Maison Perrier-Jouët, one of France’s most historic and distinctive champagne houses, has again partnered with James Cropper, to launch its newest, beautiful and sustainable case for limited-edition vintage cuvées, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cocoon Brut and Rosé.
Following the award-winning Cocoon design created by James Cropper in 2023 for the house’s vintage cuvées, Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque and Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé, the new Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cocoon Brut and Rosé cases, crafted in partnership with Formafantasma, are also formed from paper pulp and the flour from vine shoots.
The vine shoots are recovered after pruning at the end of winter, ensuring that this naturally derived agrifibre is given a second life and that the packaging is both recyclable with other paper products and circular in design. The upcycled vine shoots also provide a beautiful organically coloured aesthetic to the finished design.
The wrap perfectly envelops the bottle, enhancing the shape and protecting the wine from the light. Offering a unique profile with an elegant sweep producing an organic and natural feel, only the shining rose gold cap crowning the champagne is revealed, highlighted by a small petal-like collar.
In addition to its featherweight of 49 grams, which is 93% lighter than the house’s traditional gift boxes, the Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cocoon Brut and Rosé wrap doesn’t use any varnish or glue. It is designed with only two natural materials, paper pulp prepared from FSC® approved sustainably managed forests and vine shoots from France. The vine shoots evoke the Champagne region and nod to the house’s passion for nature and art which has been passed down through the generations since the house formed in 1811. James Cropper’s moulded fibre production also uses 100% renewable energy, with the majority of power being generated on site by the company’s own solar and hydro plants.
The wrap has a long sleek hinge that fastens with a double locking clasp mechanism. The wrap’s clasp, which showcases the Perrier-Jouët initials embossed, closes with a crisp audible click and lies flat and the presentation is finished with a paper label.
The deboss design, by Formafantasma studio, reinterprets the complex cohabitation and interdependent relationships between species, with pencil drawn butterflies and birds in pastel pink and blue. The flora and fauna of the Perrier-Jouët vineyards are represented, including melliferous varieties interwoven with the Japanese anemone, the emblem of the house. The wrap also displays the pale pink petals of the ranunculus, with its layered structure reflecting the blend of richness and delicacy found in this wine.
The James Cropper Design team expertly adapted the original linework to align with the cocoon wrap's unique geometry and curvature, seamlessly integrating it into the tooling and demoulding process to achieve a 3D design. In an industry-first, intricate illustrations were printed onto the sculpted wrap. With each project, James Cropper strives to unlock the possibilities of moulded fibre packaging, thereby achieving unprecedented milestones within sustainable luxury.
Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Cocoon Brut and Rosé feature a new elegant double-depth embossed décor with more than double the pattern of the previous design. Such a detailed emboss, combined with the softness of the natural pulp, provides a tactile experience.
Overall, the effect is one of joyful abundance, expressing a singular vision of nature. A composition that invites us to consider the place we occupy within the ecosystem, and not apart from it.
Heather Allen, Product Designer at James Cropper, said, “It has been a joy to once again work with Maison Perrier-Jouët to bring to life the brand values of celebration alongside biodiversity. We have a shared respect for the natural world and in collaboration, are committed to reducing our impact on the environment as much as possible.
“In an evolution from the original Cocoon concept, this time, and for the first time, the charming design has been printed directly onto the wrap. We’ll continue to push the boundaries of what’s possible to show that luxury and beauty place no limits on sustainability.”
With its rich botanical heritage, Maison Perrier-Jouët has evolved in symbiosis with nature since 1811. In 2021, inspired by the cycle of nature, it began experimenting with a new regenerative model of viticulture in a section of its vineyard covering approximately 27 hectares. In line with the evolution of the brand’s practices over the last decade, regenerative viticulture allows Maison Perrier-Jouët to act on the life of the soil, regenerating the soils and increasing their fertility. This holistic approach considers the ecosystem of the vineyard as a whole, to improve its functionality and resilience.
The aim is to pass on to future generations a terroir capable of adapting to climate change by limiting the influence of human activities on the ecosystem to which we all belong
For more information, visit: www.jamescropper.com/businesses/james-cropper-paper.