The history of Domaine Tempier
Centuries of tradition
The estate already existed during the reign of Louis XV in 1834. It was in that year that the country house was built. It was awarded its first medal, recognizing the quality of its wines, in 1885. The phylloxera crisis severely affected the vineyard. The estate was saved by Léonie Tempier, who decided to replant the vines on rootstocks, thus ensuring the continuity of production. Lucie Tempier and Lucien Peyraud took over the family business in 1940.Tempier EstateIt then enters its golden age. The vineyard benefits from the appellationBandolFrom its inception in 1941, the couple's work aimed to elevate the region's terroir by planting typical grape varieties.Mourvèdreis the king of the vineyards ofBandoland seeks to compete with the grape varieties ofCôte-Rôtie, from Bordeaux or even Burgundy.
From 1960 onwards, two of their sons helped them on the estate:
A true terroir-driven winemaking process was then established. The day-to-day management of the estate is now entrusted toDaniel Ravieralways in agreement with family members.
Vineyard and terroir
Bandol, land of Mourvèdre
At the vineyard, theMourvèdreis king. The rootstocks are from massal selections. The vines are treated with homemade herbal teas that strengthen them and limit the development of parasites. Biodiversity is preserved as much as possible to respect soil life. Pruning and harvesting are done by hand, according to the lunar calendar. The rest of the time, sheep take care of weeding. The hand-harvested grapes are transported and sorted by hand to the winery. After vinification, aging takes place in the aging cellar. Young and old casks house the wine in the underground cellar. The estate has chosen to vinify with a plot-by-plot approach that respects the identity of each terroir. In the Burgundian style, each cuvée expresses the typicity of the plot from which it comes. The wines ofTempier EstateThey are cultivated with respect for nature. Organic and biodynamic principles have always been respected without being explicitly claimed. Certifications are in progress.
The spirit of wines
Traditions and authenticity
The wines are marked by the terroir ofBandolThe choice of grape varieties is very typical. There are very old vines ofMourvèdre, Carignan, Cinsault and GrenacheThese varieties were supported and promoted by theTempier familyfor their ability to produce exceptional wines for aging. Since the 19th century, it can be said that the wines have retained this authentic terroir that is the signature of the family and theTempier Estate:
- white is composed mostly ofClairetteand is surprisingly fresh. Its sourcing from late-ripening terroirs and its long aging process allow the wine to reveal a beautiful complexity.
- The rosé is made primarily from Mourvèdre grapes. It strikes the perfect balance between freshness and complexity.
- the reds combine the power ofBandoland the elegance and finesse of the estate's wines. These are wines imbued with powerful notes of tobacco and leather, and which require a few years of aging to gain suppleness and reveal the full extent of their finesse.
Respect for traditions and authenticity allow the wines ofTempier Estateto stand out. Its wines have become true benchmarks ofBandol.
