Tempier wine estate

The king of the Bandol appellation

The Tempier wine estate is considered the flagship of the Bandol appellation. It's rare to find a wine estate that is so much a part of a region's viticultural history. Domaine Tempier has been a family-run wine estate since 1834, and has played a major role in raising the profile of the Bandol appellation. It all starts with meticulous observation of the vines to produce wines that are constantly enhanced year after year.

Enhancing terroirs from generation to generation

It's extremely rare for the history of a terroir, an appellation and a family to be so closely linked to a wine estate. Yet such is the case with the iconic Tempier wine estate in Bandol. The history of this wine estate has not been an easy one. First, there was the vision and tenacity of Léonie Tempier, who decided to replant the entire vineyard after the ravages of phylloxera, when most people at the time had given up. Then came Lucie Tempier, the famous Lulu, who died in 2020 at the age of 103. With her husband Lucien, they replanted the noble grape varieties of the region, notably Mourvèdre. The estate's flagship cuvée now bears their name, for the Tempier wine estate would be nothing without them.

The development of Bandol's terroirs has gone through several stages. Working the vines, using very old foudres and explaining the uniqueness of the terroirs through numerous tastings for professionals. Recognition also came with the creation of a syndicate that has been promoting Bandol wines for over 40 years now.

The arrival of David Ravier has revolutionized the world's vision of the wine estate

Today, their work is finally recognized for its true worth. Mourvèdre is once again considered a grape of great nobility. David Ravier runs the wine estate with a knowledgeable and benevolent eye, so that lovers of sun-drenched wines can enjoy them to the full. He continues to refine the house style, which could be described as wines of sun, communion and meditation. Committed to delivering the racy, authentic character of the terroir, he has been working biodynamically for 20 years, and the story doesn't end there. The Tempier wine estate's heritage has been enriched by the 20-hectare La Laidière vineyard, whose vines are located on top-quality sandy-marl terroirs. This further enhances the terroir's complexity and identity.

The Tempier wine estate is famous for its red wines. It has long been producing some of Bandol's most sought-after cuvées, such as La Migoua, La Tourtine and Cabassaou. But he also produces a more accessible Bandol cuvée, both in terms of drinkability and price. A very small part of the production, around 3%, is devoted to making white Bandol.

For us, this is one of the finest wine estates in the Bandol appellation. The Tempier wine estate is known the world over for its refined style, and these wines are now the talk of the town.