WANNANGA- BOORNA

“As l search the soil, like tentacles spreading my roots feed from the earth/ boodjara, giving me food n strength to grow. My silver bark thickens like a cocoon keeping me warm and is a haven for my insect brothers n sisters. My slender leaves dance in the wind providing food n protection for Gnuraren- western ring tailed possum.  My wadandi friends admire me, & keep me trimmed using my leaves for medicine, my unwanted branches for ceremonies & always giving thanks to me for my provision. Now l am a grandmother, for many generations I’ve listened to stories of the Elders, watched children play, sung with the birds and nurtured many generations animals. Since my birth many nations have sat beneath my shabeneath too, share their stories & languages upon Doorga- the wind. Finally my life-force has given enough. It’s my time to go back to the earth & rest but until l dissolve, l share with you my last purpose, through “these seats” l share my stories, my knowledge, my wisdom my strength n final comfort . For l am a proud strong Wannang- Peppermint tree”   Co Written by Toni n Wayne Webb- Pibulmun Wadandi Yungunjarli Southwest WA…..

We lost a beloved Wannang – peppermint tree earlier this year and in the place where the tree grew we have created a storytelling and wine tasting table. Taste our biodynamic wines, reflect on the vital components of sustainable land care and hear stories about what the Wannang tree might have seen over its long life.

The tree inexplicably fell down on Friday 8th May 2021, and we want to honour this tree and all its grace and beauty. It gave us wonderful shade, blossom for bees, a place for children to play and beautiful sound when a breeze blew through its leaves. This magnificent sentient being would have recorded all the comings and goings of staff and customers, the planting of the vines and fifty vintages as well as conversations between friends and lovers. Many a birthday and engagement were celebrated in the shade of this beautiful tree.

The Wannang tree was here long before we arrived, and it knows stories from before European settlers started clearing the land. Cullen Wines sits upon the ancient soils of Wilyabrup, the place of red ochre, the “sweet spot” of the Margaret River wine growing region. We honour 65,000 years of Wadandi sustainable landcare by practicing sustainable biodynamic and organic wine growing, doing right by the flora and fauna that call Wilyabrup home.

Cullen wine comes from the heart of the land rather than the mind of the winemaker. Our job is to be custodian to the land, to acknowledge the Wadandi people as the traditional custodians with respect, and to look after the ancient Wilyabrup land.

We have an abundance of Wannang – peppermint trees around our Biodynamic Wine Room and dotted throughout the estate. Considered women’s trees by traditional custodians, the Wannangs – peppermints were used for building huts, smoking and cleansing, the leaves were chewed and used for cooking meat or fish on the fire.