Maison Telmont is known for pushing the boundaries of tradition to create sustainable luxury. But what does sustainability mean for a heritage champagne brand, and can they truly coexist? Ludovic du Plessis tells us how Telmont is leading the charge on eco-conscious champagne.
Sometimes, you know, some journalists call us the troublemakers. They call us the l’enfants terribles, the terrible child. Why that? For me, I take it very positively, because we are pushing for the change, for a positive change, in order to protect the planet.
Ludovic du Plessis
On a typically humid morning in Singapore, I met Ludovic du Plessis at Open Farm Community, a restaurant in Dempsey. Ludovic is the president of Maison Telmont, which has emerged as a beacon of sustainability in the world of fine wines, making waves with its environmental initiatives and commitment to preserving the planet.
He greeted me genially, and we wasted no time launching into Telmont’s eco-conscious journey, the launch of its newest organic cuvée, Réserve de la Terre, and how the brand is pioneering change in an industry often rooted in tradition.
A seed planted by Leonardo DiCaprio
For Ludovic, the path to sustainability began more than 15 years ago.
He recalls how his long-time friend and environmental advocate, Leonardo DiCaprio, played a role in sparking his interest in sustainability. “Leonardo is a spokesperson for climate change at the United Nations. Fifteen years ago, he started talking to me about the planet, what we need to do, and what sustainability really means in our lives,” says Ludovic. These conversations planted the seeds of change that would later bloom into Telmont’s sustainability mission.
When he bought Maison Telmont, Ludovic was determined to make sustainability the heart of the business. “Our mission from day one was to craft the best champagne with no compromise when it comes to the environment,” he explains.
From soil to glass: A sustainability guidebook
Maison Telmont’s first step toward sustainability was transforming how they worked with the land. “Biodiversity is the first step, but it’s not the final stop,” Ludovic says. “You need to move to organic farming, which means no herbicides, no pesticides, and no chemical fertilisers.”
Telmont’s estate, along with its partner winegrowers, began moving to 100% organic farming—a monumental task in the champagne industry, where only 5% of total production is organic-certified.
Today, 70% of Telmont’s 100 hectares of vineyards are farmed organically, a number that continues to rise. “This is a huge commitment in Champagne,” says Ludovic, but he is convinced that they are moving in the right direction.
He acknowledges the challenges that come with convincing traditional growers to switch to organic farming. “On our estate, we can control everything, but with our winegrower partners, it’s harder,” he admits. “We convince them by offering technical advice, sharing data, and paying more for organic grapes. The new generation of winegrowers really want to move to organic farming. It’s in them—it’s intuitive.”
Telmont’s commitment doesn’t stop at the soil. The brand has adopted a philosophy of “reduce, reduce, reduce” to minimise its carbon footprint, aiming for net-zero emissions, a target that goes far beyond mere carbon neutrality.
“Our objective is to get to net zero. Net zero means minus 90 percent of CO2 emission. I don’t want to go to carbon neutral. What does it mean? It means, you reduce a little bit and then you make a compensation. No way. We need to move to net zero. We need to be serious. And it means minus 90%. How do you get there? You just need to stop doing stuff that you were doing in the past.”
Maison Telmont’s commitment to sustainability goes beyond organic farming. The brand has made waves with its bold decision to eliminate gift packaging and reduce the weight of its bottles. Ludovic says bluntly, “We don’t make gift boxes; we make champagne. If you have a good champagne, you don’t need a gift box.”
Pioneering a new future with light bottles
This decision wasn’t just symbolic—it had a tangible impact. By removing gift boxes, Telmont reduced its carbon footprint by 8%. But the changes didn’t stop there. Telmont swapped out its bespoke, heavier bottles for a lighter option, reducing the carbon footprint of each bottle significantly. The brand even worked with a glass manufacturer to create an 800-gram bottle, the lightest Champagne bottle ever made.
“This wasn’t easy,” says Ludovic. “You have twice the pressure of a tire in a bottle of champagne, so you can’t make the glass too light or it will explode. But we did it. And we made it open-source. Anyone can use this bottle now.”
Lighter bottles may seem like a small change, but they make a big impact. “The bottle alone accounts for 30% of a champagne house’s carbon footprint,” he explains. “Switching to lighter bottles reduces emissions without compromising the quality of the wine. It’s a win for the environment and for us.”
Telmont has also ceased using transparent bottles for its rosé and Blanc de Blancs wines, opting instead for green bottles made of 87% recycled glass. “Transparent bottles contain 0% recycled material,” Ludovic notes. “By using green bottles, we’re able to significantly reduce waste.”
Réserve de la Terre: Champagne for the future
Telmont’s latest release, Réserve de la Terre, is the culmination of their sustainability efforts. Certified organic and crafted from grapes grown using regenerative farming practices, this champagne embodies the future of the industry. Describing the wine’s profile, Ludovic calls it “ethereal.”
“It’s light-bodied and vibrant, with a long, complex finish. It’s full of life, like the Earth itself.”
DiCaprio himself has praised the new cuvée, calling it “the taste of the future.” According to Ludovic, this praise also speaks to the potential of sustainable winegrowing. “At some point, every champagne house will have to stop using herbicides, pesticides, and chemical fertilisers. The key question is when.”
Luxury meets sustainability
For Telmont, sustainability doesn’t mean sacrificing luxury—if anything, it enhances it.
By aligning their practices with the values of today’s consumers, Telmont is proving that sustainability and luxury are not mutually exclusive. “It’s about setting an example,” says Ludovic. “We’ve published our guide to sustainability in champagne, and we hope to inspire others to follow suit. The future is bright, and we’re taking action today to preserve it.”
“Yes, we are disruptive. You started (the interview) by saying that, and yes, we are disruptive. Sometimes, you know, some journalists call us the troublemakers. They call us the l’enfants terribles, the terrible child. Why that? For me, I take it very positively, because we are pushing for the change, for a positive change, in order to protect the planet.”
Telmont’s champagne bar in Singapore
Maison Telmont recently launched its official champagne bar in Singapore, in partnership with Bayside, located at Marina Bay. Chosen for its panoramic views, the al fresco setting offers visitors a perfect spot to enjoy Telmont’s range of champagnes, including Réserve Brut, Réserve Rosé, Blanc de Blancs, and the exclusive Confidential Cuvée. The bar, which blends Telmont’s rustic green aesthetic with sustainable design, also features a mural by renowned local graffiti artist SONG, highlighting the Maison’s commitment to environmental stewardship.
To celebrate the launch, Telmont and Bayside are hosting Sunset Hour from Monday to Friday, offering the Réserve Brut at a special price of $88++ from 6 PM to 8 PM, perfectly paired with oysters at $4++ each. On Wednesdays, Ladies Night offers free-flow Telmont and other drinks for $68++. Guests can also enjoy a curated menu, with must-try items like lobster rolls, truffle fries, and cheese flatbreads.
