TEMPOS Vega Sicilia & A New Chapter with Jessica Julmy

Jessica Julmy. Image: Stine Pimenova

Originally from Switzerland, Jessica Julmy comes as very confident, witty and bold. She takes a lot of space and I gain a huge respect for her straight away. We sit next to each other, the only two women in the room, just up front, all eyes on us. I feel home. Here’s a couple of questions she was willing to use her time to spend on answering afterwards.

What Attracted You to the Opportunity of Leading TEMPOS Vega Sicilia, and What Excites You Most About this New Chapter?

What drew me to TEMPOS Vega Sicilia was, first and foremost, the depth of its heritage. There is a rare respect here for time itself: in the vineyards, in the élevage, in the decisions that shape each wine. That long-term horizon, so naturally embedded in the culture of the family, deeply resonated with me.

At the same time, each of the wineries within the TEMPOS portfolio has its own identity, history, and expression of terroir. That inherent diversity is a strength, and it offers a remarkable platform to continue learning, exploring, and building, always grounded in a shared philosophy of excellence. Each with its unique challenge. 

I also felt a great sense of confidence in the technical foundation of the group. The level of expertise across viticulture and winemaking is exceptional. It creates a kind of serenity: knowing that the fundamentals are so strong allows you to think about the future with both humility and ambition.

On a more personal level, I was motivated by the conviction that my own experience, across different markets, categories, and cultures, could contribute meaningfully to this next chapter. Not to change what TEMPOS Vega Sicilia is, but to help accompany its evolution with respect, clarity, and a sensitivity to the world around us.

Vega Sicilia is Known for its Strong Heritage and Reputation. How Do You Balance Preserving Tradition while Driving Innovation and Growth?

Oremus Winery. Image: Jessica Julmy

Balancing tradition and innovation at TEMPOS Vega Sicilia starts from a simple conviction: innovation is only meaningful when it serves the continued pursuit of wine quality. A perfect example is the decision several years ago to dedicate a member of the viticulture team entirely to R&D. This reflects a quiet but constant drive to refine our understanding of soils, plant material, and climate, always with the objective of expressing each terroir with greater precision.

What are Your Main Priorities for the Company During your First Year as Director?

My priorities in the first year are rooted in a simple responsibility: to protect and strengthen a legacy that has been built with patience and a profound respect for time. As we approach a structure of six wineries, my focus is to ensure that this growth is carried with the same coherence, discipline, and attention to detail across every single area of the business. That means building certain skills & capabilities across teams, leveraging evolving technologies, strengthening governance, and enforcing a shared culture of quality and humility in everything we do.

At the same time, I see my role as supporting the long-term resilience of TEMPOS Vega Sicilia. This also extends to how we engage with our partners around the world: through active listening, openness, and a genuine exchange, sharing what we do, while learning from those who present our wines every day. This two-way dialogue is essential.

How Do You See the Premium Wine Market Evolving Over the Next Five to Ten Years, and How Should TEMPOS Vega Sicilia Adapt to Those Changes?

Pintia Vineyard. Image: Jessica Julmy

This is in many ways a natural continuation of the previous point, because the future of the premium wine market will depend as much on how we communicate as on what we craft.

Expectations are evolving (have evolved already actually), whether amongst potential or existing wine lovers. We must stand for clarity, authenticity, and coherence across the entire value chain. In that context, communication is essential: listening carefully to our partners, understanding their realities, and at the same time sharing transparently who we are, how we work, and why we make the decisions we make. When combined with pricing strategies that are rational and fair across the value chain, this will be critical in maintaining, and in many cases reestablishing, trust with both long-standing clients and new generations of wine lovers.

At the same time, none of this can exist without an unwavering commitment to quality. That obsession remains the foundation of everything we do, and it is what ultimately gives legitimacy to our wines. But we should also not lose sight of something very simple, and absolutely critical: wine is made to be enjoyed. Beyond the technical precision and the heritage, it carries a notion of sharing, of pleasure, of moments lived together. As we look ahead, I believe the role of a house like TEMPOS Vega Sicilia is to hold all of these elements in balance: excellence, transparency, and emotion, ensuring that our wines continue not only to be respected, but truly experienced and enjoyed.

Jessica Julmy. Image: Jessica Jumly

Thank you our sponsor Sigurd Müller for organising a tasting with Jessica Julmy, the new managing director of TEMPOS Vega Sicilia.