A great news story being reported around the world is a French initiative to save carbon emissions by shipping wine by sailing boat. Strange but true and there is more to the story...
The Belem, a three masted barque, has an interesting history. It was the last French merchant sailing vessel to be built and was launched in 1896. Named after a Brazilian port, it was first used to transport chocolate from South America. It is to be the the first of seven planned to be working by 2013. Seven private investors have contributed 70 per cent of the business's start-up costs of £40m. Bank loans have provided the rest.
The first route will be a four day voyage from Bordeaux to to Dublin. The wines will be delivered to Bordeaux by barge using the Canal du Midi and Canal du Garonne, which run across southern France from Sète in the east, via Béziers in Languedoc.
Another nice touch is the fact that each bottle will be labelled: 'Carried by sailing ship, a better deal for the planet.' It is estimated it will save 4.9oz of carbon per bottle.
But there is still more - Ships will return to France with an equivalent tonnage of crushed glass for recycling into wine bottles at factories in Bordeaux and Béziers. Despite the time involved in transporting it, the wine should also remain relatively cheap, at between €7 and €20 a bottle.
Frederic Albert, founder of the shipping company Compagnie de Transport Maritime à la Voile says 'My idea was to do something for the planet and something for the wines of Languedoc. One of my grandfathers was a wine-maker and one was a sailor. We chose the best wine in the area, but it must also be made in a sustainable way, using as many natural products as possible'
Tags: Bordeaux, France, Wine, Travel Tourism
