How to Make Wine with Grapes, Grit (and Sumac)

In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons sat down with Yvonne Irvine, a long-time winemaker in Niagara and the co-founder of Maenad Wine Co. Yvonne shares her journey from studying biotechnology and business to launching a brand that's all about creative freedom, fun, and celebrating women unapologetically. Her wines are low-intervention, playful, and packed with personality from co-ferments with botanicals to pét-nats and piquette blends. They talk about what it means to make wine without the pressure of tradition, why it matters to create space for women in the wine world, and how Yvonne balances a small-scale business with a full-time role and motherhood. What You'll Learn:

• How Yvonne transitioned from biotech to full-time winemaking
• The philosophy behind Maenad Wine Co. and what makes it different
• The role of creativity, nature, and intuition in Yvonne's winemaking process
• What Yvonne has learned from 18+ years in the Niagara wine industry
• The realities of sourcing grapes and producing wine on a small scale
• Why Yvonne believes wine should be approachable, fun, and free of pretense

Yvonne Irvine is the co-owner and winemaker of Maenad Wine Co. With over 18 years of experience, she launched Maenad in 2020 to explore experimental, low-intervention winemaking on her terms. Her brand is a tribute to bold, authentic women and to wines that are as expressive as they are accessible. Ready to try something bold in your glass? This episode will inspire you to explore wine differently. Listen now at winebehindthescenes.com