“Wine isn’t meant to be smelled, it’s meant to be drunk!” This phrase was coined by the unforgettable Henri Jayer, who was frustrated by the limitations of judging wine by smell alone. Using a taster and an ordinary glass, he realised that neither could faithfully capture the essence and complexity of his wines, nor do justice to the diversity of the terroirs.

Laurent Vialette is fully conscious of this frustration, and can only feel this resentment. It was from this observation, shared with Henri Jayer, that the idea of creating a glass capable of revealing a wine in its finest expression, its complexity and its origin, took shape in the mind of Laurent Vialette. It was the start of a period of research that would last 15 years.

The strength of Royal Glass glasses is not the result of a single individual, but rather the combination of several minds, each a master of a specific facet of wine glass design. While Laurent Vialette contributed his skills as a professional taster to create a precise glass, Jean-Pierre Lagneau brought his experience as a renowned designer to create a beautiful object that also met the requirements of a specific tasting glass.

Their meeting in 1996 marked the start of a prolific collaboration, with the two of them designing glasses for other companies that are considered the best in their field, such as Authentis and Expert. Wanting to design a tasting glass in total freedom, the duo decided to launch the Royal Glass project, to create a unique model capable of satisfying the demands of the world’s greatest tasters.

After the first developments initiated by Jean-Pierre Lagneau and Laurent Vialette, work began on a wine glass specifically for tasting. This period was marked by intensive collaboration with oenologists, sommeliers and winemakers to better understand the variables that influence wine perception.

The first prototypes designed during this period were the result of numerous iterations, with each model being tested and refined in response to feedback from wine industry experts. This rigorous process ultimately resulted in glasses that not only met but exceeded the expectations of the most demanding professionals, laying the foundations for Royal Glass’ future success.

More than 200 prototypes were required.

The Royal Glass development project was given a significant boost: the final model was ready to be tested under real conditions. The model was presented to a group of winegrowers made up of Richard Geoffroy (former cellar master at Dom Pérignon), Marie-Thérèse Chappaz (Swiss biodynamic winegrower), Anselme Selosse (Jacques Selosse’s winegrower), the “Foucault brothers” (Clos Rougeard winegrowers) and Stéphane Derenoncourt (consultant oenologist), who were invited to use it during their regular tastings.

The reaction of the winemakers was immediately positive. They observed a significant difference in the way the wines were presented by the new glass, highlighting a clear improvement in the representation of the complexity and finesse of their wine, often masked by caricatured tasting glasses. Encouraged by this enthusiastic feedback, Laurent Vialette and Jean-Pierre Lagneau decided to continue developing and perfecting the wine glass.

After almost two decades of intensive development and testing, Royal Glass finally reached a crucial milestone: the finalisation of the design. This completed model, approved by all stakeholders, marks the official start of the Royal Glass adventure with the launch of two glasses: the Polymaster (34cl) and the Ultima (40cl).

2007 was a decisive year for Royal Glass, with its unique model recording many successes as soon as it was launched:

• Exclusive partner of the Association des Rencontres d’Henri Jayer
• Official partner of the European Wine Grand Jury
• Adopted by the Domaine de la Romanée Conti
• Exclusive glass for Air France in Business Class and lounges around the world

In 2018, La Revue du Vin de France published a ranking of the best tasting glasses according to their experts. The Royal Glass received a score of 19/20, making it the top-ranked glass.

This rating immediately strengthened the credibility of Royal Glass, which was then adopted by new sommeliers, oenologists and Michelin-starred restaurants.

As the latest sign of Laurent Vialette and Jean-Pierre Lagneau’s talent, their previous creation, L’Authentis, came in second place. The duo now dominate the rankings.

Following the note by La Revue du Vin de France, demand from our customers has increased sharply. In discussions with a number of restaurants, we realised how important it was to have a glass that not only met the needs of the palate, but also embellished the tables of gourmet restaurants.

To meet this aesthetic need, we developed the Gran Ultima, a 54 cl glass that takes the same shape as our unique model, but adds a touch of elegance and prestige. This glass is now the most imposing and sophisticated in our range.

Year after year, we are proud to be the official partner of the Salon de la Dive Bouteille in Saumur, a not-to-be-missed event that showcases biodynamic and natural winegrowers.

This partnership stems from our closeness to the principles of biodynamic viticulture, which advocates highlighting the terroir and respecting the unique identity of each wine.

Through our collaboration with the Salon de la Dive Bouteille, we are continually strengthening our relationship with the wine community, remaining attentive to their needs and feedback

Although Georgia is the country with the earliest traces of viticulture, its wines are now much less recognised worldwide. To remedy this situation, the Georgian government launched a massive communication campaign promoting the country’s wines and organised an international event: the country’s 1st Wine Symposium. Royal Glass was chosen as the official glass for the event.

The Bureau Interprofessionnel des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB) has launched a project to highlight the excellence and authenticity of Burgundy wines, by organising tastings in different regions of France.

Royal Glass has been chosen as the official glass for these events.

This partnership with Burgundy is particularly symbolic for us, as it reminds us of Henri Jayer’s immense influence on our history.