Some partnerships just make sense.
Ours with the Art Gallery of Ballarat is one of them — grounded in shared values, creative energy, and a deep respect for both history and expression.
But like most things at Black & Ginger, it didn’t start in a boardroom. It started with a story.
A Beginning (Like Most of Ours)
Black & Ginger began, quite literally, around a fire.
A conversation between winemaker Hadyn Black and his best mate Darcy “Ginger” Naunton sparked the idea that maybe — just maybe — it was time to make something of his own. That conversation turned into our first vintage in 2015. No grand plan, just instinct, curiosity, and a willingness to give it a crack.
More than a decade on, that same spirit still drives everything we do — including this new partnership.
The Way We See It
Winemaking sits somewhere between science and art. Yes, there’s precision, structure, and discipline. But there’s also intuition, creativity, and a sense of feel you can’t quite teach. It’s this balance that drew us so naturally to the Art Gallery of Ballarat. Like us, they honour the past while making space for what’s next.
From the goldfields to now, this region has always attracted people willing to create something — whether it’s on canvas, in stone, or in a glass.
A Shared Focus
One of the things that felt immediately aligned was a shared commitment to elevating the stories of women. Many of our wines are named after women we know, love, and respect — each one with a story behind it.
Lily’s Block, named for Hadyn’s mum, who helped us establish our home vineyard at Hounds Run. Lucy’s Rosé, created because sometimes the right wine is also just good business sense. And plenty more that carry pieces of our world with them.
For this partnership, we’ve created something especially meaningful.
Introducing Anastasia Cuvée
Our sparkling wine for the Art Gallery of Ballarat is Anastasia Cuvée — a name inspired by two women from the Ballarat goldfields, both seamstresses, both believed to have helped sew the Eureka Flag. It’s a wine that nods to history, craftsmanship, and quiet strength — values we hold close.
You’ll find Anastasia being poured at Gallery openings and events throughout the year, alongside a rotating seasonal selection of our wines.
An Invitation
If you’ve visited us you’ll know our wine shed isn’t a typical cellar door. It’s not polished or formal — it’s personal. It’s how we like to drink wine: relaxed, welcoming, and shared.
In the coming months, we’re looking forward to inviting the Gallery community into that space. Expect wine, art, conversation, and a few stories along the way.
Why It Matters
This partnership isn’t just about pouring wine in a new place. It’s about connection — between disciplines, between people, and between stories.
For Lucy especially, with a background in photography, there’s something incredibly exciting about being part of the Gallery’s creative community. Mostly though, it’s about sharing what we make with people who value creativity in all its forms.
Because at the end of the day, whether it’s art or wine — it’s meant to be experienced, talked about, and enjoyed.