Marc Newson’s collaborations with Dom Pérignon came about in the best possible way. “Basically I open a bottle a day at home and absolutely love it,” the Sydney born designer tells Esquire over breakfast (coffee, sausages and a glass of DP) at a Soho Square club. A chance meeting with DP head wine maker Richard Geoffroy at a party in Kyoto 10 years ago led Newson to design a rather large bright green magnum chiller for the Champagne house.  Now as 2010 begins and austerity is still the begrudging order of the day he’s set his sights on a more mainstream collaboration — a portable carry case he calls “The Black Box” to transport your bottle to friends’ houses or the park picnic.

It’s made of a double layer of polycarbonate – the air canopy inbetween maintains thermal insulation and will keep the bottle cool for around six hours.

As you’d expect of such a collaboration the design brings out the best in both parties, the uniquely sleek curves of the bottle are offset by the softened rectangular corners of a carry case that exposes the shape of and plays up the silhouette of the bottle.

“When you look at the DNA of Dom Pérignon and you pull it to pieces to see what makes it iconic the bottle itself is so important,” says the designer.

The label references the bright green Newson first employed on the magnum chiller. As he explains, “My job is not to fundamentally change the brand but to interject some interest where I can."

The case is available at Harvey Nichols from the end of the month priced £150 with a bottle of the 2000 vintage, which, along with the ’61 and ’72 is Newson’s favourite. www.harveynichols.com