A New Chapter in an Old Story: Tahbilk’s Cellar Door Retail Space
The new retail area at Tahbilk Cellar Door is on its way and due to be finished by the end of September. This exciting addition marks the next step in a story that stretches back more than 160 years, blending the estate’s rich history with a fresh new experience for today’s visitors.
The Original Winery: Fronting the River
In the earliest days, long before guests arrived for tastings and tours, the original winery stood as the estate’s beating heart. Built as a working winery, the building stretched some 250 feet (about 76 metres) in length, fronting the river in commanding style. Beneath the earth lay an underground cellar, cool and constant, where the wine rested. Above it, a wine store at ground level and a loft where the freshly harvested grapes underwent their first transformation.
Running at right angles, a second cellar cut nearly 200 feet (around 61 metres) under the courtyard and surrounding ground, its vastness capable of holding 150,000 gallons (about 681,000 litres) of wine. Within these immense cellars, casks and vats—some holding 250 gallons (1,135 litres), others up to 1,400 gallons (6,365 litres) sheltered the treasures of the vineyard: Riesling, Verdelho, Pedro Ximénez, Muscat, Burgundy, Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Hermitage, Port, and Chasselas. Today, the Cellars are reserved solely for red wine making.
In 1882, Franoise Coueslant added the now-iconic tower to the building, along with the turret extension at the opposite end. These additions not only defined the look of the estate but gave the winery its striking silhouette, still recognised today.
From Winery to Cellar Door
For decades, the building served as the hub of Tahbilk’s winemaking, and a new chapter opened in 1969 when the space was transformed into our Cellar Door. From that moment, the same walls that had once echoed with the sounds of fermentation and coopers’ hammers began to welcome guests, offering a place to taste and take home wines shaped in the surrounding vineyards and cellars.
The Story Continues
More than 160 years later, the soul of that place still lingers in every corner of Tahbilk. Our heritage buildings remain, their walls bearing witness to generations of winemaking, family stewardship, and community. And now, within this historic fabric, we move forward again.
The retail area continues the narrative of Tahbilk itself, where every item carries a piece of the estate’s story. Here you can browse wines shaped in the silence of those very underground cellars, discover gifts that capture the spirit of this place, and pause to take in the estate’s blend of past and present.
A Place to Explore, A Place to Belong
We’ve designed the space to feel like an extension of the journey: from the vineyard to the cellar, from the glass to your table. Every detail nods to the traditions that built Tahbilk, while welcoming in the energy of the here and now.
This is the next chapter in a story that began with a riverfront winery, was shaped by an iconic tower, opened its doors to visitors in 1969, and continues to evolve today.
We look forward to welcoming you into the new retail space at Tahbilk Cellar Door at the end of September 2025.
