Draft:Champagne Telmont

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Champagne Telmont
IndustryWinery
GenreFrench winery
Founded1912; 112 years ago (1912)
FounderHenry Lhôpital
HeadquartersDamery, Grand Est, France
Key people
Ludovic du Plessis
ProductsFrench wine
ParentRémy Cointreau
Websitefr.champagne-telmont.com

Champagne Telmont is a century-old family champagne house.[1], founded in 1912 in Damery, near Epernay. The house produces a range of champagnes which possess the designation Champagne AOC and Coteaux Champenois AOC. Since October 2020, the house is part of the Rémy Cointreau Group, which acquired a majority stake in Champagne Telmont[2][3][4][5][6].

History[edit]

Foundation[edit]

After the 1911 Champagne Riots, wine-grower Henri Lhôpital stopped supplying grapes to local champagne houses and in 1912, began to produce his own wine and set the foundation for what is today Champagne Telmont.

In 1914, during the first World War, Henri Lhôpital joined the ranks of the French army.

Henri died in 1937 and his son, André Lhôpital, became Cellar Master and head of the champagne house. During the Second World War, André, like his father, was called in by the army. He joined the second regiment of the ‘Cuirassiers’, the oldest surviving cavalry regiment in the French Army[7]. After the war, André Lhôpital returned to Champagne, where his wife Mathilde had kept the champagne house and the family café, “Café du Commerce”, in Damery, afloat. André got back to work to develop his father’s legacy and baptised the brand: ‘J. de Telmont’ in 1947, inspired by the name of one of the family’s vineyard parcels. Serge, André and Mathilde’s only child, interrupted his studies and returned to work alongside his parents. With his son Serge, André expanded the family estate to 22 hectares and diversified the J. de Telmont range. Mathilde and her daughter-in-law Lucette were also very involved in all aspects of the house, from bottle labelling to managing the commercial transactions and financials.

In 1968, the family moved the headquarters of J. de Telmont to 1 Avenue de Champagne[8][9] the current premises in Damery, near Epernay. In 1983, André passed the reins of J. de Telmont to his son Serge. André died in 1997.

Serge occupied the role of Deputy Mayor of Damery from 1971 to 1983 and Mayor of Damery from 1983 to 1989[10][11]. In 1999, Serge handed the management of the house over to his children, Bertrand Lhôpital, who became the new Cellar Master and head of the champagne house, and Pascale, who had been involved in the family business since 1983. Bertrand began the organic conversion of their vineyard in 2014 and received organic certification for the J. de Telmont-owned parcels in 2017[12][13][14][15].

In October 2020, French family-owned spirits group Remy Cointreau became the majority shareholder of the house and largely support the organic conversion plans for the vineyards[16][17][18][19], along with Bertrand Lhôpital who remained on board as Cellar Master and Head of Viticulture of Telmont. Today, 83% of the Telmont estate’s 25 hectares are certified in organic agriculture or are in the process of conversion. The House’s aim is to convert 100% of the Telmont estate by 2025 and targets the conversion to organic agriculture of all its winegrower partners by 2031[20][21][22][23].

In February 2022, actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio acquired a minority stake in Champagne Telmont[24][25][26][27].

Gloire au Champagne

"Gloire au Champagne"[edit]

Henri Lhôpital was involved in the 1911 champagne riots. The riots started when local winegrowers revolted against champagne houses who wished to source their grapes outside of the champagne region, after their vineyards had been ravaged by phylloxera. Henri wrote the anthem of the riots, “Gloire au Champagne”, with the aim of enjoining regional winemakers and traders to maintain their existing traditional production habits, so that champagne would uphold its high standards of quality[28]. The cantata was performed during a concert in Damery in April 1992, to commemorate the painful moments of the beginning of the century[29].

