FRANCE – French spirits group Rémy Cointreau has announced the acquisition of majority stake in champagne producer, Champagne J de Telmont for an undisclosed sum.

Rémy Cointreau said it acquired the Champagne house’s brands, inventory, production facilities and property assets, including its vineyards in France’s Champagne region.

Founded in 1912, the champagne house is located in Damery, in the Marne department of France.

“We’re delighted to welcome J. de Telmont champagne into the Rémy Cointreau group family of wines and spirits,” said Eric Vallat, who was appointed Rémy Cointreau’s new CEO at the end of last year.

“This acquisition adds to the group’s portfolio a craft champagne brand that offers tremendous growth potential and shares the same values of terroir, people and time as its other houses.”

A fourth-generation member of J. de Telmont’s founding family, Bertrand Lhopital, will continue to work for the company under the new ownership to maintain family tradition.

“The arrival of Rémy Cointreau, whose commitment to terroirs and the associated expertise is well established, adds a new dimension to the quest for excellence that has been our family’s guiding light for several generations,” said Bertrand Lhopital.

The house will be chaired and managed by Ludovic du Plessis, who previously served as executive director of Rémy Cointreau’s cognac house, Louis XIII.

“Our ambition is to develop the J. de Telmont brand, particularly outside France, while protecting its master craftsmanship in champagne and stepping up the focus on organic/biodynamic agriculture at a time when only 3% of champagne vineyards are certified for organic production,” Ludovic du Plessis said.

Last May, Rémy Cointreau initiated exclusive negotiations with the Brillet family to acquire Maison de Cognac JR Brillet. 

Cocktail Studio by Rémy Cointreau USA

Rémy Cointreau USA, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Rémy Cointreau Group, and Drizly, the world’s largest alcohol marketplace, are teaming up to unveil the new virtual Cocktail Studio, a complimentary one-stop destination for cocktail enthusiasts to discover, learn and experiment with at-home mixology.

Drizly and three premier spirits from the Rémy Cointreau portfolio – Cointreau, The Botanist Islay Dry Gin and Mount Gay Rum – are enlisting industry experts to further educate and inform all cocktail makers, from beginners to connoisseurs, on the basics of at-home cocktail making.

Each Virtual Cocktail Studio session will take participants behind the bar with an expert in the space, from master blenders to head distillers and provide an in-depth look at one of these leading classic cocktails.

During each session participants will learn all about the core essential ingredients found in each of these classic cocktails – from Cointreau and The Botanist Islay Dry Gin to Mount Gay Rum – while following a step-by-step tutorial on how to mix up the classics, along with a few twists on the recipes. Each session is slated to be 45 minutes to one hour.

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