Mines in the Vines heads to Red Hill for day of deals and discovery

• Mining meets wine at Red Hill In Victoria
• Securities Vault connects investors and ideas
• Eastern Gas IPO brings new energy to the vines

Special Report: Mines in the Vines is back this year at Red Hill, where Securities Vault’s Nathan Lodge is blending gold, gas and good wine into one of the most talked-about investor days on the ASX calendar.

It’s not every day you find mining executives, investors and analysts swapping insights over a glass of Pinot in the middle of Victoria’s wine country.

But that’s exactly the point of Mines in the Vines, an established investor access series where the Australian mining sector comes to mingle, trade ideas and, if history’s any guide, move real capital.

When Nathan Lodge, founder and director of Securities Vault, first launched the concept back in 2023, it was a break from the button-down world of boardrooms and hotel conferences.

“The premise of the event was simple yet unconventional: take mining and investment meetings out of sterile boardrooms and place them among the vines – it’s where mines meet the vines,” Lodge told Stockhead.

Two years later, the idea has grown into something of an institution.

“It has matured into a mainstay of Australia’s investor-relations calendar, recognised for its ability to foster meaningful engagement between listed companies, investors, and industry leaders in a setting that’s as productive as it is memorable,” he added.

From idea to flagship event

The 2025 edition of Mines in the Vines will take place on Thursday, November 20 at the Lancemore Lindenderry winery in Red Hill, on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula – the most picturesque setting imaginable for deal-making.

This year’s line-up reflects Australia’s shifting resource narrative.

Nexus Minerals (ASX:NXM) is pressing ahead with expansion at its Wallbrook Gold Project, sharpening its focus on gold growth across WA’s greenstone belt.

Impact Minerals (ASX:IPT) is chasing the next big discovery in battery and critical metals, reflecting the sector’s pivot toward energy transition demand.

In Victoria and Tasmania, Kaiser Reef (ASX:KAU) continues to advance its high-grade gold operations, while Castile Resources (ASX:CST) is progressing development work on its copper-gold portfolio in the Northern Territory.

And rounding out the list is Eastern Gas, a pre-IPO spin-out from Pure Hydrogen (ASX:PH2), aiming to unlock new conventional gas opportunities across the east coast basins (see more below).

But the event isn’t just about good wine and lively conversation, it’s also about turning those meetings into real market momentum.

“Mines in the Vines was created to go beyond traditional investor briefings – designed not only to inform but to stimulate market liquidity through both live and recorded company presentations,” said Lodge.

“The format also serves to elevate company visibility among investors, broadening market awareness well beyond the event itself.”

The approach is working.

After its last session, companies such as Verity Resources (ASX:VRL) saw a clear lift in trading volumes as presentations circulated through the network.

“Delegates attending Mines in the Vines events are typically active market participants, and their engagement frequently translates into tangible buying interest  –  often resulting in a measurable lift in liquidity for the companies presenting on the day.”

Expanding the ecosystem

The vineyard series has since sprouted a sibling – Stocks in the Vines – a broader investor access day highlighting growth opportunities across healthcare, technology, and emerging industries.

The most recent edition, held in April 2025 at Marnong Estate in Victoria, drew an equally high-calibre audience, and a few standout stories.

BlinkLab Limited (ASX:BB1), for instance, impressed investors with its breakthrough diagnostic app that enables the early detection of autism in children.

Decidr AI Industries (ASX:DAI) showcased how its collaboration with Amazon Web Services is powering a new generation of AI-driven automation tools for global businesses.

And Zelira Therapeutics (ASX:ZLD) outlined its progress in cannabinoid-based therapeutics for neurological disorders.

“We appreciated getting to present to high quality investors from Melbourne-based funds and stockbrokers to high-net-worth individuals,” said Zelira’s director and speaker Tim Slate.

“The combination of fine wine, a beautiful setting, and interesting people made it feel more like a social function than a traditional capital-raising event.

“If you’re a company looking to engage with serious investors in a meaningful way, this is the event to attend.”

Eastern Gas and the return of fundamentals

Of the presenters heading to Red Hill this month, few have drawn more anticipation than Eastern Gas, which Securities Vault is taking to market as lead manager.

After years of capital flowing toward renewables, the pendulum is swinging back. Investors are again recognising the value of traditional oil and gas assets as supply constraints and energy-security concerns reshape the market.

“Eastern Gas, owned by Pure Hydrogen, is a compelling story, a return to the fundamentals of conventional gas and real assets at a time when the market is beginning to reprice traditional energy in Australia,” Lodge explained.

Its assets sit in the Cooper Basin, surrounded by majors like Santos and Syngas, giving investors exposure to a proven region as the global energy transition seeks reliable supply.

“The spin-out from Pure Hydrogen comes to market with a clear strategy and clean corporate structure, positioning it as an ideal IPO candidate for investors seeking exposure to the resurging energy sector.”

Who’s behind the Vines

While Mines in the Vines has become the face of the movement, Securities Vault remains the engine room powering it.

Founded by Lodge in 2019, the firm provides direct and alternative capital solutions for ASX-listed companies across energy, resources and technology.

Its mission is simple: to simplify the capital-raising process without compromising share price or company control.

Building on that model, Securities Vault has now launched its FY2026 Capital Placement Facility, a next-generation framework designed to give ASX-listed companies real control over when and how they raise capital.

Unlike traditional broker-led placements that can dilute shareholder value, the facility enables issuers to raise funds gradually and strategically through flexible, staged execution.

That means transparent pricing, lower fees and complete discretion over timing, volume and valuation –  a smarter, data-driven alternative for modern markets.

“Our success is aligned with our clients’ success,” said Gennadi Koutchin, head of Corporate Finance at Securities Vault.

“We don’t just raise funds – we protect value, support strategy, and empower management teams to make informed decisions.”

It’s an approach shaped by Lodge’s 15 years in stockbroking and private equity, and by a family legacy that stretches back to Lodge Partners, founded by his father in 1994.

Today, Securities Vault stands as its modern counterpart: a nimble, data-driven capital management firm focused on flexibility, transparency and company control.

The vineyard advantage

The upcoming Mines in the Vines event anchors a year-round program of investor lunches across Australia, supported by a growing digital presence on LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube.

Lodge works alongside his brother Richard Lodge and head of Institutional Paris Magdalinos, as well as head of marketing Anna Lamprell to drive the next chapter of Mines in the Vines.

And as the date approaches, anticipation across the small-cap mining scene is already building.

Lodge says the format’s power lies in its intimacy.

“We find that when we take them out for the day, the companies present, it’s very engaging. They get a good understanding. You will see a little bit of buying during the day, which is always quite good,” he said.

In the end, it’s a simple equation: mining needs capital; investors need clarity; both thrive when the conversation feels genuine.

And if that conversation happens to take place over a decent Shiraz under the Red Hill sun – well, that’s just good business.

“Blending boardroom intelligence with vineyard charm, Mines in the Vines is redefining how investors and issuers connect.

“The upcoming Lancemore Lindenderry Red Hill edition on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is set to be its most dynamic yet, where serious capital meets a world-class glass of wine.”

This article was developed in collaboration with Securities Vault, a Stockhead advertiser at the time of publishing.

This article does not constitute financial product advice. You should consider obtaining independent advice before making any financial decisions.