Auburn region of the Clare. Following this initial acquisition and with great enthusiasm, the pursuit of excellence in winemaking began in earnest.
A Quiet Yearning
The original Taylor family dream had always been to secure a substantial landholding of around 1000 acres. It had been a core vision of the family to create an old-world style estate, featuring contiguous vineyards surrounding the central winery cellars. With this flame continuing to burn across the years, neighbouring property owners were approached by the Taylors for a first right of refusal should selling their land become an option. And at times fortune certainly smiled upon the Taylors bundles of adjoining land eventually became available and these were divided into blocks known as Promised Land, Broadway, Lodden and Wakefield and quickly planted with vines. Land acquisitions now crept well into the several hundred acres. But one particular, most desired property to the north - St. Andrews, remained out of reach.
The Long, Long Wait
From the very first day that brothers Bill John Taylor strode onto their newly acquired Clare Valley property in 1969, they knew that the adjoining St. Andrews land (firmly held for decades by one local family) presented some of the best wine-growing potential around. Yet trying to persuade the owners to offer St. Andrews for sale well that was a job for a very patient family!
Bill would politely enquire every now and then, but no deal. It wasn’t until, more than a quarter of a century later, the northern neighbour agreed on a price and finally, the last piece of the puzzle fell into place. Of course, when the opportunity finally arose for the Taylor family to acquire the St. Andrews property there was no debate about what to do. Never mind that funds had dwindled. The family just had to find a way and thanks to an understanding bank manager, were finally able to add the crowning jewel to their estate vision!
The Pinnacle
In terms of potential grape growing, winemaking and sheer beauty, St. Andrews was destined to be worth every penny and every minute of the wait. St. Andrews really has become something very special to the Taylors, a chance not only for the family to resurrect a piece of Australian winemaking history, but also to showcase all that they’d been able to achieve over the years, via a select range of ultra-premium wines. These wines have become exemplars not just of the signature winemaking style, but also of the overall philosophy. And it all started when Bill Taylor got the keys to the entrance gate of St. Andrews.