Regenerative agriculture must be organic!
Maison Telmont has partnered with the Regenerative Organic Alliance to host the first European forum on this topic. An unprecedented event in Champagne.
October 22, 2024 — On October 11, Maison Telmont hosted the very first Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) forum in Europe. Organized in partnership with the ROA, this event highlighted the benefits of organic and regenerative agriculture, as well as the urgent need to expand these practices.
One of the pioneers of organic farming in Champagne, Maison Telmont is the first French Champagne house to apply for “ROCTM” (Regenerative Organic Certified®) certification.
Launched in the United States in 2020, this certification perfectly aligns with the vision championed by Maison Telmont through its project “In the Name of Mother Nature.” To protect our environment, respect biodiversity and regenerate soils – through such initiatives as tree planting and implementing cover crops – must go hand in hand with the promotion of organic farming, which means a complete halt to herbicides, synthetic pesticides, synthetic fungicides, and chemical fertilizers. The two approaches are inseparable. Today, 200 brands worldwide, sharing this conviction, are bringing ROCTM certified products to the market.
To amplify this movement, Maison Telmont has partnered with the ROA to organize the first European forum dedicated to ROC. On October 11th, 2024, in Damery (France), this event welcomed one hundred participants for a day of conferences and testimonials. Held inside a barn on the Telmont estate, at the foot the vineyards, this event was opened under the patronage of Guillaume Gomez, personal representative of the President of the Republic of France for gastronomy and food, and Laure Verdeau, Director of the Agence Bio.
During the day, Elizabeth Whitlow, ROA Founding Executive Director, presented an overview of regenerative organic farming methods and the resulting benefits to farmers and their communities. Science has proven that healthy soil sequesters carbon and creates more resilience in the face of extreme weather like droughts and floods. She shared the recent surge in growth with over 15 million acres across the globe being cultivated following this method.
Alex Zahel, an Austrian winemaker already certified ROC, shared his experience of what this certification entails and his passion for building a regenerative movement in Europe. Bertrand Lhôpital, Cellar Master and Grapefather of Maison Telmont, and Franck Mazy, a viticultural consultant and expert, shared their testimonies on the demands – and benefits! – of organic and regenerative viticulture in Champagne. Ludovic du Plessis reiterated Maison Telmont’s commitment, and recalled all milestones already achieved “In the Name of Mother Nature” in transforming the estate.
The conclusion of the day was unanimous: to show the world that a truly nature-friendly viticulture is not only possible and desirable, but indispensable, as it represents the future of the industry – for the soils, for biodiversity, for the wines, and for people.
“There can be no sustainable agriculture without a radical shift in our current practices – a revolution that is both organic and regenerative. Winegrowers in Champagne, France, are no strangers to revolution! Together, we can drive the emergence of long-term solutions to the environmental crisis. Thank you to Telmont for leading the change with this first groundbreaking live forum in Europe.”
Elizabeth Whitlow, ROA Executive Director
“Organic + regenerative agriculture = the future of viticulture. The equation is simple! It’s the only way to adopt truly environmentally respectful practices. At Telmont, we believe in this “with all our heart and soil”! And we want to share this conviction with as many people as possible. Together, let’s aim high to build a truly sustainable future for viticulture, in Champagne and beyond.”
Ludovic du Plessis, President of Maison Telmont
About Maison Telmont
Founded in 1912, the Telmont Champagne House is located in Damery, near Epernay, France. Created in the wake of champagne riots by Henri Lhôpital, a brave local winegrower, the House remains familial and visionary: Bertrand Lhôpital, Cellar Master and Head of Viticulture of the Telmont House, today represents the fourth generation. The House claims a line of conduct: the wine will be good if the Earth is beautiful. Thus, after earning its first AB (organic agriculture) certification in 2017 for part of its parcels and following the acquisition of a majority stake by the Rémy Cointreau group, Telmont launched a program in 2021: “In the name of Mother Nature”. The aim is to produce a very high-quality champagne while reducing as much as possible its environmental footprint. The actions undertaken concern the conversion under progress to organic viticulture of 100% of its estate and the parcels of its winegrower partners, the preservation of biodiversity and the drastic reduction of its carbon footprint. Initiatives have already been taken and will be expanded: elimination of gift boxes and other unnecessary packaging, reduction of the bottle weight, abandonment of transparent bottles containing non-recycled glass and bottles in special formats, complete stop of air freight for the transport of bottles and use of renewable energy. The company aims to be Climate Positive by 2030 and Net Positive by 2050. The House’s wines are defined by an airy, structured style, between tension and freshness, and by subtle, balanced acidity, which ensures impressive length on the palate. A Telmont champagne is neither too opulent nor too vinous, but structured, ethereal and refined. It has a unique presence characterized by its paradox: a structured body and remarkable lightness.
About the Regenerative Organic Alliance
Founded by Rodale Institute, Dr. Bronner’s, and Patagonia in 2017, the Regenerative Organic Alliance (ROA) is a nonprofit organization that oversees the certification standard advancing the new label for Regenerative Organic Certified® (ROCTM) farms and brands. Other founding members of the ROA include Compassion in World Farming, Demeter, Fair World Project, and the Textile Exchange. ROCTM goes beyond its baseline organic certification requirements to demonstrate the most aspirational standards in the world for soil health, animal welfare, and farmworker fairness.
The ROA was founded by visionary leaders who continue to question the assumptions of business as usual. ROCTM was created to set a high-bar standard demonstrating and clarifying what regenerative can and should be: a holistic type of agriculture that regenerates resources and considers all players in the farm system, from the soil microbiome to the animals to the workers.
