1993: the birth of a legend
It all begins in a small workshop in Thiers, the French capital of cutlery. Guy Vialis, passionate sommelier and bold entrepreneur, had a simple but revolutionary idea: create a sommelier corkscrew that carries the elegance and craftsmanship of the traditional LAGUIOLE knife.
At the time, sommeliers used generic corkscrews, often fragile, without soul. Guy Vialis wanted to offer them a tool worthy of their art: an object as noble as the wines it would help serve.
The first Château LAGUIOLE prototype was born in 1993. A sommelier corkscrew featuring:
- A natural buffalo horn handle
- A Sandvik steel helical worm
- A professional double lever
- A micro-serrated foil cutter blade
- The famous spring that "clicks" when closing
The rise: from French sommeliers to the world
Success was immediate in the French sommelier world. The best sommeliers adopted Château LAGUIOLE for its precision, elegance, and reliability. Word-of-mouth quickly crossed borders:
- 1993-2000: Conquest of France, Michelin-starred restaurants adopt Château LAGUIOLE
- 2000-2010: International expansion, Japan (with Kiyoshi Yasukiyo, partner for 20+ years), Europe, Americas
- 2008: Creation of LIGNE W by Sebastien Lezier, a more contemporary approach to the corkscrew
- 2016: Passing of Guy Vialis, his vision lives on through the brand
- 2017: Sebastien Lezier acquires Château LAGUIOLE® and perpetuates the legacy
- 2021: Birth of Maison Château LAGUIOLE®: three brands united under one roof
World champions trust Château LAGUIOLE
The true mark of quality for a sommelier knife is the trust of the world's best sommeliers. Château LAGUIOLE has had the honor of accompanying:
- Raimonds Tomsons: Best Sommelier of the World 2023 (ASI). Co-creator of the STARDUST collection, an exceptional edition with Muonionalusta meteorite handles.
- Dozens of national and international champions who choose Château LAGUIOLE for the most prestigious competitions.
The STARDUST collection: the ultimate fusion
In 2024, Maison Château LAGUIOLE reached a new milestone with the STARDUST Collection: sommelier knives with handles made of Muonionalusta meteorite, aged 4.5 billion years.
This collection, co-created with Raimonds Tomsons, represents the ultimate fusion of:
- The art of cutlery: Thiers craftsmanship
- Science: certified fragments of space meteorite
- Gastronomy: excellence in wine service
Today: 3 brands, one vision
Maison Château LAGUIOLE today unites three complementary worlds:
| Brand | