Tempier

History of Domaine Tempier

The history of Domaine Tempier is intimately linked to that of the Bandol AOC, dating back to the Phocaeans more than 2,500 years ago, but it was in the 19th century that the estate emerged as a vibrant force. Built in 1834 under the reign of Louis XV, it received its first gold medal in 1885, an early sign of its excellence. The phylloxera crisis ravaged the vines, but Léonie Tempier, great-grandmother of the current family, courageously replanted the vineyard on resistant rootstocks and built in 1880 the cellar with large oak casks that still houses the alchemy of the wines today.

It was in 1940 that Lucie "Lulu" Tempier, heiress of the estate, and her husband Lucien Peyraud, originally from Saint-Étienne and passionate about viticulture, settled in to relaunch the venture. Inspired by a pre-phylloxera bottle, Lucien led a crusade for Mourvèdre, the king grape variety of Bandol, and contributed to the creation of the AOC in 1941. President of the Syndicat des vins de Bandol until 1982, he imposed this emblematic varietal, requiring a minimum of 50% in the red wines. Lulu, for her part, became the charismatic ambassador, welcoming figures such as Richard Olney and Alice Waters, whose exchanges inspired the Californian culinary revolution through Chez Panisse.

In the 1960s, their sons Jean-Marie and François took over: François in the vineyard, Jean-Marie in the cellar. They innovated by creating the single-plot cuvées, La Migoua, La Tourtine and Cabassaou, showcasing the distinct terroirs, and conquered export markets, notably in the United States through Kermit Lynch. After their retirement in 2000, Daniel Ravier, a Savoyard agronomic engineer who arrived in 1999, took over day-to-day management. Under his impetus, the estate transitioned to biodynamics in 2013 and expanded in 2016 with the 18 hectares of La Laidière. The Peyraud family, gathered in council five times a year, continues to watch over this heritage, where Lulu, who passed away in 2020 at the age of 103, leaves a legendary legacy of hospitality. Today, Tempier remains the reference cru of Bandol, a name synonymous with exceptional terroir wines.

Terroirs and Vines of Domaine Tempier

The terroirs of Domaine Tempier form a fascinating geological mosaic across 60 hectares, where varied soils, exposures and altitudes shape wines of rare complexity. Dominated by clay-limestone soils dating from the Triassic (200 Ma) to the Santonian marls (85–90 Ma), these plots benefit from a Mediterranean climate: generous sunshine, protective Mistral winds and refreshing maritime influences.

La Bastide, the historic heart of 7 hectares at Plan du Castellet, is home to century-old vines of Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault and Carignan, surrounded by majestic cypress trees. Facing south, it infuses freshness and structure into the classic cuvées. La Tourtine, on 5.5 hectares near the village of Castellet, reaches its peak on a windy, south-facing hillside: deep soils of sandstone, marl and clay with traces of gypsum encourage harmonious ripening of the Mourvèdre (vines of 45–50 years). La Migoua, at 300 metres of altitude on the Beausset-Vieux massif, extends over 11 hectares of wild garrigue. A geological accident — a thrust sheet and Triassic clay-limestone outcrops — creates a unique diversity, ideal for intense and fresh wines (vines of 40 years).

Cabassaou, a small amphitheatre of 1.5 hectares sheltered from the Mistral, warms under thermal winds on shallow terraced slopes: here, Mourvèdres and Syrah of more than 60 years express a quintessential density. Finally, La Laidière, acquired in 2016 across 18 east-facing hectares with 300 metres of elevation change, brings a welcome freshness to the whites and rosés, on marl-sandy soils.

The old vines (average age 20 to 60 years) are tended by hand: pruning and harvesting by hand according to lunar phases, mechanical and manual ploughing, and sheep used as natural weed control. Seven permanent workers, led by Jean-Philippe Fourney, head of cultivation, spray homemade homeopathic herbal teas to invigorate the soils and limit pests. Sulphur and Bordeaux mixture protect against powdery mildew and downy mildew, while earthworms, springtails and ladybirds thrive, testifying to a flourishing biodiversity. Adapted rootstocks and mass selections ensure complexity and adaptation to the terroir, within a biodynamic philosophy that values natural energy and peasant observation.

