My Silver Nissan X-trail, the window seat at Vileroy on Kensington Road in Norwood (thanks Grant) or sipping on my heart starting strong flat white at The Lion Hotel in North Adelaide (love those guys).

After a string of positions marketing and selling wine for Wine Agents, both domestic and imported, I decided to sink my teeth into the many requests from small boutique wineries from around Australia to help promote their wines.

Wine Solutions Australia welcomed me to the wonderful world of small & large family run wineries making their way to wine lists all over South Australia. This was the first chapter of meeting some of my wonderful clients and now friends.

Taylors Wines of the Clare Valley, my second gig and probably one of the most enjoyable introduced me to a much broader spectrum of selling and promoting quality wine. I consider their marketing power and brand strength to be of the highest within Australia, not to mention the rewards and team morale they instill in each of their staff members, some whom I still regularly speak with when out on the road (Hi Ray).

My last position held was that of an order taker, logging into each call via a blackberry, registering my name on booklets signed by other Product Representatives selling anything from tobacco, margarine to Coca Cola, lost amongst the Woolworths and Coles Giant web. Let’s not forget however the beautifully made wine amongst this portfolio by some amazing winemakers (Mr Evers), racking up a stack of international trophies and reviews - unfortunately not the gig for me.

Fast losing my passion for wine, friends within the industry, work ethic and initial drive I once were privy too, I threw in the towel and created Hall & Oak:- Real Wine for the Real People. Welcome back Australia!

I’m a one woman show and aim to visit and meet the requests of all the clients who are willing to support me and my great team of winemakers:-  Bevan Ferguson, Nathan Burley, Darren Golding, Nick & James Haselgrove, Warren Randall, O’Leary Walker and Matt Rechner.

It can be heart wrenching to watch small wineries survive the wine trade so if I can assist in promoting their wines to the South Australian or Australian trade, I feel increasingly worthy of my role.

Hall & Oak’s priority is not only to the winery but also to help build business and support current and potential Clients, both On and Off Premise. They will be recognized for supplying their clientele with the highest of quality wines, complimentary to any wine list, fridge or shelf.

It’s necessary for me to feel comfortable selling a brand I would drink from any wine list around Australia or globally for that matter.

Thank you to the people who have helped create and shape my new business:

Melissa for the initial kick up the pants, Jody for ‘everything’, Darius for your palate and sound business advice, Ben Holland, Andrew Beavan, Trevor for this FABULOUS website, Mum & Dad for the piggy bank, Bec for the constant emails, Bevan, Darren, Lucy & Kate, Nathan, James & Nick Haselgrove, Tambo for the laughs, Martin for the after work butcher at the Kensi, Jeavons for the ‘Maid’ lunches, Darren at Southern Cross Cellars for buying the very first case of Massey Bambino, Murray Gill for your beautiful artwork, Adrienne for the calculations, Erica, Doug and most importantly Tony Kidman & John Atherton (Diver) “You’ll be right Blossom”.

Here’s too many vintages of quality wine enjoyed by quality people…! Cheers

Hall & Oak: The Name: flicking between triple J and mixed 102.3, belting down Western Branch Road in Woodside, listening to ‘Man Eater’ by Hall & Oates I phoned Diver for his view on my new Business Name. “ha ha ha, bloody well done, I love it, lets hope the wines are better than the music”. Thanks John.