Our Family
MANAGING DIRECTOR AND THIRD GENERATION WINEMAKER
Mitchell Taylor
In 2000, Mitchell Taylor was appointed the third generation Managing Director of Wakefield Wines, following in the footsteps of his father Bill Taylor and grandfather Bill Taylor Snr. Born and raised in Sydney, Mitchell achieved his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of New South Wales in 1984. Upon graduating, Mitchell moved to London and worked in a large stockbroking firm, where he gained valuable business experience. Mitchell completed vintages as a winemaker from 89-97 while studying for his Bachelor of Science – Oenology at Charles Sturt University, which he completed in 1995. An experienced winemaker, Mitchell maintains a very hands-on role at the winery to ensure the quality and consistency of the award winning wine is maintained. Since Mitchell’s appointment as Managing Director, the Taylor family wine business has experienced a period of sustained market growth and continued to develop their reputation for consistently producing consistently superior quality wines that are respected worldwide.
COMPANY DIRECTOR AND GLOBAL KEY ACCOUNTS MANAGER
Justin Taylor
The Taylor family welcomed third-generation family member Justin Taylor into the business in 1998. Since then, Justin has been pivotal in bringing their award-winning wines to wine drinkers all over the world. What began as a sales role, today Justin is responsible for managing key customers across the globe along with an executive role as Company Director. In his first role for the company, Justin successfully grew the Australian sales of their wines a remarkable 15-20 per cent on average per year since is appointment as National Sales Manager in 2000. In 2008, Justin set his sights on the export market and relocated to the US as the country’s market manager. In 2012, Justin moved back to Australia to expand his export prowess and today, his role includes expanding the company's distribution network across multiple major export markets and working as part of the executive team to guide the company vision.
GENERAL MANAGER, WINERY OPERATIONS AND COMPANY DIRECTOR
Clinton Taylor
Clinton Taylor joined the family business in 1995 and was appointed National Account Director, managing the company’s customer relationships with Australia’s leading wine retailers. In June 2007 he was appointed as Project Manager – Sales & Production. This role involved managing key projects including Risk Management, Winery Development, Environmental Management, New Projects with the Chains and Brand Ambassador. In 2012, Clinton took up the position of Winery Operations Manager, based at the family's estate in the Clare Valley. Like his elder brothers, Clinton has an inherent interest in the craft of winemaking and strives to uphold the family’s core vision of being Australia’s most successful wine company as well as maintaining its proud family owned heritage.
CO-FOUNDER AND COMPANY DIRECTOR
Bill Taylor
Bill Taylor, always a highly regarded figure in the Sydney hospitality industry, was instrumental in the establishment of what is now regarded as one of the finest Australian table wine brands. It was his appreciation of the great wines of the ‘old world’ that inspired the family to eventually purchase land in the Clare Valley and plant a considerable amount of cabernet sauvignon for table wine production – when everyone else was producing fortified wines. He maintained that the family estate could produce wines to rival the best from Bordeaux and it was his ‘personal mission’ to prove it. Through his earlier hotel and wine distribution businesses he brought to the company an intimate knowledge and an appreciation of what the end wine consumer ultimately wants – quality wines that are always accessible. Although Bill now is less involved in the day-to-day operations of the family business, he is still very much a driving force behind the vision of the company. Bill has instilled in his children an interest in quality winemaking and a commitment to the old world estate philosophy and new world innovation.
