Members in Focus

Taylors Wines

The Taylors story began three generations ago, with the dream of Bill Taylor Snr, and his sons, Bill and John. Wine merchants and hoteliers in Sydney, all three Taylors were singularly passionate about wine – and most particularly the famous French clarets such as Chateau Mouton Rothschild from Bordeaux. This love affair with exceptionally crafted wine inspired them to create a Cabernet Sauvignon from Australia that would rival the best in the world.

They set out to find the perfect piece of land to establish a vineyard in the Taylors name. In 1969, after a considerable search, they found a promising 178-hectare site by the Wakefield River in the Clare Valley. The first ever vintage in 1973 was released at the Royal Adelaide Wine Show, where it took home the coveted Montgomery Trophy for best red wine in show. The accolades didn't stop there however – that vintage won a gold medal at every national wine show it was entered in.

The Taylor family's conviction that the terra rossa soil of the Clare Valley was perfect for making wine, was borne out with a surprise discovery during the excavation of the vineyard dam. The fossilised remains of tiny seahorses were found in the limestone bedrock– confirmation that the area had once been an ancient seabed. After this discovery, it seemed only natural to adopt the seahorse to represent their wines, and today the three seahorses serve as a tribute to three generations of Taylors winemakers.

In 2017, Taylors Wines were named 'The Most Awarded Winery in the World' by the World Association of Wine Writers and Journalists (WAWWJ) in a ranking of more than 50,000 global wine producers. In addition to being ranked number 1 in the world, Taylors were also recognised for the most awarded wines in the varietal categories for Shiraz, Merlot & Chardonnay.

The Laboratory at the Auburn site is staffed by three full-time personnel – Jim (9 years with the company), Gabby (2 years) and Sharon (17 years). During vintage, the Lab also oversees the weighbridge operation, engaging an additional three employees to allow for 24-hour coverage for fruit testing and receival.

About 100 staff work at the Auburn site, with another 120 in offices throughout every state in Australia and around the world, with Head Office based in Sydney. Taylors are also a member of the First Families of Wine. Taylors Wines are branded as Wakefield Wines in the northern hemisphere due to trademark restrictions held by the owners of Taylors Port.