|
|
| |
|
The Bandol terroir lies between Marseilles and Toulon on the
hillside of a natural amphitheater and runs down to the shore
of the Mediterranean sea.
Historians believe the first vineyard existed 500 years
B.C., when the Phoceans landed there. Some centuries later,
the Romans started exporting wines from the area, shipping
them from Bandol. That is how the vineyard got its name.
On November 11 1941, the INAO (Institut National des Appellations
d’Origine), The National Institute for Labels of Origin,
decreed that the Bandol wines would be ranked AOC (Appellation
d’Origine Contrôlée), That is, they obtained
a Certified Label of Origin.
|
|
| |
Domaine Tempier lies in the heart
of the vineyard boundaries. It already existed during
the reign of King Louis XV, and the "bastide"
was built on the family's property in 1834. The
Domain has remained a family owned estate since
1834.
In 1885, it obtained recognition with a first gold
medal.
In 1880, after the phylloxera epidemic had ruined
the French wine trade, Léonie Tempier began
the renewal by having her vineyard completely replanted
on root-stocks, and a cellar built with wooden and
cement vats. However, the 1929 crash caused the
wine business to plunge; the vines were partly replaced
by peach and apple trees.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
In 1936, Lucie Tempier, whose father was a leather importer
in Marseilles, married Lucien Peyraud whose father dealt
in silk and ribbons and grandfather was a gunsmith in
Saint-Etienne close to Lyon. Lucien Peyraud wanted to
be a wine-grower. He studied farming in Aix and had
several work experiences in the region before he and
Lucie settled at Domaine Tempier in 1940, this was the
beginning of a grand epic for Bandol wine, thanks also
to the pioneering efforts of Mr Roethlisberger and Mr
Perrone, President of the Association to Promote the
Bandol Label of Origin. Lucien became a member of the
Association’s Board, and also of the Tasting and
Quality Control Commission. Life was difficult at the
time; they had no electricity or running water. Lucien
rode his bicycle to Toulon to attend the meetings.
|
|
|
| |
On October 27, 1943, Lucien Peyraud
bottled his first wine, a rosé. In 1945,
he became President of the Association, then joigned
the INAO in 1947. He was also actively involved
in the MSA (Mutualité Sociale Agricole) the
Farmer Welfare and Pension Association, and the
Rotary Club. These activities were time-consuming.
So, in the early 60s, it was a great satisfaction
for Lucie and Lucien to have their two sons, Jean-Marie
and François, join them in their ceaseless
effort to improve and promote the quality of Bandol
wine. Lucien Peyraud spent 37 years in this endeavor.
His objective was to have the aging quality of Bandol
wine recognized along side the renown wines of France
-Bordeaux, Burgundy, Côte-Rôtie, Hermitage
or Châteauneuf wines- by basing it on a major
vine -the Mourvèdre. During this crusade,
thanks to his persuasive efforts, Lucien Peyraud
became the spiritual father of Bandol wine. Today,
the Mourvèdre dominance has become a reality
in the minds of all the Bandol winegrowers. Lucien
Peyraud also became the spokesman for the French
Mediterranean wines. So much effort! Today it's
hard to imagine the many sacrifices he had to make,
but also the burst of laughters. The trips with
Dr Roethlisberger and Baron Leroy and the wine delivery
trips on the Riviera with Countess Portalis ( Château
Pradeaux) must have been intense instances of joie
de vivre.The Bandol pioneers left us a fabulous
heritage because they believed in a dream.
Within the Domaine Tempier, Jean-Marie and François
have in turn accepted the challenge by focusing
on the Domaine’s specificities -its cuvées
from specific areas. Indeed after having observed
the differences between the wines coming from different
areas - la Tourtine, la Migoua and later Cabassaou,
they wanted to share these observations with Domaine
Tempier wine fans. All the while the vineyard has
been kept in perfect condition, according to the
rules (no chemical fertilizers, mechanical weeding
without any chemicals, organic cultivation methods,
a diversified choice of graft-holders). The wine
cellar is suitably equipped to guarantee the development
of Domaine Tempier. An evolution, not a revolution,
since Jean-Marie and François strongly believe
in the Domaine’s savoir-faire of producing
exceptional wines with a huge aging potential -1964
and 1971 vintages are still marvelous today in 2001.
|
|
|
| |
Time passing, in 2000, Jean-Marie and François
decided to step down and their sisters joined them
in the Board of Directors. Fleurine, Marion, Laurence
and Véronique are strongly attached to the
Domaine, they play an active role in its future. The
Domaine Tempier’s daily management is now ensured
by Daniel Ravier, a passionate young man who has successfully
been working with Bandol wine for several years. This
new team is ready to accomplish its task to the utmost,
that is to maintain the level of excellence of Domaine
Tempier and to improve what can still be improved!
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
