Winery celebrates with pride

SCOTCHMANS Hill Winery celebrated the end of summer with a lunch in support for the LGBTIQ+ community.

As an official partner of the Victorian Pride Centre the award-winning Drysdale Winery hosted an afternoon event on Sunday (March 19) where guests enjoyed fine food, prize-winning wine, and stunning city views across Port Phillip Bay, Swan Bay and the Heads.

Scotchmans Hill Managing Director and Victorian Pride Centre Founding Member Peter Reilly OAM said the event was extremely successful.

“The atmosphere was terrific the food was excellent, and while it was a little overcast you could see glimpses of Melbourne from the restaurant.”

The Pride Fund chair Steve Stefanopoulos OAM, Pride Centre CEO Justine Dalla Riva and Lord Mayor of Melbourne Sally Capp all attended the lunch to show their support, travelling from Melbourne via ferry.

Reilly said more than half the guests in attendance came by ferry from Docklands to Portarlington, but the Winery was equally proud to host numerous locals.

“The mission from a Scotchman Hill viewpoint is about community and inclusiveness. We’re supporting the ethos of what the Pride Centre Stands for, for the LGTBIQ communities and friends.”

“The highlight was to also give the opportunity for people from the Bellarine and the Surf Coast that celebrated the progress with the Pride Centre.”

“There was largely a combination of supporters of the Victorian Pride Centre, and some of the management of the Victorian Pride Centre, as well as a number of local people who are members of the LGBTQI communities and their friends and supporters.”

Scotchmans Hill Winery has won numerous awards, including the coveted Trevor Mast Trophy for Best Shiraz at the Melbourne Royal Wine Awards for the 2021 Scotchmans Hill Shiraz.

“And we’re always celebrating our wine.”