In a global context where champagne consumption is experiencing a marked slowdown, some houses nevertheless manage to reverse the trend thanks to innovative and responsible strategies. Telmont, a house founded in 1912 and now under the aegis of the Rémy Cointreau group since 2020, perfectly illustrates this dynamic. While the market remains in decline for the third consecutive year, with a notable drop in sales and turnover, Telmont shows remarkable double-digit growth. This performance is based on a strong commitment to organic farming and sustainable winemaking, which appeals to an increasingly conscientious audience concerned with responsible consumption.
Ludovic du Plessis, at the head of the house since its acquisition, has driven a true green revolution. His vision combines respect for the terroir, viticultural innovation, and social responsibility, with ambitious goals such as achieving 100% organic by 2031 and drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This positioning not only meets current ecological requirements but also stands out in a sector where traditional agricultural practices are showing their limits.
A radical ecological strategy to revitalize a declining champagne market
The champagne market is going through a difficult period, marked by a constant decline in sales since 2023. This decline is explained by several factors: changes in consumption habits, increased competition from foreign sparkling wines, not to mention the global environmental challenges that now influence consumers’ choices. In this context, producers must reinvent themselves to maintain their position.
Telmont has chosen a bold path by betting on organic champagne and the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) certification, an innovative approach that even exceeds the usual organic standards. This certification, obtained at the Bronze level, demonstrates a constant effort to improve soil quality, restore biodiversity, and offer an organic wine that is both authentic and respectful of its origin.
This transition was not without challenges. When talking about organic farming in Champagne, the percentage of certified surfaces remains low, around 8.3% in 2024 according to Agence Bio, and the pace of conversion is slowing down. Telmont’s commitment to becoming 100% organic by 2031 is therefore a real feat, especially in a region where climatic conditions, vine disease management, and terroir quality require rigor and expertise.
For Telmont, integrating these radical ecological values into its commercial policy has enabled it to capture a growing clientele sensitive to more ethical consumption. This environmental shift is accompanied by targeted communication that highlights not only the exceptional quality of the champagne but also its positive environmental impact, thereby strengthening the loyalty of enthusiasts and conquering new markets.
The combination of respect for the terroir and viticultural innovation proves to be an effective lever for responding to the crisis, illustrating a new way of envisioning champagne: no longer just as a luxury product, but as a living testimony of responsible agriculture.
Adopting organic farming: a concrete response to environmental challenges in Champagne
The shift to strict organic farming requires a profound transformation of farming practices from the vine to the cellar. Organic farming excludes the use of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, favoring natural cycles and biodiversity. Telmont has made this transition a key element of its strategy to stand out in a declining market.
Ecological viticulture requires increased expertise. Viticulturists must closely monitor the evolution of the vine, intervene with natural treatments such as copper and sulfur, encourage crop rotation and diversity around the plots—practices aimed at strengthening soil health and the natural resistance of plants. The house has also integrated innovative soil and biodiversity management techniques, maintaining varied cover crops and protecting the local fauna.
Respect for ecological balance directly benefits grape quality. For example, a living and healthy soil promotes harmonious and expressive ripening of traditional Champagne grape varieties. Grape quality influences not only the finesse of the wine but also its aging potential. Telmont proves through its results that organic viticulture does not harm quality; quite the opposite: the champagnes produced have gained in aromatic complexity and purity.
This evolution also requires renewed cellar equipment and adaptation of sustainable winemaking techniques. The house has equipped itself to control its processes in an eco-responsible perspective, limiting, for example, chemical interventions and reducing energy and water consumption.
This transformation encourages responsible consumption, responding to growing demand for natural and sustainable products. In this context, Telmont establishes itself as a pioneering actor in organic champagne, opening the way to a new generation of producers committed to the ecological reconquest of the Champagne vineyard.
The economic impact of the transition to organic champagne at Telmont in a declining market
Organic certification, although synonymous with higher production costs, also constitutes a major attractiveness factor in a competitive environment. Telmont has made it a pillar of its economic development, managing to combine profitability imperatives with its ecological ambitions. The result is double-digit growth despite the overall market decline.
In 2025, Telmont’s turnover reached 10 million euros, a remarkable performance given the context. This sustained growth reflects a successful repositioning in a niche segment, that of consumers seeking authenticity and an environmentally respectful product.
