Spill the Wine Episode 27: Creating wines outside the norm. A visit to Maenad

Yvonne Irvine is the assistant winemaker at Creekside and is also the winemaker and owner of her own virtual winery Maenad. Yvonne shares some insights in the positives and negatives of being a virtual winemaker – one positive being she has full control over every aspect of the wines and can be very creative. Her creativity shines in the very unique and innovative wines we tasted like Piquettes and Pet-Nats, as well as more traditional varietals like Chardonnay and Cabernet Franc. It's our first episode with a virtual winemaker and after listening, I'm sure you'll be ready to arrange a visit and buy these amazing wines.

Produced by Lukas Sluzar, recorded June 4, 2025

Show notes: www.maenadwines.com

Wines sampled: 2021 Piquette, Vidal Petnat fermented with peaches and sumac, Vidal Petnat fermented with Concord grapes and tarragon, 2021 Chardonnay Grimsby Hillside, 2021 Skin Fermented Chardonnay, 2024 Vignoier Grimsby Hill, 2023 Cabernet Franc Grimsby Hillside