At 20 years old, Tempus Two is still a relatively new player in Australia’s wine industry, but in that space of time it has proven to be a bit of a “disruptor”, opting to do things a little differently. That’s how Tempus Two winemaker Andrew Duff describes the young business in an interview with Inside FMCG.
Tempus Wines was founded by one of Australia’s iconic wine family, the McGuigans, whose history in winemaking dates back four generations to 1869. Now the business is leveraging innovative technology to be one step ahead of its competitors.
Since Duff was young, his admiration for the McGuigan family and love of the brand drew him to the company. When the winemaker role came up, he jumped at the chance to become part of the business.
“I have always been a huge admirer of the Tempus Two brand, so when the role came up I absolutely jumped at it! The high standard of wines here is really fantastic and the atmosphere in the winery is great, so I couldn’t ask for more,” Duff said.
At home in the Hunter Valley, Australia’s oldest wine producing region, Tempus Two is well positioned for success, but innovation is at the heart of the company’s ethos.
“We are known for pushing boundaries on the global wine stage. My philosophy is about experimenting with new styles to constantly explore and challenge, giving consumers more wines to discover,” Duff said.
Inside FMCG: How is Tempus Two breaking into emerging markets?
Andrew Duff: Tempus Two is on a meteoric rise with sales up a huge 38 per cent last year in Australia, making it one of the fastest growing wine brands at home. As well as rocketing across [the country], the brand is gathering steam globally – it [has] certainly come a long way from its Hunter Valley roots.
We work very closely with the various Australian wine bodies and are proud to be representing Australia and the Hunter Valley on the world stage. Our recent launches across Asia have been exceptionally well received and we are excited to be working with some great trade partners to grow Tempus Two’s footprint. In addition to our success in Australia, we are also increasing sales globally, taking the brand to the US, Asia and the UK.
Inside FMCG: How has the Australian winemaking process changed over the years with advancements in technology?
As a winemaker, I’m lucky to be able to work at one of the most technologically advanced wineries in Australia, which means our wine quality and attention to detail is second to none. We have invested in top-notch equipment at every stage of the production process as well as focusing on ensuring the best possible grapes are harvested from the vineyards.
Despite having the benefit of some great technology, we still take a very hands-on and boutique approach to our winemaking. [It] is about understanding what each selection of barrels brings to the party and, while technology is extremely helpful in terms of driving quality and ensuring we produce wines with fantastic purity, we aren’t making wine by numbers or using a set recipe. Each year’s harvest gives us something different to work with, deciding what we create is one of the most exciting parts of my job.
Inside FMCG: How has Tempus Two adapted to changing consumer tastes, new trends and innovations?
Consumer wine tastes in Australia have definitely changed over the years and there has been a significant shift away from big, bold flavours to more refined and elegant styles. This is the area where Tempus Two really excels and we hope our wines give consumers the chance to reappraise varietals in a new way.
I’m a big fan of Chardonnay, it’s such a versatile grape and it deserves much more recognition than it receives. As tastes have changed, so has the way Australia makes Chardonnays. We are concentrating on more delicate styles, a million miles away from the oaky, buttery styles that first made Australian wine famous around the world.
Inside FMCG: Tell us how the company creates such a distinctive yet delicate taste?
We put a great deal of time into developing delicate wines that consumers can enjoy at different occasions. You can’t make good wine from bad grapes, so everything we do starts in the vineyard. We are meticulous about monitoring how the grapes we use are growing and only select the very best. This ethos continues into the winery and, as a winemaker, it’s then about crafting and blending the final wines until they are the best expression of the region and the varietal. Last year, Tempus Two won over 260 trophies and medals at international wine shows, so we must be doing something right.
Inside FMCG: Tell us about the elegant bottle design. The Pewter series stands out from the rest with the unique bottle shape and embossed logo design.
Like all our packaging, we want to stand out from the crowd and ensure our wines look as good as they taste. The Pewter Series is a real talking point and always grabs people’s attention when it is served at gatherings because it is so different to anything else in the market.
Inside FMCG: What’s the best selling wine of the Tempus Two range?
Our red varietals are extremely popular in Australia, but we also have a strong reputation for our whites, including several award-winning Semillons, which is the Hunter Valley’s signature grape. We are also experiencing great success with our sparkling range and have just introduced a new Prosecco to the range, which is flying off the shelves.
Inside FMCG: What’s next for Tempus Two outside Australia?
Growing Tempus Two’s global reach is a huge focus and I’ve become a familiar face at the airport, as I travel the globe introducing the brand to consumers and the trade.
Inside FMCG: Any new wines consumers can look forward to?
We are always looking towards the next big thing and exploring different varietals. A major focus for Tempus Two is also looking at Australia’s many fantastic regions to bring out the best styles and varietals and take consumers on a journey of discovery one glass at a time.
