Historia
1950 - The Taylor family's long-standing association with the Clare Valley begins when as Sydney wine merchants, they partner with the Clare Valley Co-operative to bottle and distribute their own wines under the Chateau Clare label.
1969 - Inspired by the great producers of Bordeaux, and with a vision to craft wines that rival the best in the world, the Taylor family begin an exploration across the wine regions of Australia to find the perfect plot of land on which to establish their family estate. On July 20, 1969, their quest brought them to a site by the Wakefield River in South Australia's Clare Valley. And on the same day that Neil Armstrong takes man's first steps onto the moon, Bill Taylor takes his first steps on the soil that will eventually become the family estate.
The planting of Cabernet Sauvignon vines - gifted by the famous Wynn family of Coonawarra - commences on the estate in 1969. Urged on by his experience on the land as a boy, Bill Taylor Snr excavates for a dam to secure a water source and discovers tiny seahorses in the limestone bedrock. A reminder that these ancient soils once lay at the bottom of an ocean over 600 million years ago and adopted as the symbol of the family's wine brand. Why three seahorses? To salute the three generations of Taylors family winemakers.
1973 - Construction of the new winery is completed just in time for the first vintage in 1973. The chateau-style façade of the main building is a unique feature. The first wines are released; the 1973 Taylors Estate Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1973 Taylors Estate Shiraz (Hermitage). The Cabernet Sauvignon wins the Montgomery Trophy at the Adelaide Wine Show for Best Red Wine of the Show.
In order for the business to survive, the family bend to the will of the general public, who still prefer fortified and sweet white wines. Bill Taylor weeps as large sections of the vineyard planted to Cabernet Sauvignon are often grafted over to white varieties. However, his original vision remains and they continue to craft red wines to national acclaim.
1981 - Having further negative impact on red wine sales, the medical establishment now claim the histamines in red wine are 'damaging', so further grafting of cabernet sauvignon over to white varieties takes place. After an agreement with their neighbour, the Taylor family purchase an adjacent property and the vineyard expansion commences. The new acquisition is named the 'Promised Land'.
1985 - Taylors begin exporting their wines to the UK using the brand 'Wakefield' due to international trademarks held by the Taylors family of Portugal.
1989 - The estate expands further with the purchase of another neighbouring property. This new vineyard section is named 'Broadway'.
1994 - The estate expands significantly with the purchase of another property adjacent to the original vineyard and the estate becomes the largest continuous vineyard in Australia. The vineyard is planted to Shiraz and named 'Loddon'.
1995 - After much negotiation, the family purchase the neighbouring historic St Andrews vineyard. They immediately set about the task of recreating history with the plan to launch a Wakefield St Andrews wine.
1998 - The first Promised Land wine is launched in 1998.
1999 - Mitchell Taylor is appointed Managing Director of Taylors Wines. The first St Andrews wines are released in 1999.
2000 - Wakefield and a group of 11 other Clare Valley winemakers cause a global sensation when they announce that they will release their 2000 Clare Rieslings under the Stelvin screw cap.
2003 - The first Jaraman wines are released in 2003 and this is the first time the screw cap closure is used on a full range of premium Australian wines.
2004 - Shortly after in 2004, Wakefield pushes the boundaries further when they are the first major Australian wine company to bottle 100% of their wines under screw cap.
2007 - Wakefield launches the new Eighty Acres range, named after the first block planted on the family estate. Adam Eggins, Chief Winemaker is named Winestate 'Winemaker of the Year' in 2007.
2008 - Wakefield Wines celebrate their 40th Anniversary in 2008.