wines made onsite at the cellar door.
There’s also a delightful bistro overlooking the vineyards with dishes like ‘Glazed lamb ribs, soft pancakes, garlic labneh, tomato relish, cucumber’ or ‘Duck breast, coffee chestnut purée, black quinoa, balsamic reduction’.
Polperro Bistro with indoor and outdoor dining overlooking the vineyards
Guests can grab a picnic pack and wine and venture out to explore the grounds for a long lazy afternoon in nature.
Grab a picnic pack and spend the afternoon relaxing outside.
For visiting guests there’s plenty to do, see and taste, with over 50 boutique cellar doors to explore, many celebrated restaurants to eat at, and pristine beaches and natural surrounds to feed nature lovers.
Red Hill hosts more than 50 cellar doors
Polperro also offers guests Hot Hut yoga classes 7 days a week
HotHut yoga
The accommodation here is our pick of the Mornington Peninsula. It is simply stunning and perfect for summer or winter. While one night here would be enough, we recommend two to really absorb and relax into the environment. To include Polperro Villas on your Australian itinerary contact alquemie@alquemie.com.au.
