In this powerful episode, we head to Australia to meet Wayne Quillam and Ben Hansbury, the co-founders of Mt Yengo Wines—a First Nations–owned winery built on reconciliation, cultural expression, and community.

Mount Yengo is more than just a wine label: it's a movement for inclusion and truth-telling through art, ancestral storytelling, and connection to the land. Through this episode we explore how Indigenous knowledge and values are guiding sustainable wine practices, how art and wine intersect as cultural expression, and how community and collaboration drive the brand's ethical vision.

From the symbolism behind each label to their practices with growers across South Australia and New South Wales, every bottle is rooted in purpose and tradition.

Whether you're interested in inclusive winemaking, Indigenous leadership, or simply looking to connect more deeply with the story behind your next glass of wine, this episode will stay with you.

Episode Guide (Chapters) [01:50] – What Mt Yengo stands for: a platform for reconciliation and cultural connection. [02:10] – Wayne shares his artistic journey and the role of ancestral wisdom in their work. [02:36] – Wine as a medium for connection—to land and to each other. [02:56] – How Mt Yengo began as a community-driven Indigenous brand. [06:31] – The stories behind the label artwork and the cultural role of women. [09:27] – Navigating initial bias: why an Indigenous wine brand faced resistance—and how they overcame it. [11:46] – Creating an ethical, inclusive model with growers and winemakers. [13:18] – Songlines, traditional land knowledge, and their integration into winemaking. [15:17] – “Reconciliation in action”: exporting wine and culture globally. [16:16] – The Adelaide Hills flagship range: partnerships, terroir, and excellence.

[17:58] – Mt Yengo Wines is showcased Wine Paris / Vinexposium,

[19:27] – Riverina wines: moving beyond bulk production toward quality. [22:42] – The climate and winemaking challenges in Hunter Valley. [24:38] – Semillon vs. Chardonnay: shifts in Hunter Valley grape trends. [26:32] – Deep symbolism in the Adelaide Hills artwork: land, femininity, and the cosmos. [29:48] – A powerful story of community celebration, culture, and joy. [33:03] – Movement, music, and communal joy: reconnecting through culture. [35:07] – How to respectfully engage with Aboriginal culture—starting with questions and curiosity. [38:24] – Regenerative viticulture: how growers are learning from First Nations traditions. [40:43] – Ben on how Mt Yengo’s influence is shifting mindsets in the wine industry. [42:00] – Final reflections on pride, purpose, and the growing impact of their journey.

📩 Questions or feedback? Email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk 📸 Follow on Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat 🎥 YouTube Channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat 🌐 More content: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time - cheers to you!

THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEEDSPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.

In this episode, we head to the mountains of Northern Lebanon to meet Michelle and Claudine, neighbors, best friends, and the visionary founders of Heya Wines, a natural winery rooted in inclusion, heritage, and community.

Heya Wines (meaning “She” in Arabic) is more than just a label, it’s a movement. From championing gender equity and employing Syrian refugee women, working with indigenous grapes and fermenting with apples in response to Lebanon’s energy crisis, every bottle tells a story of purpose and place.

We dive into their hands-on winemaking approach, explore the beauty of high-altitude terroir, and taste their soulful wines, from Nour, a textured white blend of direct press Obeideh & White Grenache to Kanz, a red made with carbonic maceration and aged in amphora. We also hear about the challenges of making wine in a region grappling with instability, and how the power of community, resilience, and female solidarity fuels every step.

This is a story of women rewriting what it means to make wine, not just in Lebanon, but everywhere. Whether you're curious about natural wine, socially conscious farming, or planning a trip to the Levant, this episode will inspire you to pour with intention.

