Farhad Bandesh made wine in Iran before he was forced to flee, now he is bringing that ancient tradition to the place he hopes to call home
On his first day as a free man, Farhad Bandesh poured himself a glass of wine. It was 11 December 2020, his 40th birthday, and after seven-and-a-half years spent in detention between Christmas Island, Manus Island and the Mantra Hotel in Melbourne, he was ready to try Australian shiraz for the first time.
It was softer than the reds he drank in Iran. This taste confirmed a long held dream – he wanted to establish himself in Australia’s wine world.