The Knight’s Helm[edit]

The helm is the chosen logo of the house accompanied by the motto “Nec Pluribus Impar” (‘like no other’). The knight’s helm was replicated exactly from the coat of arms of André Lhôpital’s battalion during World War II and became the distinctive emblem of the house; chosen as a tribute to André’s legacy and a reminder of the house values: courage, loyalty, and humility[30].

Rémy Cointreau Acquisition[edit]

In October 2020, the French, family-owned spirits group Remy Cointreau acquired a majority stake in J. de Telmont[31][32][33][34]. The arrival of the Rémy Cointreau group marked a new starting point for the house. Maison Telmont’s sustainability commitments are part of the Rémy Cointreau’s « Sustainable Exception » roadmap[35].

Telmont is currently managed by Ludovic du Plessis, formerly Executive Director of cognac house LOUIS XIII (owned by Rémy Cointreau) for six years[36][37][38][39][40]. He is currently President of Telmont and acts as an intrapreneur within the Rémy Cointreau group. The production is overseen by Bertrand Lhôpital as Head of Viticulture and Cellar Master of the House, renamed Champagne Telmont in June 2021[41][42][43][44].

In February 2022, actor and environmentalist Leonardo DiCaprio acquired a minority stake in Champagne Telmont[45][46][47][48].

Organic Approach[edit]

Organic conversion[edit]

As of June 2022, 83% of the estate’s 25 hectares are certified in organic agriculture or are in the process of conversion. The House’s aim is to convert 100% of all cultivated areas by 2031, including its partner winegrowers’.

"In the Name of Mother Nature"[edit]

In June of 2021, Champagne Telmont launched its sustainability program coined “In the Name of Mother Nature” in which the House outlined its environmental ambitions and commitments. The program is broken out into five principal pillars[49][50][51][52]:

  1. Preservation of land and biodiversity
    • Planting shrubs and cover crop, soil analysis
    • Conversion to organic agriculture
  2. Generalization of eco-conception
    • Elimination of the use of giftboxes
    • Ceased the production of transparent bottles, made of 0% recycled glass, and use of only green champagne bottles, made of 87% recycled glass, for champagne production
  3. 100% Renewable Energy
  4. Evolution of logistics chain to limit greenhouse gases, zero air freight policy in the manufacturing processes of Champagne Telmont
  5. Transparency: front label which lists all components of the champagne making process[53][54][55][56]

In 2022, the House started working towards reducing the weight of the current lightest Champagne bottle. It is currently testing 800g bottles, down from the classic bottle weight of 835g, with French glassmaker Verallia[57][58][59][60]

The Wine Production[edit]

Telmont Domain

The Vineyard[edit]

Stretching across over 25 hectares, the Telmont vineyard includes eight crus, on the right-bank of the Marne River, mainly on clay-limestone soil) and the three main varieties of Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier[61].

The Winemaking Process[edit]

Bertrand Lhôpital is the current Cellar Master and Head of Viticulture of the House and he is accompanied by Aurore Guerlesquin, the House’s Assistant Cellar Master. Telmont wines are aged both in stainless steel tanks and oak barrels, followed by a bottle ageing between 3 and 15 years depending on the cuvées, the house prefers longer ageing on lees. Traditional hand-riddling, ageing on natural cork and manual disgorgement are processes still in use for the House’s prestige cuvées.

The Wines[edit]

Champagne Telmont offers a current range divided into six categories: Réserve, Blanc de Blancs, Blanc de Noirs, Vinothèque, Confidential and Organic. Since 2021, this range includes Telmont’s first organic cuvée: Réserve de la Terre.

