Tempus Alba

Tempus Alba is the new kid on the block when it comes to wineries in the historic town of Maipu. Stepping onto the property I had emotional flashback of being an insecure goofy pre-teen. The winery is located just outside the town’s limits in the rural neighborhood of Cocombito, and Tempus Alba sports all rage complete with shinny sneakers and flashy bling. Reminiscent of the kid in my class who showed up every year with better pencil crayons, I wanted to loath the space Cadillac winery but secretly coveted their rainbow of colors.

After my envious temper tantrum had subsided I discovered that Tempus Alba is not a pre-pubesant teen with the latest jeans. With wine making coursing through its veins, this family owned and operated venture raises their wines as one of their own. A unique state of the art winery producing high quality, world marketable wines made with old world traditions and new world ideas. A new movement is being fostered in this progressive wine temple.

Like a wine legend the story began four generations ago when an Italian immigrant family escaped to Mendoza, with the determination to create a better a life. Hard work and a strong work ethic blossomed into a relationship between the family and the vine. Like many of the old wine families of Mendoza they were struck with hardship, but with the vine’s roots still deep in the families’ core, a super sonic winery was resurrected five years ago. The acting general manager and resident oenologist are two of three sons from the original blood line, and the starship enterprise of wineries prevails.

Like it was transplanted from outer space the impressive raw travertine stone and polished concrete structure stands in the heart of the Maipu district. Reflecting the suns rays, the architecture is striking and glows in shades of warm yellows, oranges and taupe. Modern yet earthy and clearly of a different plane the angular building seems rounded and flowing, a grand illusion that reflects the wines themselves. A roof top terrace and tasting lounge floats over 3 ha of Malbec vines with a view expanding into the horizon. A great selection of wine flights and wines by the glass are offered to sample while spacing out on the magical view. Simple yet classy nibblies of local nuts and olives are available to cleanse the palate while absorbing the spectacular scenery.

Today the slick facility produces 300,000 liters of cosmic juice per year. Galactic waves of Malbec, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Tempranillo, Merlot, and Bordeaux style blends, take on the universe with a smooth and lustrous undulation. The line up is all domain bottled and mostly 100% varital blended excluding the Pleno, a Bordeaux style blend that to my mind is one of the best in Mendoza. All of the reds have been acquainted with both French and American oak from 3 to 15 months and all have seen another 8 months of bottle age before being released. You can find these wines in 23 US states, parts of Canada and Europe, Brazil and of course Argentina.

Three vineyards covering 110 ha of earth produce grapes for the polished operation. The largest cultivation in Lujan de Cujo blankets over 40 hectares, customary flood irrigation is practiced and the likes of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec can be found here. Up in the hills of Tupangato sixty five year old Tempranillo and Snagiovese vines grow with traditional flood irrigation quenching the thirst of the deep-rooted vines. The remaining vineyard in Maipu is dedicated to growing Malbec with innovative drip irrigation feeding the “primavera zona” raised vines, and a three hectare cultivation of Malbec encompasses the winery, for let’s say, systematic testing.

Abducted by superior wine aliens? Has Tempus Alba been to an unknown place and returned to its roots refined and full of enlightened ideas? A new-age project to develop the prized Malbec varital is perused at Tempus Alba. The experimental Malbec vines that surround the beautiful architecture are cultivated solely for this novel purpose. Over 350 clones have so far been studied and documented in the quest to find the 10 best genetic copies. Complete with a sate of the art laboratory where Malbec clones are closely monitored and studied, Tempus Alba searches for a genetically superior grape.

The winery and the people behind it are soft natured with an intelligent structured core. There is an unaltered natural flare, cut with sharp precision and brilliance to this winery and it wines alike. Tempus Alba is open to the public Monday to Friday for guided tours and tastings with knowledgeable bi-lingual staff. Visit this up and coming winery to stay on the cutting edge of the rising and trendy South American wine scene.