Champagne Telmont sets sail for the United States, a first for Champagne

A major step in Maison Telmont’s path toward Net Zero by 2050.

Maison Telmont is taking a bold new step in its environmental transition by inaugurating, with the Nantes-based shipping company Neoline, the first transatlantic voyage by sail to transport its bottles of Champagne. This pioneering project fulfils a commitment made as early as 2021 within the framework of its “Au Nom de la Terre” initiative, which aims to decarbonise all exports to the North American market from 2025 onward.

On 16 October 2025, the Neoliner Origin, a 136-metre ro-ro cargo ship primarily powered by wind and with a capacity of 5,300 tonnes, will set sail from Saint-Nazaire bound for Baltimore, carrying 11,088 bottles of Champagne Telmont. Equipped with two rigid Solid Sail masts covering a total surface area of 3,000 m², the vessel will enable up to an 80 % reduction in CO₂ emissions per voyage compared with a conventional cargo ship.

A few days earlier, the ship’s christening ceremony brought together partners and guests for a symbolic and emotional moment: the breaking of a Balthazar of Champagne Telmont against the hull of the vessel. The gesture sealed the union of two French companies driven by the same conviction to reconcile excellence with respect for the planet.
For Ludovic du Plessis, President of Maison Telmont, this partnership perfectly illustrates the House’s philosophy: to make every stage of production, from the vine to the glass, more virtuous. “Telmont remains true to its pioneering spirit. Step by step, we are moving closer to our goal of becoming Net Zero by 2050.” Jean Zanuttini, President of Neoline, hails a major breakthrough in wind-powered maritime transport, now capable of handling industrial volumes with a drastically reduced environmental footprint.

Champagne Telmont is supported by investors who share the same vision and environmental convictions: Rémy Cointreau, Telmont’s majority shareholder, which fully supports the House’s commitment to innovation and sustainability; Ludovic du Plessis, the Telmont’s President; and Leonardo DiCaprio, an investor and committed environmentalist.
This first transatlantic crossing marks both a symbolic and tangible milestone in the history of this distinguished Maison de Champagne. From now on, Telmont’s bottles will journey to the United States carried by the wind, in service of a vision ever more respectful of both the Earth and the seas.