Tempel Wines is a boutique wine estate on the Berg River in Northern Paarl, South Africa, set against a spectacular backdrop of the Paarl mountains, where the originally Belgian owner Tom Heeremans, has created an oasis for wine lovers in the heart of wine valley. They produce tiny quantities of 5 high-quality, hand-crafted exquisite red wines.

In the latest 2021 Platter's Wine Guide for South Africa (the bible for South African Wine ratings), this is now the highest rated Tempranillo in South Africa.

Layers of cherry, plum, strawberry, raspberry and Mediterranean herb flavours with a hint of leather, tobacco, cedar and spice lead to a rich and plush extracted palate, with bold, yet a beautiful and ripe tannin structure, dryness and a long lingering finish bursting with fruit. Oak, more noticeable on the finish almost as ash.

This is an extremely well made, hand-crafted, natural, fine wine, natural fermented in open concrete tanks with manual punch downs (1-2 / day). Matured for 12 months in French oak barrels (30-35% new barrels).  They create their wines using the traditional technique of Grape-treading (also known as pigeage) which is part of the method of maceration used in traditional wine-making, where rather than being crushed in a wine press or by another mechanised method, grapes are repeatedly trampled in open vats by barefoot participants to release their juices and begin fermentation.

The elegant heavy glass bottle, deep punt and the hand dipped wax seal reflect the supremely high,  hand-crafted quality of these incredible wines.

The Afrikaans name TYSAAM means "Slowly" and to "Spend time together"

Food pairings: Barbecue grilled-meats, smoky dishes. Mexican food: tacos, nachos, burritos. Tomato based pasta sauces, lasagne. Braised dishes of short ribs or lamb, rich stews and even spicy dishes from a variety of cuisines.

Production Area: Produced and bottled at Tempel Wine estate - Paarl
Alcohol content: 14.3% vol
RS: 2.4 grams
Volume Produced: Limited production of only 2543 bottles

WINE INFO

COUNTRY:South AfricaREGION:Paarl, South AfricaTYPE:Red wineWINERY:TEMPEL WINESGRAPE:Tempranillo 100%ALCOHOL:14.3 %VOLUME:750 MLSHELF LIFE:10 YearsVINIFICATION:Natural fermented in open concrete tanks with manual punch downs (1-2 / day)..
Matured for 12 months in French oak barrels (30-35% new barrels).

WINERY STORY

The story of TEMPEL WINES derives from the Cape Dutch style cottage on the estate built in 1784, it was initially known in the community as the Jooden Tempel. In the 20th century, the farm started producing the wines that we love today.  It's a boutique wine estate on the Berg River in Northern Paarl, South Africa, set against a spectacular backdrop of the Paarl mountains, where the originally Belgian owner Tom Heeremans, has created an oasis for wine lovers in the heart of wine valley.

Previously known for Pinotage, their world-class vintners have since shifted their attention to Mediterranean cultivars, including Cinsaut, Shiraz, Grenache, Mouvèdre, and Tempranillo. Today they have a stunning selection of 5 big beautiful red wines on offer, each of them infused with the unique character of the region.

The beautiful estate also plays host to a modern B&B, with four rooms available for those wishing to extend their stay. The splendid setting boasts picturesque views of Paarl Mountain and the Berg River, allowing for a pastoral experience in a truly unique location.

Tempel Wines is home to high-quality, hand-crafted wines. The wines are characterised by a distinctive, lower in alcohol style (13-13,5%), making for an enjoyable, lighter drinking experience.

The Tempel wines philosophy is to let the grapes do the talking they create hand crafted modern wines that reflect the character and soul of the region. As 80% of their wines are made on the field, they take great care to select only the best cultivars and rootstocks given the climatological circumstances and different soils at their vineyards.

They try and keep farming as natural as possible to maintain the best quality in the end products. All the grapes are handpicked and naturally fermented in traditional open tanks. After pressing, they are matured in French oak barrels and/or concrete eggs for minimum 12 months and then bottled on the estate.

The cellar at Tempel Wines is a unique experience in itself besides being filled with amazing wines, the walls of the cellar also boast authentic art from some of the finest South African street artists. Visitors can enjoy a view of the exceptional cellar from the beautiful breezy terrace with a glass of one of their incredible wines in hand, of course!

ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

The vineyard management is all about sustainability. They deliberately attract a diverse range of insects to the land, where they also grow organic vegetables to give to the people in the local townships.