Australian star Alicia Molik took advantage of the inclement weather in Hobart on Tuesday to visit the Moorilla Winery.
“It’s great to be here amongst the barrels and to see the process that goes on here,” said Molik, who is scheduled to take on Sara Errani of Italy in the second round on Wednesday.
“I’ve been able to learn a bit about the wine-making process and it’s really interesting to learn more about it. I come from South Australia, which has a strong heritage of winemaking. I probably prefer my Shiraz but from skiing holidays in New Zealand and from travelling a lot over the years, I do enjoy my pinots as well and that’s something Tasmania is very famous for.”
Molik was taken on a special tour of Moorilla’s facilities and learnt and was impressed with what she saw.
“It’s an amazing set-up here. There’s plenty to see and do here and it’s a very interesting way to learn a lot more about the winemaking process. Maybe someday I can be down here celebrating a tournament win – that’d be nice!”
Rain washed out most of the day session on Tuesday, leaving fans and players alike frustrated by the weather but Molik said experience has taught her to be philosophical about the showers.
“The rain is frustrating for everyone but you can’t let it upset you or let it affect your preparation. It’s nothing that Tasmania and the tournament director Michael Roberts haven’t dealt with before. What it does offer for someone like me is to get out there and do something different like today’s visit to Moorilla.”
Molik might not be Tasmanian by birth but she is still an ardent fan of the state and said earlier in the week that she feels very much at home in Hobart.
“This is maybe my sixth or seventh visit to Hobart. I enjoy it. It’s nice a quiet and it’s the perfect preparation for me ahead of the Australian Open. I love the art galleries and the amazing beauty of the place. It’s somewhere I’d like to spend a little bit more time, perhaps after I’ve stopped playing,” she said.