To be honest like a lot of people that I know, 2011 was a pretty intense year. The intensity I found though in how situations and experiences played out as opposed to what the actual experiences themselves were. From October, it was a constant battle for me trying to get more consistency by way of some sort of routine back into my life. Having reignited Terroso earlier in the year and feeling passionate and excited about wine was a brilliant reconnection back to my old self. The business picked up and I felt positive, energised and focused. All that changed though when I took on a new job, a national marketing role and I found myself struggling to find time for wine – can you believe that? I found time to drink and enjoy wine, but the energy I needed to think about it objectively so as I could write a tasting note worthy of being published was being channelled into parts of my life – namely my job. My role still is incredibly demanding but I am at least beginning to see a little bit of light at the end of the tunnel. Coupled with this new start in my career was the fact that I’m a single parent of a four year old. I found the demands on my energy in each of my roles, the mental stretching required everyday in my job having such a heavy impact that was almost debilitating. As I got closer to the end of the year I realised how exhausted and overwhelmed that I felt by the changes that had occurred from October and the constancy of parenting. I was at the point where I thought that if I had one more thing on my plate I would go completely stark raving mad. I had grand plans of putting together a final newsletter for the year in time for Christmas. But the closer I got to finalising tasting notes, the further away from me the letter got. There was always something else that needed to be taken care of and in the end I just gave up, disappointed in myself, physically tired and mentally exhausted.
I’m not the type that easily gives in especially when there has been a lot of energy and love put into a passion that I hold so dear. So for the past few weeks (now that I’ve had some time off and regained some perspective) I’ve spent time reflecting on the last four months of 2011 and thinking about where I went wrong and how I can still ‘do’ Terroso and reconnect to my passion for wine and food again. At the crux of my whole dilemma was this problem: how do I realistically manage the demands on my time as a mother and full-time worker so that I can give Terroso the energy and professionalism that it deserves? I’ve come to the conclusion that I will scale things back a little. So from 2012 there will be no longer be newsletters or trio’s. They simply take up too much time and to be honest, they take the fun and spontaneity away of sharing an experience. I want Terroso to be more organic and authentic than that.
When I started Terroso back in 2009 it was at the behest of friends and family who were constantly badgering me for recommendations, recipes and information about wine, food and restaurants. I’d just left the restaurant scene after spending about 15 years working in some of Australia’s best, alongside some of the industry’s greatest. It wasn’t until I left the industry though and joined the 9 to 5ers of the world that I realised just how limited the access to good wine and how homogenised the offering in retail had become. I also realised just how spoiled I was! For years I had been writing wine lists, training staff and connecting with some amazing suppliers and had taken it for granted. I figured that if that these few people in my life were wanting information, then there’s probably others out there in the same situation, that I don’t know. So for me Terroso started with this single intent – to share. I wanted to share the knowledge that I’d amassed over the years (and continue to do) and explain why this or that is worthy of purchase or tasting, or why you should try this restaurant or that recipe at your next dinner party. So that will be the focus of Terroso from 2012. It will have a greater emphasis on sharing information, something I love to do.
The Bespoke service will still run, you can rest assured that if there’s something in particular that I’ve written up, or that you want sourced, that can still be done. It’s how Terroso is staying in touch is the only thing that is changing.
So bring on 2012! Positive change, lot’s of great reviews, loads of sharing and feedback and sharing and of course the odd hangover or two!
Liz