This strategy also offers promising export prospects, particularly in markets sensitive to ecological impact, such as the United States, where the house has already started distributing its bottles through innovative solutions like sailing cargo shipping, reducing pollution related to maritime transport.
Telmont’s growth illustrates how a commitment to sustainable development can become a competitive advantage. By focusing on organic farming, responsible viticultural practices, and marketing centered on eco-responsibility, the house has successfully attracted and retained a clientele evolving towards more conscious and demanding consumption.
Key factors in Telmont’s economic success :
- Strategic alignment with organic and ROC certified farming, unique in Champagne
- Investments in sustainable winemaking methods and logistical innovations
- Marketing focused on transparency, quality, and ecology
- Opening up to international markets sensitive to responsible consumption
- Long-term commitment with measurable objectives in greenhouse gas reduction
Viticultural innovation serving differentiation in the organic champagne sector
Innovation holds a central place in Telmont’s approach to establish its organic champagne. It is not only about respecting a strict set of specifications, but also about going beyond the traditional limits of the Champagne vineyard through regenerative practices and new winemaking methods.
The house has adopted sustainable winemaking techniques that limit human intervention and seek to enhance the fruit in its purity. One major advance is the integration of the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) certification, a guarantee of a virtuous agricultural cycle that goes beyond classic organic farming, encouraging soil life and health, carbon footprint reduction, and biodiversity preservation.
Innovations also appear in natural resource management: optimized water use, reduced energy consumption, and waste management. Processes have been redesigned to limit ecological impact while preserving the aromatic excellence and freshness characteristic of Telmont champagnes.
Behind these choices lies a goal of differentiation in a saturated market where visibility is a key to survival. By betting on eco-responsibility and telling a strong story around the history of its house and its connection to the soil, Telmont redefines the codes of the sector, which is more classic and conservative.
In parallel, actions such as distribution via a sailing cargo for export to the United States illustrate this desire to experiment at all levels, combining tradition and modernity.
The growing role of responsible consumption in the organic champagne dynamic
Consumer behavior is evolving rapidly, taken into account in Telmont’s strategy. The demand for environmentally respectful products and those from organic farming is booming. This phenomenon responds to a global awareness of climate and health issues, notably among younger, urban customer segments who prioritize authenticity and transparency.
In this context, Telmont capitalizes on effective marketing that highlights the ethical and ecological dimension of its champagnes. Campaigns promote vine traceability, regenerative farming principles, and significant carbon footprint reduction, essential arguments for an increasingly demanding audience.
This orientation also impacts market dynamics, as the house benefits from positive word-of-mouth and growing recognition, both among consumers and sector professionals. Organic champagne becomes a vector of differentiation and allows Telmont to appear as a model in a universe traditionally slow to adopt such transformations.
Recent trends in organic Champagne confirm the importance of a sincere and deep commitment. For example, the General Assembly of organic producers in Champagne recently emphasized the collective efforts needed to stimulate segment growth in a globally sluggish market. This collective dynamic supports the visibility and competitiveness of houses adopting this model.
Two major factors explain this rise:
- A growing preference for organic wines, perceived as healthier and more environmentally friendly.
- A significant appreciation of labels and certifications that guarantee sustainable and transparent production, such as organic and ROC.
What is the Regenerative Organic Certified (ROC) certification?
The ROC certification is a label that goes beyond traditional organic farming. It certifies regenerative agricultural practices that promote soil health, biodiversity, and reduce greenhouse gases, thus guaranteeing sustainable and environmentally respectful production.
Why is organic champagne still rare in Champagne?
Champagne remains a complex terroir where organic viticulture represents a significant technical challenge. Climatic constraints, vine diseases, and the necessity to maintain impeccable quality slow down conversion. Thus, only about 8.3% of surfaces were certified organic in 2024.
How does Telmont manage to combine growth and ecology?
Telmont has adopted an integrated strategy combining a gradual transition to 100% organic, innovations in sustainable winemaking, targeted marketing on responsible consumption, and rigorous ecological practices. This approach has enabled achieving double-digit growth despite a generally declining market.
Which markets are most receptive to organic champagne?
International markets, notably the United States, show growing interest in organic champagnes. These consumers are sensitive to quality, environmental respect, and innovative import methods, such as sailing cargo transport adopted by Telmont.