About Lisa's Wine Vaults - Kent Street Cellars
Lisa McGuigan is the fourth generation of one of the Hunter Valley's most famous winemaking families and previous owner of reputable Tempus Two brand. Lisa decided to sell her share in the Company after taking Tempus Two to famed heights, and invested in a new business of her own. In 2007 she purchased two retail wine shops in the city; Lisa's Wine Vault, Kent Street Cellars and City Cellars(King Street Wharf).
This is McGuigan's second foray into direct wine retailing. In 1995, she established Hunter Cellars in the Hunter Valley for McGuigan Wines. Rather than being a traditional cellar door, Hunter Cellars broke new ground as a launch-pad for small producers who didn't have the resources for their own cellar door. It also carried one of the largest collections of museum stock outside Sydney. But developing Hunter Cellars and working with her father did not satisfy the ambitions of Lisa McGuigan. Through her hospitality background, she identified a niche in the market for a well-designed, boutique brand. She now wanted to develop her own label.
Lisa McGuigan is creative, entrepreneurial and ambitious, and after identifying a niche in the market for a well-designed boutique brand, Tempus Two was born. Still working from her garage, Lisa and a team of three people built the brand from a standing start of 6000 cases to production of 50000 cases. Then Lisa went on to take the Tempus Two brand to sell in excess of 150,000 cases globally.
Lisa continues to champion Tempus Two domestically and internationally in her role as Brand Ambassador, however 'Lisa's Wine Vaults' is her newest passion. After 10 years building her Tempus Two empire, Lisa has traded wine making for wine retailing and bought two liquor stores; Kent Street Cellars near Observatory Hill, and City Cellars, on Lime Street at the King Street Wharf.
Kent Street Cellars has been renovated with a chic new appeal using Pike Withers, the same interior designer who did the magnificent Tempus Two winery. Both Lisa's cellars place emphasis on boutique wines and beers, offering a carefully selected array of fine choices; paying homage to our illustrious 1990 Penfold Bin 389 and 1994 Rosemount Balmoral, which are showcased along with many other prized wines, sought from private cellars all over Australia. Lisa's extensive hospitality experience will also be fully utilised with an active program of truly unique wine events including concerts in the vineyards, wine tastings, new artists and more!
"Wine is a sensory experience. I have always looked at ways to enhance the wine experience. Buying it should be just as much pleasure as drinking it. That's my goal." Lisa McGuigan