The inspiration

The inspiration

Bandesh Wine & Spirits is inspired by a great human rights activist, artist and musician.

Farhad Bandesh is a person whose incredible resilience, resistance, humanity and activism for human rights has touched many.

'My journey is one of deep struggle, of leaving Kurdistan where I was born and raised, where I was no longer safe. I sought freedom and safety and had to risk my life for it, leaving my home, family and friends.

Imprisoned for seeking asylum he was finally released after nearly 8 years.

'I am free and able to work in an industry I love. To work in wineries and with
a business that makes incredible products and raises awareness of human rights issues.... it really is a dream come true.'

Check out the Stories page for more about Farhad and follow his Farhad Bandesh Art Facebook page and of course Insta....

Photo by Sarah Pannell


The start.......

The start.......

Creating Bandesh Wine & Spirits is an incredible journey and is inspired by Farhad Bandesh, an incredible human rights activist, artist and musician. We united over a mutual passion for spirits and wine, writing and producing songs, videos, exhibitions and activism since 2016.

We start by launching two very special wines along with the first ever Kurdish Arak and Kurdish Gin.

Time to Fly is our favourite and symbolic of the desire for freedom with artwork by Farhad.

Game Over is a tribute to the Amnesty International
campaign led by ex Socceroo legend Craig Foster to fight against cruel policies that detain people seeking asylum.

The Kurdish Arak and Gin will be a complete surprise
to all of you with botanicals flavoured and influenced from Kurdistan!

This business starts at home where we are enveloped in
warm scents of many beautiful botanicals. There is a particular feeling when the scent of the Indigenous botanical from the mountains of Ilam, Kurdistan,
wafts through and touches us with feelings of family, friends and homeland.

We aim to not only make decadent products, we want to
raise awareness about human rights and social issues and we look forward to sharing stories of resistance and humanity and toasting to it all....

Jenell Quinsee - Bandesh Wine & Spirits.

Our featured products

  • TIME TO FLY 2021
    $35
    TIME TO FLY 2021

    Shiraz 2021

    Time to Fly 2021 is symbolic of the desire for freedom with the artwork created by Farhad Bandesh whilst imprisoned unjustly in Australian refugee detention centre prisons for nearly 8 years. It is a wine that signifies a search for freedom.

  • Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Yarra Valley
    $30
    Cabernet Sauvignon 2021 Yarra Valley

    Cabernet Sauvignon

    Game Over is a tribute to the Amnesty International campaign led by ex Socceroo legend Craig Foster to fight against cruel policies that detain refugees and asylum seekers. People deserve the right to live freely and be safe.
  • Kurdish Arak
    $60
    Kurdish Arak

    We are deeply honoured to be able to produce the first ever Kurdish Arak made in Australia! This is our perfected recipe bottled and labelled at home like classic nonnas....... You will be completely impressed by the smoothness and flavour, made in honour of family, friends and homelands.

  • Kurdish Gin
    $80
    Kurdish Gin

    It is with great pleasure we give you this gift of the first Kurdish Gin produced at home. This Gin is made with subtle flavours of botanicals right from the heart of Kurdistan. This botanical is Indigenous to the mountains in Ilam. It is a deeply personal recipe made with much love and respect. We hope you love it.

  • Pink Peppercorn Gin
    $65
    Pink Peppercorn Gin

    Melbourne's handcrafted Pink Peppercorn Gin is lightly spiced, smooth and beautifully balanced. Peppercorns were handpicked locally from abundant trees in our neighbourhood by us, Janet, Farhad and Jenell. We acknowledge the beautiful land of the Wurundjeri. Painting by Jenell Quinsee.

  • Oak Gin
    $80
    Oak Gin

    An incredibly smooth and spiced Gin handcrafted at home in our distillery. Pure gold in flavour, colour and taste.

  • Shiraz Gin
    $80
    Shiraz Gin

    Deeply rich in colour and flavour, with grapes we pressed ourselves at home in a traditional press. A beautiful and vibrant Gin.

  • Woman Life Freedom Siraz 2023
    $30
    Woman Life Freedom Siraz 2023

    Shiraz

Testimonials

  • Bandesh Wine & Spirits - well I am loving what I see.... some really well thought out and carefully crafted products and inspired by a great friend of mine! I have known Farhad for a few years and it is wonderful to see this venture take place. Since meeting Farhad I have been privileged to view his art and listen to his music, including attending a concert at Sidney Myer Music Bowl.  During the many visits I had with Farhad whilst detained we often spoke about wine, this being our mutual passion. Upon his release I reached out to nearby wine regions such as the Yarra Valley, Mornington Peninsula and Macedon Ranges to get him connected and experience in the industry.  It was Mac Forbes who really wanted to meet Farhad and hire him for the vintage about to start. A real community effort saw grapes donated, friends and Mac's winery facilitating the process.

    Time to Fly is incredibly meaningful with alot of heart and soul in making it. I wish Bandesh Wine & Spirits every success and may it lead to raising awareness and social change.

    Sarah Andrew WSET Business Development Manager, Australia & New Zealand Sommeliers Australia - President

  • I’m so excited to support Bandesh Wine & Spirits. Their passion and dedication is inspired by Farhad Bandesh and all about making incredible wine and spirits for Australians to share as a community, and also use it as a means to continue advocating for the rights of refugees. Time to Fly, their first wine, is a beautiful Shiraz from the Yarra Valley and it also stands for freedom. Time to Fly means everyone should be free. I urge everyone to enjoy the wine (and those spirits)! and get behind this wonderful new venture!

    Angus McDonald - filmmaker, artist Archibald finalist

  • Bandesh Wine & Spirits is an extraordinary enterprise with techniques/recipes linked to an ancient tradition of Kurdish wine and spirit making. I was honoured to be one of the early tasters of the Australian Kurdish Arak - AKA. It filled me with warmth, and with awe at how they have brought these skills and ingenuity to fruition. Bandesh Wine & Spirits have been crafted with attention to detail, with characteristic artistry, and love. I will certainly be a repeat customer!

    Arnold Zable. Writer, novelist, and storyteller

  • What a great new business for us all to support with an incredible inspiration behind it. It was really great to meet Farhad in person and work together on an art project in Melbourne, after some time since becoming aware of his extraordinary story of struggle and triumph. I was drawn to his amazing spirit and creative energy. I think of Farhad as the embodiment of true human spirit and strength, of optimism and will power to overcome unthinkable hardships. He came out of these extreme situations not just a survivor, but an example for all of us of how strong and resilient we can be, and how we can carry our spirits high with dignity, wisdom, and creativity . I encourage everyone to support and enjoy his music and art and I wish Bandesh Wine & Spirits all the best!

    Heesco - Artist, Muralist

  • Bandesh Wine & Spirits is an initiative I really admire and respect. Incredible products are made with fine attention to detail and great care and a strong passion for equality and human rights for all. It is inspired by Farhad Bandesh who is an exemplar of the power of the human spirit. Inspiration personified, he peacefully resisted a system of dehumanization through the greatest expressions of humanity, art and music. He spoke out for others and never let the system overwhelm his sense of entitlement to a full life. His passion for life is an expression of mighty strength of will. He’s overcome a titanic struggle to emerge with the desire to show the world who he is, and through him, how powerful we all are.

    This is an opportunity for Farhad to work and excel in an area he is deeply passionate about.

    Get behind this great new venture and support all things Bandesh Wine & Spirits!

    Craig Foster - ex Socceroo and Amnesty International #gameover