30 % of Champagne’s carbon footprint stems from bottle manufacturing. Champagne Telmont decided to change that number by creating a glass bottle that weighs 800 grams (1.76 pounds) rather than the traditional standard of 835 grams.
How it Began
In 1911, during the Champagne riots in France, visionary Henri Lhopital composed a song, “Gloire au Champagne,” to encourage winemakers in the Champagne region to continue upholding the high standards of Champagne, no matter the riot outcomes.
Henri’s passion for those high standards led him to create his own label and champagne house in 1912. Today, after generations of care, Champagne Telmont (named in 1947) continues to produce the highest-quality Champagne. It earned its first organic certification in 2017 and plans to become 100% certified organic by 2031.
A Devotion to the Earth
As I dug into the story of this lovely brand, I found their passion for a clean earth and high-quality champagne to be contagious. Here are a few other amazing things the Telmont Estate vineyards are doing to maintain high standards and improve the carbon footprint:
- No gift boxes — just a beautiful bottle
- No transparent bottles. The dark green bottle you receive is made from 85% recycled glass.
- The electricity used at the vineyard is 100% from renewable sources.
- Bottles shipped to the United States take a trip on wind-powered Neoline ships rather than air transportation.
Champagne Telmont’s Réserve Brut
“Creativity and innovation must go hand in hand with responsibility. By adopting this ultra-lightweight bottle, we aim to redefine industry standards and contribute to a more sustainable future for Champagne, says Ludovic du Plessis, President of Champagne Telmont. We aim with this new bottle to set a new standard for Champagne, in the name of Mother Nature.”
Champagne Telmont Réserve brut debuts as a uniquely lightweight bottle, reducing carbon emissions by 4%. Beyond the lighter weight bottle, you’ll notice a lovely blend of three grapes that create a rich and fruity champagne.
The awards Champagne Telmont’s Réserve Brut has won are too many to mention. You can purchase a bottle for your collection at ReserveBar.com.
Changing the Industry One Bottle at a Time
Though Champagne Telmont currently offers one type of champagne in an 800-gram bottle, the goal is to have all its wines bottled in lighter-weight bottles in 2025 and beyond.
The ultimate goal, however, is that the entire wine industry will catch on and begin creating lighter-weight bottles as well. In doing so, 8,000 tons of CO2 emissions would be eliminated annually.
