Healthy Minds Healthy Vines

The Follett family has been embedded in Langhorne Creek for the past century, making a living off many years of dairy farming before transitioning over to winemaking under the Lake Breeze label in the 90’s. Eldest son Roger, Winemaker Greg and Vineyard Manager Tim have built on the foundation laid by their dad Ken, running their ever-growing business alongside a list of other family members, with its nexus based around candid kitchen table conversations, food and rude jokes served by matriarch, Marlene. This is a chat about navigating the complexities of family dynamics in the industry, getting along, and getting ready for the next generation. Here’s Greg, Tim and Rog…

Sneak preview from Roger, Greg & Tim Follett's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Nigel Blieschke and Tom Bartholomaeus are the viticulturalists behind Torbreck’s towering presence in the Australian wine industry, responsible for making the most of some of the oldest grape vines in the world. The responsibility of custodianship over such special vineyards isn’t lost on Nigel, who’s knowledge and respect for nature was passed down from his grandfather, growing up in the Flinders Ranges. Tom is a sixth generation Barossa grower known for his soft pruning methods that he learned in Italy. Having developed his craft over decades, starting in the booming 90’s, today Nigel and Tom work from the ground up to ensure things are looked after for the future ahead, while producing fruit in the here and now that’s better than ever. Here's Tom and Nigel…

Sneak preview of Nigel and Tom's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Sheridan Alm is at the helm of the Riverland’s ‘Starrs Reach Vineyard’, and recently took out ‘Innovative Vineyard of the Year’ at the Young Gun of Wine awards. Sheridan’s family history in the region stretches back six generations, with she and husband Craig now carrying thetorch into unknown territory. As a mum of 5, Sheridan’s always on the go, and if she’s not careful, can run out of time and energy to look after herself when parenting and wine come first. As her latest award suggests, they pride themselves on doing things differently at Starrs Reach, with a focus on alternative varieties and sustainability setting them up for success. Here’s Sheridan…

Sneak preview of Sheridan's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Steve Schiller is a two-time state pruning champion, and the man behind Tractor Tread Vineyards in the Barossa. Joining him on this episode is the vivacious Rebecca Weatherill, a Coober Pedy girl with an affinity for the wine industry, Rebecca had a change of life direction after enduring a number of devastating events, leading her to start her resilience-based business, ‘Workplace Wellbeing SA’. Rebecca recently pioneered a series of wellbeing workshops for Barossa growers, bringing mental and physical health management to the forefront. Steve was one of many growers who participated in the workshops and is an advocate for speaking up when times are tough, despite the discomfort. Here’s Rebecca and Steve…

Sneak preview of Steve and Rebecca's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

On a mission to express the best the Adelaide Hills has to offer, Simon Tolley was in the army, before trying his hand at viticulture and starting his own brand, ‘Simon Tolley Wines’. Taking inspiration from his father Andrew, Simon’s modus operandi is producing small matches of high-quality wines and striving to improve each season. Simon’s business was one of many to be burnt by the Cuddlee Creek bushfire. A blaze he fought himself with hose in hand, attempting to stop it destroying his property. Flames ripped through 25,000 hectares devastating the Adelaide Hills, with the effects still being felt today. Determined to find a silver-lining, Simon’s managed to use smoke-tainted fruit to create uniquely sellable products. He’s also raised a family in the Hills where he’s lived for decades and can often be spotted cruising the curves in his restored 1965 Morris mini-van. Here’s Simon Tolley...

Sneak preview of Simon Tolley's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Kerri Thompson and Marnie Roberts are two firecrackers with an enduring love for shaking up the Clare Valley’s wine offering and going their own way.KT couldn’t have known less about making wine when her journey in the industry started all those years ago, in fact she needed a fake I.D just to do her first tastings at uni! Little did she know the fruitful career that was in store…Marnie is the winemaker, owner, creative director and business manager of ‘Matriach & Rogue’, and shockingly, does experience feeling over worked at times… She’s all about working with growers to create something exceptional and different; and she does it all while being a mum; just like her mate Kerri! Here’s KT and Marnie…

Sneak preview of KT and Marnie's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Succession isn’t sexy; no one likes thinking about death and what will happen after they’re gone, but as Mellor Olsson lawyers Matt Dorman and Callen Bubner say, burying your head in the sand doesn’t change the reality we all must face one day; and one thing you can do is be prepared… Matt and Callen spend the bulk of their time helping agribusiness families craft and implement succession and estate plans, laying a solid foundation for the future everyone can rely on when the time comes.This conversation will give you the nuts and bolts of how it all works, and answers the sort of questions you might have in the back of your mind from time to time. Here’s Matt & Callen…

Sneak preview from our Succession Law Episode with Matt Dorman & Callen Bubner on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Richard Leask is an authority on regenerative farming for growers in South Australia and comes with a wealth of experience, that includes taking on the Nuffield Scholarship, which saw him travel the world in search of sustainable approaches to bring back to home soil. He’s as knowledgeable as he is passionate about protecting the land for future generations, and his own vineyard is a breeding ground ripe for putting new ideas in practice. Richard and his brother Malcolm, have been growing their own label ‘Hither & Yon’ for the past decade, putting their best foot forward to adapt to the changing climate for more sustainable vines and better wines.

Sneak peek of Richard Leask's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers. Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Anita Goode is Wangolina through and through, and the first of her family to branch out and make wine on the land of Wangolina Station, since the Goode’s first arrived more than 100 years ago. Part of the greater Limestone Coast region, Mount Benson is a unique coastal location around 300Ks from Adelaide, halfway between Kingston and Robe in the south-east. A moderate maritime climate provides the biggest drawcard from a viticultural point of view. As Anita will tell you, it gets bloody windy! But all that cold air plays an essential role in helping Wangolina wines stand out from the crowd; much like their creator, who comes equipped with purple hair and attitude you can see a mile away. Here's Anita…

Sneak preview of Anita Goode's upcoming episode on Healthy Minds Healthy Vines, the well being podcast for growers.Proudly brought to you by the Wine Grape Council of South Australia, sponsored by PIRSA.

Ash Ratcliffe is a character who's not afraid to rattle a few cages... He and wife Holly ambitiously set out to shake things up in the Riverland by going their own way and growing grape varieties others wouldn't have dreamed of planting in the area.  Since launching Ricca Terra, Ash has proven the doubters wrong, being named Viticulturist of the Year and Riverland Winemaker of the Year. He also had the majority of his crop wiped out by a hailstorm in late 2021 and while Ricca Terra has had to dig deep to recover, the team has still managed to make headway in its quest to diversify the region's image and have fun doing it. Podcast produced at PodBooth

Enjoy a short preview of Ash Ratcliff's upcoming episode, dropping this Monday