Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache 2022: Tasting Notes

WINE STYLE → Bright Red-Fruit & Fresh

Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache 2022 is a vibrant, dry Riverland red built around crunchy red fruit rather than heavy extraction. Black cherry, raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate lead into lavender, rose petal and warming cinnamon-clove spice. The palate turns more savoury with liquorice, black pepper and anise, while five months with French oak adds gentle shape without covering the fruit. Medium-bodied, fresh and finely tannic, this is an expressive Grenache with enough structure for dinner but plenty of brightness for relaxed drinking.

Highlights

• Certified organic, vegan suitable and No Added Preservative
• Crafted by Temple Bruer — one of Australia’s pioneering organic and preservative-free wine producers
• Black cherry, raspberry and pomegranate with liquorice, anise and black pepper
• Riverland fruit from Temple Bruer vineyards, including old Grenache acquired in 2021
• No sulphur dioxide used at any stage; Free SO2 0 ppm and Total SO2 0 ppm
• 13.5% ABV

Tasting Notes

Light ruby in colour with an aromatic mix of black cherry, strawberry, raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate, lifted by lavender and rose petal. Cinnamon and clove add warmth around the edges. The palate is dry and medium-bodied, moving into savoury liquorice, anise and black pepper, with crunchy red fruit underneath. Firm, fine tannins give shape without heaviness, while fresh acidity carries the wine through to a medium-long, spicy finish.

Winemaking

The Grenache was harvested in late March at around 13 Baumé, then destemmed and chilled to 8°C for a three-day cold soak. Fermentation began as the must warmed to 18°C and continued for around two weeks, with temperatures reaching 24°C toward the end to build colour and structure. The wine completed malolactic fermentation before spending five months with French oak. It was bottled in late August 2022, with no sulphur dioxide added at any stage.

Vineyard & Vintage

The wine is predominantly Grenache at 94%, with 4% Shiraz, sourced from Temple Bruer’s Riverland vineyards. In 2021 the family acquired two Riverland properties containing established Grenache vines and began converting them to Temple Bruer’s organic and sustainable viticultural standards. The vineyards combine loam-over-clay river-valley soils with sandy Mallee soils over lime and clay. The cooler 2022 season produced a long ripening period, moderate yields and excellent natural acidity, with the Grenache harvested in late March.

Why We Love It

Grenache can easily become broad and sweet-fruited in warm regions, but this keeps its freshness beautifully. There is plenty of raspberry and cherry generosity, yet the liquorice, pepper and anise pull everything back toward the savoury side. The fine tannins make it genuinely useful with food, while the preservative-free winemaking lets the bright fruit stay front and centre.

Food Pairing

The combination of red fruit, spice, moderate tannin and fresh acidity works especially well with smoky, tomato-rich and earthy dishes. Grenache also has enough softness for vegetables without overwhelming them.

Try matching this wine with →

• Eggplant pasta alla Norma — Find a Recipe
• Slow-cooked barbecue brisket — Find a Recipe
• Mushroom and lentil stew — Find a Recipe

Mood or occasion to match this wine…

A lovely red for a long lunch that quietly turns into dinner. It has enough savoury detail for the food table, but the bright red fruit makes it equally easy to enjoy with a grazing board and good conversation.

Cellaring

Delicious now for its vibrant fruit and spice, with Temple Bruer recommending cellaring for up to five years from vintage. As a preservative-free wine, careful cool storage is important; once opened, reseal and refrigerate, then enjoy within one to two days.

Producer

Temple Bruer is a family-owned South Australian producer whose organic story began at Langhorne Creek, where David and Barbara Bruer planted their first vines in 1973. Their original vineyard converted to organic farming in the 1990s, and the family has since expanded across several South Australian regions, including the Riverland vineyards behind this Grenache. Temple Bruer began its preservative-free program in 2006 after experimenting with Cabernet Merlot made without added SO2. The winery now uses meticulous hygiene, low-SO2-producing yeasts and specialised oxygen-management and bottling systems to produce wines with no detectable added sulphur dioxide while preserving fresh, clean fruit character.

Related Wines To Try →

If you enjoy the bright red fruit, spice and savoury freshness of this Grenache, these are worth exploring next.

• Perfumed, savoury Grenache with more structure and depth — Tscharke A Thing of Beauty Grenache
• Lighter, silky and red-fruited with gentle spice — Temple Bruer Preservative Free Pinot Noir
• Juicy McLaren Vale Grenache, biodynamic and preservative free, with raspberry, plum and fine tannins — Organic Hill Founders Preservative Free Grenache

FAQ

What does Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache 2022 taste like?

Expect black cherry, raspberry, cranberry and pomegranate with rose petal and lavender perfume, followed by liquorice, anise, cinnamon, clove and black pepper. It is fresh and red-fruited rather than jammy, with a savoury, spicy finish.

Is this Grenache dry, and how heavy is it?

Yes. Residual sugar is just 0.5 g/L, so the wine is firmly dry. It is medium-bodied, with enough fruit weight to be satisfying while staying much lighter on its feet than a big Shiraz.

What are the tannins and acidity like?

The tannins are firm but fine, sitting around the middle of the scale rather than becoming chewy or drying. Fresh natural acidity keeps the crunchy red fruit lively and makes the wine especially useful with tomato-based, roasted and smoky foods.

Does Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache contain preservatives or sulphites?

This is a No Added Preservative wine, with no sulphur dioxide used during winemaking. The recorded free SO2 and total SO2 are both 0 ppm. Temple Bruer uses careful oxygen management and specialised bottling techniques to protect freshness without added sulphur dioxide.

Is this wine organic and vegan friendly?

Yes. Organic Wine lists this wine as certified organic and vegan suitable. Temple Bruer farms with a strong focus on organic viticulture and reducing synthetic inputs throughout the vineyard and winery.

How should I serve this Grenache, and does it need decanting?

Serve it lightly cool at around 14–16°C in a medium-sized red-wine or universal glass. It does not require a long decant, although 15–20 minutes in the glass or a short decant can help the floral and spicy aromas open up.

What food goes best with Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache?

Try it with eggplant pasta alla Norma, smoky brisket, lamb, grilled vegetables or mushroom dishes. The red fruit suits sweeter roasted flavours, while the liquorice, pepper and anise work particularly well with char, herbs and tomato.

Can Temple Bruer Preservative Free Grenache 2022 be cellared?

Yes. Temple Bruer recommends drinking it now or cellaring for up to five years from vintage, so it is in a good drinking window now. Keep bottles somewhere cool, dark and temperature-stable.

Who will love this wine?

It is a great match for anyone who enjoys fragrant, savoury reds with plenty of fruit but not excessive weight. If you like brighter Grenache, lighter Shiraz or supple Mediterranean-style reds, this should sit comfortably in your wheelhouse.

If I like Pinot Noir, will I enjoy this Grenache?

Quite possibly, especially if you enjoy Pinot Noir for its red fruit and freshness but sometimes want a little more spice and tannin. This Grenache is fuller and more savoury than Pinot Noir, yet it keeps the same emphasis on brightness rather than heavy oak or dense extraction.

(SKU: TB_GRE_CV)