Champagne bottles need to be remarkably strong in order to contain the 6 atmospheres of pressure that is built up from the bubbles. This is around 2 times more pressure than a car tire! However, the weight of the glass bottle and transport of bottles is one of the largest components of the wine industry’s carbon footprint. Now Champagne Telmont has found a safe way to decrease the weight of their bottle from the current weight of 835 grams to an even lighter bottle, weighing 800 grams.
Though the carbon footprint of each wine brand is different, depending upon how the vineyards are farmed, the size of production, and any energy saving initiatives they have already implemented, Champagne Telmont reports that reducing the bottle weight will help to reduce their carbon footprint. In accomplishing this they are partnering with French glassmaker, Verallia.
President of Telmont House, Ludovic du Plessis, appears pleased with the initial results. “Telmont is a traditional house that embraces innovation,” he reported, “especially when it enables us to reduce our carbon footprint. We want to thank our partner in this experiment, Verallia, who also shares these values. I sincerely hope that what we are testing today, with this lighter 800-gram bottle, will be a step forward for the Champagne region.”
Champagne Telmont Testing the Bottling Process
The appearance and shape of the bottle will change very little; the only real difference will be its weight. This modification requires an upstream test phase to guarantee bottle resistance during the champagne bottling process and transport. This test phase began several days ago at the Telmont Estate on a batch of 3000 bottles during the tirage, or stage when the wine is bottled and a second fermentation takes place, specific to the champagne-making process. Over a six-month period, a representative sample will be continuously monitored and analyzed, and the results communicated on a regular basis. These lighter bottles will be approved for sale once they have successfully passed each step of the test, including aging time in the cellar. A video of the change process can be seen HERE.
History and Vision of Champagne Telmont
Founded in 1912, the Telmont Champagne House is located in Damery, near Épernay, France. Today, represents the fourth generation, with Bertrand Lhôpital as Cellar Master and Head of Viticulture. Part of their vision is to embrace a highly demanding environmental approach. In 2017, it earned its first AB Certification (organic agriculture) for part of its vineyard – the result of a labour of love and patience, proving once more the House’s vow to preserving the environment. The Rémy Cointreau group identified with the values of the House and purchased a majority share in October 2020. The House embodies a unique style: the champagnes are ethereal yet structured, balanced between tension and freshness – a perfect harmony .
About French Glassmaker Verallia
Verallia is focused on re-imagining glass for a sustainable future. They want to redefine how glass is produced, reused and recycled, to make it the world’s most sustainable packaging material. They are working with other wineries, suppliers and partners across the value chain to develop beneficial and sustainable new solutions for all. With around 10,000 employees and 32 glass production facilities in 11 countries, they are the world’s third-largest producer of glass packaging for beverages and food products. In 2021, Verallia produced more than 16 billion glass bottles and jars and posted revenue of €2.7 billion.