Grampians winemaker Hadyn Black of Black & Ginger Wine is a small batch producer exploring lesser-known varietals in the region. Since launching the Black & Ginger label in 2015, friends and business partners Hadyn Black and Darcy Naunton have been the talk of the town for all the right reasons.
While the Grampians is known for its shiraz, Black is steering our palette to an exploratory new way of thinking when it comes to wine -from his own way with grenache and other Spanish and Portuguese blends.
Black, who purchased a small vineyard Hounds Run with his fiancé [now wife] in 2016, is all about focusing on organic farming.
His winery is one taking part in Grampians in a Glass – which sees winemakers from one of Australia’s acclaimed wine regions head to Victoria by Farmer’s Daughters this Thursday 27th June, for an epic evening of wine tasting.
Around 17 winemakers from Western Victoria will set up an urban cellar door experience at Federation Square for an evening of wine, entertainment and delicious paired food featuring Victorian produce.
It’s a chance to sample more than 50 handcrafted wines from both large and boutique wineries surrounding the towns of Great Western, Ararat, Buangor, Moyston and Halls Gap.
Wineries such as Seppelt and Best’s Wines Great Western have been operating in the region since the 1800s, and have some of the oldest vines in Australia, but it’s also where you’ll discover the work behind wine labels such as Black & Ginger Wine.
The Write Drop talks to Hadyn for our At The Bar series.
MY CITY
Great Western – a great little town in Western Victoria, on the edge of The Grampians.
FAVOURITE FOOD MEMORY
Sashimi at a tiny family restaurant in Kyoto, Japan with my wife and her dad. Between the language barrier and the Sake, I barely had any idea what each piece was, but it was incredibly fresh and tasty. We finished the evening with a huge tower of traditional wooden serving plates stacked on the end of the table!
FAVOURITE BAR
Ibu Susu – Ubud, Bali. My Balinese brother-in-law, Ketut, opened his own cocktail bar after working in some high-end joints in Melbourne. Incredible drinks, from modern twists on the classics, to his own creations, there’s a drink for everyone, and delicious tasty treats to eat.
DRINK THAT DESCRIBES YOU
A margarita – a little bit sour and can be a little salty but in the right company you’ll have a hell of a time.
BEST HANGOVER CURE
Another beer and a swim, preferably in the ocean, but jumping off the back of the wake boat into Lake Fyans at the base of the Grampians works wonders too.
BEST INTERSTATE BAR
I spent a very boozy weekend in Sydney last year with Darcy, the ‘Ginger’. The highlight was probably The Doss House in The Rocks. Cool little spaces in the basement of an historic building. It was like going down a rabbit hole back in time.
FAVOURITE WINE
I don’t have a favourite wine as such, it’s the moments that make the bottle memorable. Two that spring to mind – Bests Wines Bin No. 0 Shiraz around a campfire at Wilsons Prom out of cut off beer cans because we forgot glasses. The other – a bottle of 1970’s Redman Cabernet with a BBQ lunch in the middle of a busy day during vintage at the winery.
FAVOURITE WINERY
Fallen Giants – a small range of well-made wines from organically farmed fruit. Enjoying a glass of wine on the deck under the mountains, while watching kangaroos and emus in the vineyard, it’s pretty special.
NEXT DESTINATION
Cairns – We are part of the Urban Wine Walk and our next event is in Cairns, I haven’t been there before. Pretty excited to explore the bars, the beach, rainforest and, I hear there’s a nice reef up there!
