If you could harness the energy of Sparky Marquis, you could probably power a small island nation for a year and still have enough left over to fire up a winery or two. Fortunately, this left-handed and deft-handed winemaker has more than enough “spark” to run Mollydooker Winery, the fifth successful wine project he and his also left-handed wife and partner, Sarah, have started.

The legacy the Marquis’ (pronounced mar-kwis) have built together in the Australian wine community and in the world marketplace is unprecedented. Beginning in 1994, they consulted for Sarah’s parents’ Fox Creek winery, earning early acclaim. In 1998, they formed a consulting relationship that resulted in top-notch wines from Parson’s Flat, Henry’s Drive and Shirvington. A joint venture with importer Dan Philips resulted in the Marquis Philips label — and instant success.