Phillips Cellars Named 2023 Hall of Fame Business
By Aaron Cordy
PHILLIPS Cellars and Regional Wine Centre was inducted into the Greater Shepparton Business Networks (formerly Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry) Hall of Fame on Friday, October 27, at the annual gala dinner held at Riverlinks.
Phillips Cellars and Regional Wine Centre has been a staple in Shepparton and the greater Goulburn Valley for over 40 years. Established in 1979 as a family-owned company, operated by the Phillips family.
after being discharged from the war, while traveling to Melbourne Tom Phillips saw an opportunity and opened a pool hall in Shepparton. He the bought the Pine Lodge Hotel in 1934.
The Phillips family owned and operated the Hotel Australia in central Shepparton, for 35 years. In 1944, Tom Phillips took ownership at a time when beer was hard to get and when it was available, it was rationed to two bottle per man. at times the Phillips family owned the Cricketers Arms Hotel in Mooroopna, the Junction Hotel Toolamba, Commercial Hotel Mooroopna, and the Courthouse Hotel Shepparton. In 1979 they purchased the property known as the Goulburn Valley Winery, situated at Vaughan Street Shepparton. It was here that wine was made until 1990.
The business is now headed up by Paul Phillips who takes great delight in taste-testing the product so he can share his broad knowledge of wines and winemaking with the community. He has previously conducted wine appreciation courses and is a member of local wine and food clubs.
“No one else knows the local wines like I do. I have met the owners, I have been to the vineyards, and I have tasted them all,” Paul Phillips jokingly said.
In 2004 the business included a Regional Wine Centre to display and promote over 50 local wineries from Echuca to Rutherglen and from Rutherglen down to Seymour.
In addition to being purveyors of this region’s finest wines, Paul and his staff also have a comprehensive knowledge of home brewing and stock a large range of home brew supplies. They are able to assist you with queries and advice on how to perfect your favourite tipple at home.
A humble and honoured Paul Phillips accepted the induction into the Hall of Fame, last Friday, to the cheers of a delighted and repeat customer base on behalf of Phillips Cellars and Regional Wine Centre.
“If you make money in Shepparton, spend it in Shepparton,” Paul said.
