When we heard that a new wine label was launching in Adelaide and naturally, we were very interested. As it turns out, we had good reason to be; there’s something that sets A Fanciful Notion apart from the crowd.
A Fanciful Notion is a social enterprise that creates fantastic wines and empowers South Australian people and businesses. It’s not just about great wine, but partnering with all manner of Adelaidians to create socially conscious wines that support artists and organisations.
Long-time friends and wine enthusiasts, Tricia McBride and Tanya Kerr, created the brand and officially launched on Sunday afternoon at Black Addition Cafe.
“As with all good beginnings of businesses, it started over some wine. We were drinking one night and, after 22 years of drinking together, we decided that it was time for a business,” said Tricia at Sunday’s launch.
The ladies have launched their brand this year with two distinct wine labels, Whimsy and Quiet Revolution.
There is the central philosophy behind A Fanciful Notion: “Wines are as interesting as the people who drink them.” The two labels are a reflection of this ethos, with each wine focusing on different types of interesting South Aussies.
The first label, Whimsy, places a focus on supporting local South Australian artists. The first two wines under the label are titled ‘Truth in Ink’ and the label serves as a platform for artists to share their passion for tattoos, and the stories surrounding them.
There are two varieties, a 2015 Sangiovese sourced from the Barossa Valley and a 2016 Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir sourced from a cool climate vineyard in Woodside. The Sangiovese presents a rustic, earthy wine, which will pair well with a hearty pasta dish. In contrast, the Pinot Noir is a woody, medium-bodied wine with tobacco and cherry notes. The labels on each wine feature an inked-up artist, showing off the everlasting art form that tattoos.
“We wanted real people on our wine labels, and that was really important to us, ” explained Tonya at the launch.
The second label, Quiet Revolution, features two vegan-friendly wines simply named The White and The Red. The label supports worthy charities and social enterprises.
The White works with Freedom Hill Sanctuary in the Adelaide Hills, an initiative that provides homes from neglected and abused animals. The wine itself is a crisp, aromatic Chenin Blanc with hints of white peach and apple.
The Red works alongside Harvest Fair, a meal delivery service with a focus on gender equality. It comes in the form of a smooth blend with hints of black pepper and smoky plum.
The partnerships that A Fanciful Notion has formed in the creation of these wines are what set it apart from the crowd. These wines are focused on community in a collaborative way.
“It’s really important for us that everybody has the opportunity to partner and collaborate, because we’re a small city and we need to work together,” explains Tricia. “Creating socially conscious brands is an idea that we want to keep moving forward with, so we’ll always be looking for partnerships.”