A majority of the house cuvées have received awards in international competitions.[62][63][64][65][66][67][68][69]

  1. ^ Fradet, Dominique (2011). 1910 en Champagne, Chronique d'une révolution. Fradet.
  2. ^ "Rémy Cointreau acquires century-old champagne house J. de Telmont". Retrieved 16 October 2020.
  3. ^ "Telmont veut un champagne plus vert". L'Hebdo du vendredi. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  4. ^ "Remy Cointreau eyes global roll-out, green business practices for new-look Telmont Champagne". Just Drinks US. 21 June 2023.
  5. ^ "Champagne producer House of Telmont unveils sustainability plan". The Drinks Report. Retrieved 2 August 2021.
  6. ^ "House of Telmont joins Remy Cointreau". Elite Traveler. 23 June 2021. Retrieved 23 June 2021.
  7. ^ 2nd Cuirassier Regiment (France). 10 July 2021.
  8. ^ "Champagne J. de Telmont". Glass of Bubbly. 13 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Telmont story". Champagne Telmont.
  10. ^ Lhôpital, André (1992). Ma Vie, Autobiographie et Souvenirs.
  11. ^ "Serge Lhôpital, ancien de Damery n'est plus". From vision to reality. Champagne Telmont. Retrieved 19 April 2017.
  12. ^ "Avec Au nom de la Terre, le Champagne Telmont fait le choix de bio et de la transparence". Forbes. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Champagne Telmont, the eco-friendly fizz". Oracle Time Sustainable Edition. 30 September 2021.
  14. ^ "Les Champagnes Telmont prennent le virage du bio et de la consigne". Vitisphère. 1 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Le champagne Telmont vise le 100% bio en 2025". Marc Vanel Belgium. 21 June 2021.
  16. ^ "Rémy Cointreau acquires century-old champagne house J. de Telmont". Rémy Cointreau. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
  17. ^ "Remy Cointreau eyes global roll-out, green business practices for new-look Telmont Champagne". Just Drinks US. 23 June 2021.
  18. ^ "Champagne producer House of Telmont unveils sustainability plan". The Drinks Report. 2 August 2021.
  19. ^ "Champagne Telmont : "Au nom de la terre"". Terre de Vins. 21 June 2021.
  20. ^ "Avec Au nom de la Terre, le Champagne Telmont fait le choix de bio et de la transparence". Forbes. 12 July 2021.
  21. ^ "Telmont veut un champagne plus vert". L'Hebdo du Vendredi. 23 June 2021.
  22. ^ "Remy Cointreau reveals sustainable Champagne house with ambitious plans". Luxury Daily. 22 June 2021.
  23. ^ "Champagne Telmont reveals its sustainability goals". Country and Town House. 27 June 2021.
  24. ^ "Cette photo de Leonardo Di Caprio contemplant les vignes après avoir investi dans un champagne français". Madame Figaro. 15 June 2022.
  25. ^ "Champagne : Leonardo Di Caprio en visite à Damery dans la Marne". L'Union. 14 June 2022.
  26. ^ "Pendant ce temps, Leonardo est de passage en France pour visiter ses vignes". Konbini. 20 July 2022.
  27. ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio visits fields in France where the eco-friendly champagne he invested in is made". People US. 16 June 2022.
  28. ^ « C'est aujourd'hui grand jour de fête / Grand jour de fête pour les vignerons… » ("Today is a great day for celebration / A great day of celebration for winemakers…", Le Réveil de la Marne. 21 February 1911.
  29. ^ Journal de la Confédération Musicale de France (441 ed.). August 1992. p. 25.
  30. ^ "Deeply Rooted Value". Champagne Telmont. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  31. ^ Cougard, Marie-Josée (16 October 2020). "Rémy Cointreau fait son retour dans le champagne avec J. de Temont". Les Echos.
  32. ^ Ménard, Philippe (22 October 2020). "Cognac : Rémy Cointreau revient dans le champagne". Sud Ouest.
