Taylors Wines has opened its new Clare Valley cellar door following the completion of a multi-million dollar project on the property.

The new cellar door is the first significant update to Taylors’ hospitality offering since the winery was established in 1969. The project sees Taylors move from its existing cellar door in the main winery building on the property to a newly developed site: an extension from the original homestead located on the expansive front lawn of the property. 

“This is the beginning of an exciting new era for our family winery. We wanted to elevate the experience with this new cellar door, so there are no half measures,” Managing Director Mitchell Taylor said. 

“Every detail in the project is considered, with design features that are sophisticated while being warm and inviting. The space truly reflects our family and the Taylors story, and we hope it will be the first point of call for visitors to our wonderful region.

The new cellar door features five distinct experience areas for visitors: the Main Tasting Room, The Courtyard, The East Patio, The Event Pavilion and the Collector’s Club members’ tasting room. 

The main entry of the new cellar door features Taylors’ iconic three seahorse emblem in weathered steel. The use of limestone carries throughout the building’s facade and walls, highlighting the Taylor family’s discovery of fossilised seahorses in the vineyard’s limestone bedrock when they established the estate over 50 years ago. 

Passing through the floor-to-ceiling glass entryway, guests are welcomed to the expansive tasting counter with Enomatic Wine Serving Systems. The large countertop, made from travertine stone, serves as a service area for Taylors’ Cellar Door team and opens into the main tasting room. 

The central feature of the main tasting room is a spectacular, bronze-green tiled, circular fireplace surrounded by lounges and bespoke furnishings featuring American oak and soft leather. Custom-designed exposed timber and metal roof trusses frame the room. The Victorian Ash timber used in the trusses also features on the walls to create a modern take on the classic Australian barns dotted across the region. 

A private Collector’s Club members’ room sits beside the Main Tasting Room, offering small groups a space to conduct hosted tastings and events. This enclosed tasting area offers guests 180° views of Taylors’ expansive lawn area and vineyards to the east of the property. 

There are two outdoor areas: the Courtyard features an impressive stone fireplace and is sheltered by a Vergola roof; and the sun-soaked East Patio. 

Toward the back of the new site, Taylors has created a purpose-built Event Pavilion designed to enable events to occur without disrupting normal trading of Taylors’ cellar door. The covered event space features a bar service area and allows for up to 60 guests (seated) for public and private events.

The build was led by GP Architects, Cook Building and Georgie Shepherd Interior Design.

“Our goal has been to create a space that epitomises both Taylors Wines and the Clare Valley – it’s an original style all of its own,” GP Architects Senior Project Architect Kristina Soggee said. 

New tasting experiences

As part of the new venue launch, Taylors have introduced a larger range of tasting experiences. 

The Wine & Cheese Tasting Experience gives guests a selection of four locally-sourced cheeses, matched with four of Taylors’ award-winning wines.

The Wine & Chocolate Tasting Experience sees four of Taylors’ wines matched with four individual chocolate squares from artisanal chocolate maker, Cuvée.

The Flagship Wines Tasting Experience features wines from the Taylors Masterstroke and St Andrews ranges, along with parcel release wines, The Visionary Cabernet Sauvignon and The Pioneer Shiraz. 

For more information or to book online, visit www.taylorswines.com.au/visit-us-cellar-door.