Champagne Telmont, a fourth-generation family business, will grow 100% certified organic vines by 2025!
The history of the Telmont Champagne House was built on the activism of the men of the Lhôpital family. Its foundation in 1912 coincides with the end of the Champagne revolts during which the winegrowers mobilized to protect the appellation d’origine contrôlée which was then threatened by the dubious practices of the merchants. Henri Lhôpital, the founder of the Champagne Telmont House, was a key figure in these revolts and composed, among other things, the song Gloire au Champagne, which has become a symbol of solidarity in the region. Over the years, three other generations of the Lhôpital family have perpetuated the values of its founder by dedicating themselves with determination to the preservation of their terroir. In 1999, Bertrand and his sister Pascale Lhôpital of the fourth generation took over the reins of the company. Faithful to the values of his ancestors, Bertrand Lhôpital, an agricultural engineer who became the manager and cellar master, gave a new meaning to the motto of the house Unlike any other. Indeed, in 2007, he undertook an ecological turn by adapting part of the family land to organic farming. For this French vineyard enthusiast, making a superior champagne can only be done by taking great care of the terroir. It took him ten years before a portion of his parcels of land were certified organic. In 2019, Bertrand Lhôpital joined forces with Ludovic du Plessis, then Global Executive Director of Louis XIII cognac. The latter becomes a shareholder and the CEO of the house. By combining their strengths and visions, the cellar master and the new company director realized their dream: to make Champagne Telmont the pioneer in environmental commitment. Together, they set up an environmental plan that they named “In the name of Mother Nature”. To date, 72% of the grapes harvested at the estate are certified organic or in conversion. In comparison, less than 4% of the vineyards in Champagne are certified. Their project is attracting prestigious investors. In 2020, the Rémy Cointreau family group became the majority shareholder of the house. American actor Leonardo DiCaprio joins Bertrand Lhôpital and Ludovic du Plessis as a minority shareholder in 2022. Sharing common values regarding the environment, the four shareholders want to finish converting the entire terroir of Champagne Telmont to organic farming by 2025. They also want to develop innovative practices to preserve the terroir and its biodiversity. The company, which is already supplied entirely with renewable electricity, has just developed a new, lighter bottle that is entirely recyclable and made of 85% recycled materials. This approach has earned the house the title of Champagne of the 2022 Cannes Film Festival for a second year in a row. Protecting the biodiversity of the terroir and being determined to radically reduce one’s environmental footprint is quite glamorous!
Discover the history of Champagne Telmont…
Read the news: ‘Leonardo DiCaprio invests in sustainable Champagne Telmont’