  33. ^ "Rémy Cointreau s'offre un champagne artisanal avec un 'formidable potentiel'". Capital. 16 October 2020.
  34. ^ "Rémy Cointreau acquires century-old champagne house J. de Telmont". Remy Cointreau. 16 October 2020.
  35. ^ "Sustainable exception". Remy Cointreau. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  36. ^ "Ludovic de Plessis, PDG du Champagne Telmont". L'Union. 5 July 2022.
  37. ^ "Chairman of 119-year old champagne house bans gift boxes to reduce its carbon footprint". The Telegraph. 25 June 2021.
  38. ^ "Rémy Cointreau's Telmont champagne acquisition reaffirms its focus on terroir". Forbes US. 6 August 2021.
  39. ^ "Champagne : Ludovic du Plessis, retour à la terre". Les Echos. 17 December 2021.
  40. ^ "Rendez vous avec Ludovic du Plessis". Luxury Design.
  41. ^ "Telmont reveals its environmental ambitions 'In Nomine Terrae'". PR Newswire. 22 June 2021.
  42. ^ "Ludovic du Plessis (Champagne Telmont) : "une culture 100% bio d'ici 2031"". Infrarouge. 2 December 2021.
  43. ^ "La Maison de Champagne Telmont veut devenir la référence de l'appellation en matière environnementale". Le Journal du Dimanche. 21 October 2021.
  44. ^ "Remy Cointreau reveals sustainable Champagne house with ambitious plans". Luxury Daily US. 22 June 2021.
  45. ^ "Cette photo de Leonardo Di Caprio contemplant les vignes après avoir investi dans un champagne français". Madame Figaro. 15 June 2022.
  46. ^ "Champagne : Leonardo Di Caprio en visite à Damery dans la Marne". L'Union. 14 June 2022.
  47. ^ "Pendant ce temps, Leonardo est de passage en France pour visiter ses vignes". Konbini. 20 July 2022.
  48. ^ "Leonardo DiCaprio visits fields in France where the eco-friendly champagne he invested in is made". People US. 16 June 2022.
  49. ^ "Telmont moves towards a sustainble future". Spirited Zine. 23 June 2021.
  50. ^ "Telmont reveals its environmental ambitions In Nomine Terrae". Sustain Magazine. 23 June 2021.
  51. ^ "Remy Cointreau reveals sustainable Champagne house with ambitious plans". Luxury Daily US. 22 June 2021.
  52. ^ "Champagne Telmont : "Au nom de la terre"". Terre de Vins. 21 June 2021.
  53. ^ "Au Nom de la Terre, le Champagne Telmont fait le choix du bio et de la transparence". Forbes. 12 July 2021.
  54. ^ "Projet Au Nom de la Terre". Champagne Telmont. Retrieved 1 June 2021.
  55. ^ "Ludovic du Plessis, PDG du Champagne Telmont : "Nous proposons un sprint pour répondre à l'urgence climatique"". L'Union. 6 July 2021.
  56. ^ "Green shoots : the champagne producer spearheading environmental change". Foodism UK. 26 September 2022.
  57. ^ "Champagne Telmont unveils plans to reduce the weight of its bottles". Decanter UK. 12 April 2022.
  58. ^ "Why Champagne Telmont plans to reduce the weight of its glass bottles". Forbes US. 28 April 2022.
  59. ^ "La Maison de Champagne Telmont expérimente un allègement inédit de ses bouteilles". Le Figaro. 9 April 2022.
  60. ^ "Champagne Telmont decreases weight of its bottles to reduce their carbon footprint". Dr. Liz Thach. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  61. ^ "Champagne Grape Varieties". Comité Champagne. Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  62. ^ "Top 10 Blanc de Blancs". The Drinks Business. 24 August 2022.
  63. ^ "Top 10 Non Vintage Champagnes". The Drinks Business. 26 August 2022.
  64. ^ "Top 10 Vintage Champagnes". The Drinks Business. 5 September 2022.
  65. ^ "The medallist from the champagne masters 2022". The Drinks Business. 1 August 2022.
  66. ^ "Decanter awards for Telmont".
  67. ^ "Concours Mondial de Bruxelles Blanc de Blancs médaille d'argent 2022".
  68. ^ "The Drinks Business Green Awards 2021". 30 November 2021.
  69. ^ "IWSC Awards Telmont 2022".
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