Summer, tennis and Champagne - with sweeping views

Summer, tennis and Champagne. Sounds like a pretty nifty combo.

The Sheraton Melbourne Hotel is celebrating summer, and the Australian Open, at its rooftop Terrace Bar in Melbourne's CBD in a partnership with Champagne house Piper-Heidsieck.

So think bubbles. chef-crafted bites (I think they mean snacks), and tennis live on TV.

Running until February 28 from 3-10pm daily (tough if if the match you are watching goes late) guests can watch the Australian Open live while enjoying views of the city.

There is a daily $20 Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut special, or a daily 'AO' happy hour from 4-6pm with an “Australian Open Cocktail” featuring Piper-Heidsieck.

This spritz combines elderflower, gin and Piper-Heidsieck Champagne for $20.

The Terrace Bar features a table tennis set-up (they are different sports, people), inviting guests to challenge friends or enjoy a casual game between sips of bubbly.

The Grand Slam Special is a $30 package that includes a glass of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne and s dish from a special menu (a small charcuterie board, perhaps, torched Hervey Bay ccallops:with corn pico de gallo and baby coriander; or sliced Prosciutto and stracciatella accompanied by fresh basil, olive oil, and focaccia.

The Sheraton is part of Marriott Bonvoy, the official hotel partner of the 2025 Australian Open, and is also offering special accommodation packages.

See https://www.marriott.com/offers/ace-escape-off-134135/melsi-sheraton-melbourne-hotel 

Aperol to serve up some tennis refreshment

You know summer has arrived in Australia when the tennis season opens.

And you know summer is here when all the bright young things start ordering Aperol spritzes.

The two will come together throughout the tennis season with Aperol announcing it has signed as an official partner of Tennis Australia for 2024 and the next four years.

Starting with the United Cup in late December (it sounds important but it is a glorified exhibition), through to the Brisbane International, Adelaide International, Hobart International, and finally, the Australian Open in January, Aperol has signed on the dotted line.

“We are back!' says Simon Durrant, Managing Director Australia at Campari Group. "Campari is thrilled to announce that Aperol will be bringing a slice of Italian culture to the Australian Open in 2024.

“The Australian Open is the biggest event in the Australian summer calendar, and with Aperol Spritz being the drink of the summer, this is the perfect partnership. Boasting one of the biggest sporting crowds in the nation, we’re excited to spread the Aperol joy across a terrific summer of tennis.”

Aperol will be "activating" at a number of bars on the ground at the Grand Slam of the Asia-Pacific. That means flogging some booze.

“We are excited to welcome the tennis fans at the Australian Open to our bespoke bar, Terrazza Aperol, to experience summer in true Italian style. In what promises to be a lot of fun for tennis fans, Aperol Spritz will also be available throughout the many bars across Melbourne Park,” said Durrant.

Here's a link: https://www.aperol.com/en-au/serve-up-summer/.

Squealing Pig throws its rosé behind the gender diverse community

Treasury Wine Estate's Squealing Pig label is offering support to the LGBTQIA+ communities from the Australian Open (which started this week), through to Sydney WorldPride through a national ‘Summer of Love’ campaign.

As part of the promotiont, the labels on every 750ml bottle of Squealing Pig Rosé will be replaced with nine limited-edition Pride Labels until the end of March.

The labels will feature cheeky rhymes that celebrate every letter of the LGBTQIA+ acronym and other allies.

So perhaps not one to share with the very straight managing director, but ideal for drinking with gender diverse friends.

Squealing Pig is also teaming up with broadcaster and entertainer Brihony Dawson and stylist and drag entertainer Rian Difuntorum (also known as Aysha Buffet, I am reliabely told) who debuted a piece of social media content called ‘Love’ .

Here's the link: https://www.instagram.com/reel/CndKZkjLQQY/?igshid=MDJmNzVkMjY%3D  

Squealing Pig is the official wine of the Australian Open and Sydney WorldPride 2023, which is being billed as the biggest event in the harbour city since the 2000 Olympics.

The marketers say Squealing Pig wants to raise awareness of the diversity of LGBTQIA+ communities.

The campaign will be shared across social media, YouTube, and connected TV.

Kaushik Lal, from Squealing Pig says: ““At Squealing Pig, we’re known for our inclusive and cheeky approach to the complex world of wine, a category that a lot of people find confusing and stuffy.

"But we are also committed to channelling our playfulness and positivity in support of inclusion and diversity on a much broader level.”

The Squealing Pig Pride Labels will replace existing Squealing Pig Rosé bottles until the end of March (or until stocks run out).

Sporting hypocrisy: One rule for the rich and famous

The Australian Open tennis championship has always had a healthy relationship with hypocrisy.

Younger folk may be surprised that this dates all the way back to the days when the tournament was played on grass at Kooyong.

In those days, young ladies in mini skirts would visit the press tent to hand out free samples of the main sponsor's product: cigarettes.

Yes, a tournament promoting healthy activity had Marlboro cigarettes as its major sponsor! And was actively encouraging people to smoke.

More recently they have defied public anger to hold matches in a stadium named after one of Australia's leading bigots.

And, as Malcolm Knox pointed out in The Age: seven tournament sponsors are alcohol sellers: Canadian Club, Treasury Wine Estates, Peroni, Piper-Heidsieck, Grainshaker vodka and Pure Blonde cider.

And now, in a deliberate slap to the face of Australians who have been deprived of family reunions, the right to attend funerals and had lockdowns repeatedly imposed on them, the Australian Open has decided that while Australians should be triple vaxxed mask wearers, different rules apply if you are rich and famous.

And if your attendance will add to box office (ie: money). Don't forget that point.

This comment on my Tweet feed just about summed up the reaction: "Novak rewarded for being a pompous irresponsible anti vaxer …a huge slap to all those Victorians who have endured so much during lockdowns and have still double vaccinated'.

The nitty gritty.

Novak Djokovic, aka the Serbian sook, has refused to make his vaccination status public but in April 2020 the 34-year-old said he was opposed to mandatory jabs.

Now he has been granted an exemption to enter Australia without being vaccinated as he seeks his 10th title at the least of the grand slams.

So if you want to fly in from overseas to watch the tournament you will need to jump through hoops.

If you are the world No.1, then there will be a "medical exception" made for you.

Remember Djokovic organised a Covid super spreader event just 12 months ago.

All forgotten. Because: money.