Over the past decade or so, the wine world has moved in the direction of sustainability, focusing on how to make both liquid and bottle less negatively impactful to the environment. It’s a shift seen in wines from California to Italia, Argentina, and beyond, and one that’s also begun to be seen in everyone’s favorite sparkling region, Champagne. For years, Champagne Telmont has been at the forefront of France’s sparkling wine sustainability efforts and took major steps of its own with the launch of Reserve de la Terre earlier this year.
Even before the launch of Reserve de la Terre, Champagne Telmont’s sustainable moves have been noticed by a variety of the world’s biggest names, including actor and activist Leonardo DiCaprio, who became an investor in the brand back in 2022. In this edition of Bottle Breakdown, we sit down with Ludovic Du Plessis, President of Champagne Telmont, to learn more about Reserve de la Terre.
Sp: First off, can you tell us a bit about the history of Champagne Telmont?
LDP: Founded in 1912 in the wake of the Champagne Riots, Telmont has a century-old legacy that combines tradition, respect for its terroir, and forward-thinking innovation. For over four generations, the Lhôpital family has carefully nurtured this heritage, always guided by the notion that the wine is good when the Earth is beautiful.
Today Telmont has 4 shareholders: the Rémy Cointreau group, as a majority stakeholder; Bertrand Lhopital (4th generation, acting as wine maker and grape father), myself and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Telmont’s ambition is far-reaching: to craft one of the best Champagnes without any compromise when it comes to sustainability. Telmont is taking bold steps to protect our environment, embracing regenerative and organic farming practices, and reducing their carbon footprint, with passion and dedication. From vineyard to bottle, every step is thoroughly examined to minimize its environmental impact.
Telmont is thus setting a new standard of excellence in sustainability, with the commitment to aim for best quality and character, while continuously exploring ways to innovate. This delicate balance of honoring the past while forging a path for the future is the heart and soul of Champagne Telmont.
Sp: This last year you released Reserve de la Terre? What makes it unique from the other Champagnes you offer?
LDP: This “Réserve de la Terre” cuvée is our first cuvée certified as organic. It is crafted exclusively from organic grapes, grown without herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or synthetic chemical fertilizers. And that truly makes a difference! This Champagne is radiant, luminous, and full of life.
Its dosage is very low (only 2.5 g/l of sugar vs. 6 to 12 g/l of sugar for Brut Champagne), which makes it an Extra-Brut cuvée. It’s aged for 36 months in our cellar, much longer than the 15 months minimum required by Champagne standards. “Réserve de la Terre” is a blend of three magnificent years (2020 at 70%, 2019 at 15%, and 2018 at 15%) and three perfectly balanced grape varieties (Meunier at 44%, Chardonnay at 34%, and Pinot Noir at 22%).
Like all Maison Telmont wines, it transcends paradoxes, melding the incisive with the gourmand, the sharp with the crisp, the fresh with the ripe. Brimming with life, this wine is a true reflection of the Champagne region and its terroir, and a testament to Telmont’s unwavering commitment to act “In the Name of Mother Nature”.
Sp: How does the Reserve de la Terre go about achieving Telmont’s goals of creating a more sustainable sparkling wine?
LDP: This organic cuvée is really, in itself, a manifesto, and the ultimate fulfillment of Maison Telmont’s philosophy. It is the proof that it is possible to craft one of the best champagnes with no compromise when it comes to sustainability.
Its exceptional gustative qualities – melding the incisive with the gourmand, the sharp with the crisp, the fresh with the ripe, this Champagne is luminous and full of life – illustrate the benefits of organic viticulture for the grapes and the wine.
Our next editions of “Réserve de la Terre” will be bottled in the world’s lightest champagne bottles (800 grams), that Telmont developed and experimented with partner glassmaker Verallia. A lighter bottle means a lower carbon footprint.
Sp: Let’s talk about everyone’s favorite subject, terroir. Does Reserve de la Terre showcase more of the region’s terroir than other bottlings? And, if so, does that have anything to do with the sustainability efforts?
LDP: Of course, it does! Completely unadorned, crafted exclusively from organic grapes, grown without herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, or synthetic chemical fertilizer, “Réserve de la Terre” is indeed the purest expression of our terroir. It stands out by its solar energy and radiance, reflecting the vitality of the terroir.
By respecting and working in harmony with nature, we allow the true essence of our terroir to shine through in every bottle.
For more information or to order a bottle of Champagne Telmont Reserve de la Terre, head over to the official website.
