Sparky's next adventure

[sparky]

This Friday I'll be stepping off the TWE bus to embark on my next adventure in life, but bear with me a moment while I reminisce..

Late last century I decided I really liked wine and started work with the family sized Mildara Blass before seeing the life and death of both the renegade Southern Cross Wine Co and the elegant and aspirational on-premise Benchmark Wines. This century, my passion for wine continued unabated through the awkward long distance marriage with Beringer Blass and the dark days of multi-beverage to the ebullient maiden voyage of the good ship Treasury. It’s been a rollicking good time and I'd like to thank you all for the conversations and support along the way.

But that’s enough of that standing still…there are adventures to be had!

First up is a small warm up run through the East Gippsland forests in a couple of weeks: http://adventurefestival.com/trail-running-2/

Then onto my next adventure with the Wine Peloton for what promises to be some spectacular bike adventures on the #TourofTassie in support of a most worthy cause, the Teen Rescue Foundation. You’re welcome to follow the journey of likeminded cycling wine hooligans to and around Tassie and vicariously enjoy the ride as much as I will.

http://www.winepeloton.com.au
http://teenrescuefoundation.org.au

From there, who knows, but otherwise you can catch me on all the usual channels and I sincerely hope our paths may cross again - I'll still be hanging in here for the odd conversation about wine. My team on the bus will still be here, so continue to call in with those stuffed and suffering bottles on 1300 651 650 and I'm sure they'll look after you:-)

sparky

http://au.linkedin.com/in/moirachalk
http://instagram.com/sparky_moira
http://twitter.com/sparky_moira

[mjs]

Moira,

Best wishes for your next adventures in life!!

cheers, Malcolm

[phillisc]

Does this mean I can go even harder than ever in my criticism of...

Moira, despite plenty of axe grinding, letters of complaint, locking horns with all manners TWE, it has been really great to have an industry representative like you in a space like this.
I beg no pardons at some of the industry practices, not just exclusive to your company, but sometimes the helpful people behind the scenes don't have much say and I just kept scratching my head...not that anyone listened...

Great to meet you at last years or was it this years recorking clinic in Adelaide.
Let us know what the future holds.

All the best

Cheers
Craig

[odyssey]

Expecting TWE CS without Moira to fall to bits!

Best of luck with the ride.

[dave vino]

All the best Moira!! Thanks for going into bat on various occasions over the years, I always appreciated having someone who 'understood' us wine tragics helping out.

Never had you pegged as a triathlon type, funny how you build up an image of someone.

Hope you go on to bigger and better things.

[griff]

All the best Moira for your next adventure!

[Mike Hawkins]

All the best Sparky. On a selfish note, we'll now have to go back to haggling with TWE each time we have a corked wine !

Mike

[Hacker]

Thanks Sparky! Even though I haven't had cause to ring the TWE phone line, I have enjoyed your contributions on this forum, and I hope you won't stop posting.
When next in Sydney and you have some time, let us all know and we can do an offline

Kind regards,
David M.

[via collins]

Wow!

Now there's a loss to Treasury Estates, and a gain for the free world.

Those post-bus plans sound just a tad to healthy for me, but I sure hope to see you at a Melbourne off-line after you feel the need to just sit and drink wine and tell tales

Best of luck to ya,

VC.

[mjs]

Wow!

Now there's a loss to Treasury Estates, and a gain for the free world.

Those post-bus plans sound just a tad to healthy for me, but I sure hope to see you at a Melbourne off-line after you feel the need to just sit and drink wine and tell tales

Best of luck to ya,

VC.

^^+1

[michel]

thanks for all the fish Sparky

[Chuck]

Thanks Sparky for all your valiant defences of TWE and quality comments. Maybe now you can drink more Wendourees

Carl

[Waiters Friend]

What can I say? Moira, you've been the best 'face' of an organisation I have met; in person and online. TWE should be forever in your debt.

Are you moving from Melbourne? If so (or if not) let me know where you are, so I can invite you to offlines (as you know, I tend to be on the east coast at least a couple of times year).

Most importantly, I wish you every success in your sporting endeavours. Was it a Comedy Company clip that referred to someone "as fit as a mallee root"?

Cheers
Allan

[Ian S]

What can I say? Moira, you've been the best 'face' of an organisation I have met; in person and online. TWE should be forever in your debt.

Indeed - perhaps we ought to be talking about Moira in the same bracket as Hazel Murphy (ex Aussie Wine Bureau)

[Michael Sinclair]

Congratulations Moira and all the best.

[swirler]

Although I don't know the details of your departure, I'd think this forum is probably the best CV entry you could have if wine industry types actually read it. If so, I'd be surprised if you hadn't picked up a good job elsewhere by now - if that's what you wanted....

[PortWineWorld]

Congratulations! Hope you have a great trip Moira!

[sparky]

Had. A. Ball.

See #winepeloton and #touroftassie on all the usual channels for last week's adventure. More cycling than wine except for the smashing BBQ at Joseph Chromy to finish. I'd be putting that on anyone's must see winery in Tassie, particularly if you can swing the winery tour. Actually Tassie in general should be on everyone's bucket list regardless.

Thanks all for the very kind words which are much appreciated and I'll be keeping my eye out for the next Melb off-line!

[swirler]

In a cloud of Chalk dust, Linked in, then out before I could wish you good luck in the future!

[JamieBahrain]

Who has replaced Moira as the corked lady?

Damn TCA strikes twice today! A 98 Rosemount Mountain Blue & a 2001 Thalabert Crozes Hermitage. Hoping to see if I may get some help with the Mountain Blue which is a good drop.

[mjs]

Had. A. Ball.

See #winepeloton and #touroftassie on all the usual channels for last week's adventure. More cycling than wine except for the smashing BBQ at Joseph Chromy to finish. I'd be putting that on anyone's must see winery in Tassie, particularly if you can swing the winery tour. Actually Tassie in general should be on everyone's bucket list regardless.

Thanks all for the very kind words which are much appreciated and I'll be keeping my eye out for the next Melb off-line!

Moira,

My wine mates and I were there at Chromy earlier this year. Like many Tassie wineries, absolutely stunning setting. Wines were pretty good as well. I agree with your Tassie sentiments, we were very impressed, not just by Tamar Valley, east coast, Coal River Valley, Derwent Valley wineries, but the whole deal.

cheers, Malcolm

[JamieBahrain]

Thanks sparky.