1:23 - Founding Heya Wines: friendship, passion, and a mission for equity 5:15 - Facing gender bias and creating equal pay in Lebanon’s wine industry 7:53 - Hiring and empowering Syrian refugee women 9:57 - The rainy harvest: a community effort that defines Heya’s spirit 11:25 - Traditional Lebanese breakfast: manoushe, za’atar and labneh

13:38 - Heya’s location: high-altitude terroir (1450m) near the Syrian border

14.07 - The region of Dimane, North Lebanon and it’s terroir 17:27 - Creating Farha, a co-ferment of apples and indigenous Merwah grapes

18.03 - What does Merwah taste like? 18:40 - Travel tips: Beirut → Batroun (45min) → Heya Wines (another 45min)

20.46 - What does Obeidah taste like, and how it compares to Merwah? 21:13 - Tasting Nour (white blend of Obeideh & Grenache) — made during the war Gnarly Vines - £30

29:06 - Tasting Kanz (red Grenache-Syrah): carbonic maceration in amphora Gnarly Vines - £28

29:34 - Kanz: “Treasure”: why it’s their most playful and textural wine

30.44 - How ageing in amphora affects the wine 34:49 - Food pairings: platters with white & red meats, yogurt, vegetables 35:45 - Global feedback and building a growing Heya Wines community 39:02 - Labels featuring real harvest women - authentic and unfiltered 41:12 - What’s next: expanding opportunities for women and working moms

42.17 - One message for listeners working in a vineyard, cellar or boardroom who can shape the future of wine

📩 Questions or feedback? Email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk 📸 Follow on Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat 🎥 YouTube Channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat 🌐 More content: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time - cheers to you!

THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEEDSPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.

In this episode, we head to Oregon’s Willamette Valley to meet Remy Drabkin — winemaker, civic leader, innovator, and unapologetic champion for LGBTQ+ visibility in wine.

Remy is the force behind Remy Wines and the founder of Queer Wine Fest, and in this conversation, we explore how equity, intention, and creative problem-solving are not just buzzwords, but daily practices in her winery and beyond.

We get into everything from the power of thoughtful hiring and building inclusive spaces (yes, even bathrooms!) to the unexpected intersection of winemaking and carbon-sequestering concrete. You'll hear how Remy uses wine as a platform for change — whether it’s advocating for sustainable water solutions, supporting the ACLU through sparkling wine, or redefining what leadership in wine can look like.

We also dig into the volcanic soils of the Dundee Hills, explore her love affair with the Italian grape Lagrein, and learn why she’s aging wine in chestnut barrels — and what all of this has to do with place, purpose, and legacy.

Whether you're here for the terroir or the truth bombs, this episode is packed with insight, inspiration, and a reminder that wine, at its best, is about people, progress, and pouring with purpose.

Episode Guide (Chapters)

2.45 - How intention shapes everything in the winery

5:38 – Creating Inclusive Wine Spaces

7:19 – The simplicity of building a thoughtful restroom and how this impacts the team

8.30 - Being thoughtful where job adverts go out

9.30 - Inventing Carbon Sequestration structural concrete called Solid Carbon

11.00 - Creative solutions to water challenges

13.24 - The importance of team meetings

17.20 - Creating Queer Wine Fest

22.30 - Winning the Governor's Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion.

26:34 – Why Willamette Valley Matters

26:15 – The Importance of Speaking Out. Finding your voice

28:50 – Locating Remy’s Vineyards in the South Dundee Hills

28:56 – Soil and Terroir in the Red Hills (volcanic Jory soil)

29:49 – Describing the Local Climate and landscape in Willamette Valley

32:49 – Planting Italian variety Lagrein, what it offers, and why it works here

38:09 – Using Chestnut Barrels and extended aging

42.28: Black Heart Méthode Champenoise wine that supports ACLU

47:15 – What’s next

50.00 - What is one action that someone running a small winery can take this year to create a more inclusive business model?

📩 Questions or feedback? Email me: janina@eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

📸 Follow on Instagram: @eatsleep_winerepeat

🎥 YouTube Channel: Eat Sleep Wine Repeat

🌐 More content: www.eatsleepwinerepeat.co.uk

Until next time – cheers to you!

THE EAT SLEEP WINE REPEAT PODCAST HAS BEEN FEATURED IN DECANTER MAGAZINE, RADIO TIMES AND FEED SPOT AS THE 6TH BEST UK WINE MAKING PODCAST.