Bill Taylor – Chairman
Bill Taylor, a highly regarded figure in the Sydney hospitality industry, was instrumental in the establishment and success of the family winemaking business. Through his hotel and wine distribution businesses he brought to Taylors an intimate knowledge and an appreciation of what the end wine consumer ultimately wants – great value and quality.
However it was his appreciation of the great wines of the ‘old world’ that started it all off – and inspired the family to purchase land in the Clare Valley, planting a considerable amount of Cabernet Sauvignon for table wine production – a gutsy move, given at the time everyone else was producing fortified wines. It was a 1966 Chateau Mouton Rothschild which Bill quotes as providing him with the ultimate inspiration - he was confident that it was possible to produce premium Cabernet Sauvignon in Australia to rival the best from Bordeaux and in true Taylor style, made it his ‘personal mission’ to prove it. Having nurtured this vision at the head of the family business for over three decades, today Bill is less involved in the day-to-day operations of the family business, however is still very much involved in the company. He remains very much a driving force behind the vision of the company, not least mentoring in his children the same passion in quality winemaking and a commitment to the old world estate philosophy and new world innovation.
Mitchell Taylor – Managing Director & Consulting Winemaker
Following proudly in the footsteps of his father Bill Taylor and grandfather Bill Taylor Snr, Mitchell Taylor was appointed Managing Director of Taylors Wines in 2000. Prior to formally joining the family business in 1988, Mitchell completed a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of NSW, before undertaking his Bachelor of Science - Oenology at Charles Sturt University, graduating in 1995.
Mitchell’s passion for the wine industry has led him to work in all facets of the family business from export and finance to, of course, winemaking. While studying, Mitchell remained firmly in the family picture, working at the winery throughout the 1980s and completed vintages as a winemaker from 1989-1997.
Today, Mitchell oversees all aspects of the business, which includes still having a very hands-on role at the winery.
Mitchell’s commitment to the Australian wine industry is reflected in his involvement with industry associations. He is an active member of the Australian Society of Wine Education, the Australian Society of Viticulture and Oenology and the Clare Valley Winemakers Association. Mitchell is the current Chairman for the xx body, NABIC and a board member representative of medium sized wineries at the WFA. Mitchell also lends his expertise to the judging arena and has been an associate judge at a number of wine shows in Australia and overseas.
Justin Taylor – Company Director, US Business Development
Justin Taylor formally joined the family business in 1995. After four years in sales, he was appointed National Sales Manager in 1999. 2008 brings an exciting challenge for Justin - with the USA and Canada key markets for Taylors future growth, Justin has taken the family across the pond to set up the Taylors US office in Atlanta, where he will be instrumental in the company’s next stage of continued export growth. In addition to his experience of working over the years at the family winery, Justin has also continued his formal wine education including completion of the Wine Executive program at Monash University as well as various advanced wine appreciation courses run by the Australian Wine Society and NSW TAFE.
Clinton Taylor – Company Director, Project Manager (Sales & Production)
The youngest of the brothers, Clinton Tayor also joined the family business with Justin in 1995 and was appointed National Account Director, managing the company’s customer relationships with Australia’s leading wine retailers. In 2007 he was appointed Project Manager – Sales & Production, which has made Clinton responsible for a number of aspects of Production and Sales & Marketing, including Risk Management, Winery Development, Environmental Committee, and Off-premise New Business Development. Like his elder brothers, Clinton has an inherent interest in winemaking and during vintage each year, pitches in with general winemaking duties at the winery.
