About
Chef Pasindu brings over 16 years of international experience and award-winning skill to Steels Gate. Born in Sri Lanka, he learned to cook alongside his mother, building rich, authentic flavours from scratch. His career spans iconic five-star hotels across Sri Lanka, Qatar, Kuwait, the Maldives, and Seychelles, where he trained under Michelin-starred chefs and led acclaimed fine dining kitchens. Now based in Victoria, Pasindu infuses modern French elegance, Asian sophistication, and Sri Lankan authenticity into every menu at Steels Gate. Passionate about sustainable, seasonal ingredients, he’s especially known for his inventive plant-based dishes. Chef Pasindu’s commitment is to deliver an unforgettable dining experience that celebrates nature, flavour, and creativity. Steels Gate Home Block Vineyard sits at 230 m above sea level on gentle, undulating slopes of friable grey loam soil. Originally planted in the late 1970s, the site has a rich history but had fallen into disrepair when Matthew and Brad purchased it in 2009. Overrun with blackberries and neglected vines, it presented a clear challenge: to restore it to its former glory, once again producing exceptional fruit for award-winning wines. Today, this is the site of the Steels Gate winery. Bordered by the Kinglake National Park, the Home Block is planted equally to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. While living in the USA, the couple purchased their first vineyard in Steels Creek, at which point they had their wine made under contract. After a seven and a half year stint overseas, they returned to Australia at the start of 2015 with their four year old son Sebastian, and started to set up their own winery. 2016 saw the two release the first wine made themselves under close instruction from their previous winemaker.
Tasting Experiences
Varietals
When to go
Good to know
Location
Dixons Creek, Victoria, Australia