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Maison Joseph Drouhin announces first cargo ship wine transport to the US

26 June 2024 By Colin Hay

Maison Joseph Drouhin will see its wines travel to the US by cargo sailboat for the first time this summer, as it launches a new stage in its commitment to sustainability.

This summer will see 15,000 bottles of Chablis and Côte de Beaune 2022 white wine sail from Le Havre to New York on board the Anemos as part of a partnership with TransOceanic Wind Transport (TOWT).

The Anemos (which is also the name of the TOWT’s certification label) is part of the new generation of cargo sailboats, the first of eight ships in the TOWT’s fleet. The boat, which is 80 meters in length and has a load capacity of 1100 tons, is currently being finished in Concarneau, before being launched in Le Havre this summer.

This initiative reaffirms Drouhin’s ongoing long-term commitment to innovation and sustainability – according to TOWT, carbon-free trans-Atlantic navigation reduces carbon dioxide emissions by 90% and sulphur dioxide emissions by 98% while guaranteeing the quality and integrity of the wines during the two-week crossing.

Frédéric Drouhin, chairman of Drouhin’s management board, said that he was proud that the company’s actions went “beyond the CSR approach”, representing “not only our core values, but also our commitment to a better future for our planet and for future generations”.

“Our goal for 2030 is to be a model in our choices for preserving our wine heritage and ensuring its resilience in the face of internal and external climate and human challenges,” he said.

For TOWT managing director Diana Mesa and president Guillaume Le Grand, the commercial partnership is already a success. They called Maison Joseph Drouhin “an exceptional partner” due to its high-quality products and its commitments to respecting our environment.

“Today, we are proud to work together to decarbonize the maritime sector and promote sustainable maritime transport,” they said in a statement.

Maison Joseph Drouhin has a long history of sustainable viticulture. It was the first Burgundy house to adopt organic and biodynamic winemaking practices across its entire vineyard holdings at the end of the 1980s and introduced innovations such as a lighter bottle as early as 2008. It was also the first company in the wine world to have signed the Business Climate Convention, reaffirming its commitment to reducing its ecological footprint.

The US destination is also particularly symbolic for the Drouhin family, which has owned its own import company in New York and 100 hectares of vineyards in Oregon for over 40 years. A pioneer in this region, the family assert its strong connection with the US, which is its leading export market after France.

“Inspired by family values passed down from generation to generation, Maison Joseph Drouhin has long been committed to embodying the principles of corporate social responsibility (CSR) and actively contributing to sustainable development in all its facets,” the company said.

Founded in 1880, Maison Joseph Drouhin comprises 100 hectares of vines including 14 grands crus, 30 premiers crus, entirely managed according to the principles of organic and biodynamic viticulture since 1988. The house also buys grapes from loyal producers to complete its range where it does not own them. Respect for the originality of the terroir, style of the vintage, finesse, elegance and harmony are its trademarks.

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