Rémy Cointreau has unveiled its first-ever Champagne house, Telmont, and the house’s goals for a more sustainable future under the concept of “In Nomine Terrae” (In the Name of Mother Nature). Over the next decade, the house will become 100% organic and implement a variety of green initiatives, including eliminating outer packaging and gift boxes, transitioning to 100% renewable electricity, limiting greenhouse gas emissions indirectly related to its business, and more.
Since 1912, Telmont has defended its vision of viticulture and the values it holds dear: loyalty, humility and courage. The House revels in its singularity, proclaimed by its motto: Nec Pluribus Impar, unlike any other. Upholding its legacy, Telmont took its first steps towards organic conversion and obtained, in 2017, its first certification for a portion of the vineyards of its estate.
Champagne Telmont is determined to pursue its ambition, and carve an exemplary path towards a 100% organic house using production methods with reduced impact on its natural surroundings. Telmont has decided to act “in the name of Mother Nature,” thus advocating for the preservation of nature’s gifts, leaving its essence untouched.
The House of Telmont has set five tangible objectives.
Objective #1: Preserving terroir and biodiversity. Today, 72% of the estate’s 24.5 hectares are certified in organic agriculture or are in the process of conversion. The aim is to convert 100% of the estate by 2025. Telmont Champagne’s partner winegrowers (56.5 hectares) will be supported by the House in their shift towards organic agriculture (39% of their vineyards are already certified or in conversion). This ambitious transformation targets the conversion to organic agriculture of 100% of all cultivated areas by 2031, for both the Telmont estate and partner winegrowers, compared to the 49% of those currently certified or in conversion. Biodiversity will be encouraged across the entire estate, both in the vineyards and in the adjacent natural areas. To this end, 2500 shrubs will be planted over the next three years to provide ‘insect hotels’ in the vineyards, preserving species diversity and promoting sustainable carbon binding.
Objective #2: Peneralizing eco-design. Telmont is breaking away from ordinary champagne codes. As of this year, the House has decided to focus on “the bottle and nothing but the bottle”, banning all production and use of outer packaging or gift boxes. This is a first in Champagne. In addition, transparent bottles (currently 15% of the House’s production) will be discontinued this year, to be replaced by only green bottles, 100% recyclable and made from 85% recycled glass. Telmont Champagne is also exploring an experimental method of reusing bottles (for other wine or cider productions); the aim is to launch this by the end of 2021.
Objective #3: Transitioning to 100% renewable electricity and promoting use of ‘green’ energy sources for all its activities. This involves purchasing adapted energy and the development of an on-site solar power production system. The House has already committed to equip itself only with electric vehicles.
Objective #4: Overhauling the logistics chain, upstream and downstream, to limit greenhouse gas emissions indirectly related to its business. Starting today, Telmont will select transporters according to their CSR score. Moreover, it will continue to enforce its zero-air transport policy for supply and distribution.
Objective #5: Intensifying efforts in terms of traceability and information. Each bottle will be numbered, enabling its production itinerary to be traced. As of this year, our front labels will contain all production-related information and detailed contents.
“In Nomine Terrae” (In the Name of Mother Nature) will dictate the House’s actions for decades to come. The unbiased outcome of each of these five objectives will be shared with the general public through House communication. The Rémy Cointreau Group, having become majority shareholder of the House in October 2020, wholeheartedly backs this ambitious program, which Ludovic du Plessis, President and shareholder of the House, will implement together with Bertrand Lhôpital, great-grandson of the House’s founder, Henri.
“My first tasting experience of Telmont Champagne was a beautiful discovery,” said Ludovic. “The wines had a unique personality, presence, complexity and maturity, all the while preserving a remarkable ethereality. Backed by the Rémy Cointreau Group and alongside Bertrand Lhôpital, I feel very lucky to be leading this incredible adventure. Telmont is a house with character, boasting a legacy of craftsmanship and a strong ambition, poised to become the standard bearer of a new relationship with nature. We have one foot rooted in tradition and one in modernity, and both feet on (and in) the earth.”
“I’m proud of the wine-growing legacy which has been handed down in my family from one generation to the next,” said Bertrand Lhôpital, Cellar Master and Head of Viticulture of the House of Telmont. “This heritage enables us to be in close contact with the earth and people, to work with the soil and create our wines the Telmont way. When Rémy Cointreau joined the adventure, contributing their proven commitment to terroir and savoir-faire, it added a new dimension to the quest for excellence which has driven our family for years.”
For more information, head over to Champagne Telmont’s official website.