Our sister wine label - Black & Ginger Wines

Black & Ginger Wines is the sister wine label to Hounds Run vineyard. The label is a collaboration between Hounds Run co-owner and winemaker Hadyn Black and his good mate Darcy Naunton (the ginger), an entrepreneur from the big smoke. The two met in high school in 2002 and share a passion for the great outdoors and great wine.

Hadyn and Darcy aka Black and Ginger, enjoying a drop in the Vineyard at Hounds RUn

The idea of staring their own wine label developed over many camping trips and four-wheel driving adventures, and in 2015 the friends launched Black & Ginger with the purchase of 1t of Shiraz grapes from the renowned Malakoff Vineyard in the neighbouring Pyrenees wine region.   

Multiple vintages later, Black & Ginger produces award winning wines from fruit grown across Victoria, including the Grampians, Great Western, Pyrenees and Henty regions. As well as further afield such as the Alpine Valleys and Murray Darling, they even dip across the border into South Australia and source some varieties from the Riverland. The label has also produced a signature wine from Hounds Run, using the Shiraz grapes pruned and hand-picked by Hadyn’s mum Lily, in the first year. The first vintage, 2017 Lily’s Block Shiraz received 94pts and a 5 star rating in the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion and Black & Ginger have since only produced a 2021 and 2022 vintage, with the promise it will only be made in the very best years.

Lily’s Block Shiraz

Made with 100% Certified Organic Shiraz from Hounds Run Vineyard. Named in honour of Hadyn’s mum Lily.

Black & Ginger have released several new wines since prefering to experiment with alternative varieties from the region and further afield. With a desire to share the states best (but not necessarily the most well known) grapes with wine lovers, the range captures the meeting of tradition and innovation that defines the label. The latest releases include a Gewürtzraminer, Graciano, Nebbiolo and the label’s first rose, Lucy's Rose, named for Hounds Run co-owner and Hadyn’s wife Lucy.

Hadyn and Lucy in the vineyard

Check out the full range of eclectic and small-batch wines available at Black & Ginger, and stock up for those spring and summer picnics, dinners and celebrations we can look forward to.

Lily's Legacy

Hadyn’s mum Lily was a huge contributor to the development of Hounds Run, providing invaluable support and major hard yakka when owners Lucy and Hadyn first purchased the property in 2016. She undertook an enormous amount of pruning and painstakingly helping the couple reinvigorate the neglected vines. Lily also rolled up her sleeves to paint the farmhouse and helped with hand picking the vineyard’s first Shiraz crop in March 2017. Lily unexpectedly passed away in April 2017.

Lily and Lucy pruning the shiraz in 2016

Lily’s legacy is represented across Hounds Run. The boots and hat she wore while working in the vineyard now hang in tribute on the immense and beautiful gumtree which stands overlooking the vines. It was Lily’s favourite tree. She, Hadyn and Lucy often ate lunch in the shade here, sitting on the back of the Land cruiser while taking a break from working in the vineyard. Her ashes were later spread at this site.  

Lily’s hat and boots hang on the trunk of her favourite tree

In 2017, Hadyn created a deeply personal wine from the Shiraz grapes hand picked by Lily, naming it Lily’s Block. Produced under his wine label Black & Ginger, Lily’s Block subsequently received a score of 94 points in the internationally renowned Halliday Wine Companion. Black & Ginger also received a 5 star rating on debut in the the definitive guide to Australian wine which published the below entry for Lily’s Block in its 2020 edition.

Hadyn and Lily, together celebrating Hadyn’s 30th Birthday

 Lily’s Block Hounds Run Vineyard Great Western Shiraz 2017

Hand picked, open-fermented with 100% whole bunches and minimal working of the cap. Deep colour. Black cherry/berry fruit comes readymade with black pepper, spice and licorice adding interest to a medium to full-bodied wine with plenty of attitude. It has been allowed to express itself without being over-extracted. 50 dozen made. Screwcap. 14% alcohol . Rating 94

Source: Halliday, James. Halliday Wine Companion 2020. Hardie Grant Books, 2019

Black and Ginger Wines scored highly in their inaugural entry for the 2020 Halliday Wine Companion

Achieving a five star rating from their first vintage as grape growers was an incredible honour for Lucy and Hadyn. It’s not often that a first vintage produces such an impressive result. The couple wish Lily could have enjoyed the wine she worked so hard to produce and her contribution to the establishment of Hounds Run inspires them every day.

 Thank you Lily. Love you mum.