Winemaking at Domaine Tempier

At the cellar of Domaine Tempier, directed by Jennifer Chabin, the winemaking honours the fruit and the terroir with artisanal precision. The hand-harvested grapes, sorted plot by plot, arrive at the winery for a second meticulous sorting, followed by gentle destemming and crushing. Fermentations are carried out with indigenous yeasts: 3–4 weeks for the reds in vats, skin maceration and direct pressing for the rosés, cold settling and vinification in stainless steel or concrete for the whites.

The ageing process, the beating heart of the Tempier identity, takes place in a underground cellar with century-old and new large oak casks, where a minimum of 18 months for the reds infuses complexity and elegance without dominant oak. The whites rest for 10 months, the rosés for 6–8 months. Without fining or filtration, the wines retain their vitality, ready for full bottling at the estate. This natural approach, rooted in biodynamics since 2013 and certified organic in 2022, produces living, expressive wines in which each vintage reveals unique emotions — fruity in youth, tertiary (undergrowth, tobacco) for ageing.

The Cuvées of Domaine Tempier

The cuvées of Domaine Tempier, true single-plot expressions, invite exploration of the terroirs of Bandol. 

Lulu & Lucien Rouge: The signature cuvée, it blends the discreet power of Mourvèdre (~75%) with Grenache, Cinsault, Carignan and Syrah on vines of 35–40 years. Drawn from varied clay-limestone soils (from sandy calcareous marls to Triassic), it offers a complexity combining fruit and elegance. Winemaking: plot-by-plot and cellar sorting, destemming, crushing, fermentation 3–4 weeks with indigenous yeasts. Ageing: 18 months in large oak casks. Keeping: 4–15 years, evolving towards notes of tobacco and leather. 

Bandol Rosé: A perfect balance of complexity and freshness, without marked tannins, it is dominated by 50% Mourvèdre, Grenache and Cinsault on 20-year-old vines. Diverse terroirs (Santonian limestones to Triassic dolomites) confer authentic aromatic intensity. Winemaking: skin maceration, direct pressing, cold settling, fermentation in stainless steel/concrete. Ageing: 6–8 months. Keeping: 1–5 years, or more for notes of candied citrus and rose. 

Bandol Blanc: Southern freshness preserved through late-harvest plots (Laidière, Migoua, Petit Moulin): 60% Clairette, 30% Ugni Blanc, plus Rolle, Bourboulenc and Marsanne on vines of 25–30 years. Winemaking: in vats and large oak casks. Ageing: 10 months. Keeping: 1–5 years, up to 10 for honeyed marine notes. A structured and floral white.

La Tourtine Rouge: A powerful and elegant single-plot wine from 5.5 windy, south-facing hectares: ~85% Mourvèdre, Grenache, Cinsault on vines of 45–50 years, sandy clay and sandstone soils. Winemaking: sorting, destemming, fermentation 3–4 weeks with indigenous yeasts. Ageing: 18 months in large oak casks. Keeping: 5–20 years. A dense and refined wine.

Cabassaou Rouge: The quintessence of Mourvèdre (92–94%), Syrah and Cinsault on vines of at least 60 years, in a sheltered amphitheatre of 1.5 hectares. A warm and airy microclimate yields exceptional density and potential. Winemaking: identical to the reds, fermentation with indigenous yeasts. Ageing: 18 months in large oak casks. Keeping: 10 years or more. 

La Migoua Rouge: From 11 alpine and wild hectares: 55% Mourvèdre, 25% Cinsault, 15% Grenache, Syrah on 40-year-old vines, complex Triassic soils. Winemaking: sorting, destemming, fermentation 3–4 weeks. Ageing: 18 months in large oak casks. Keeping: 5–20 years. Intense and fresh, combining smoothness and length.

Order your bottles from Domaine Tempier and let the Mistral carry you toward an unforgettable tasting experience. Discover other estates in the Bandol appellation, such as Pibarnon and Sainte-Anne at Vins & Millésimes, where you can purchase the finest bottles of wine and grand crus online. All our wines are in stock and available for fast delivery! Explore the bottles and Magnums from Domaine Tempier available for purchase!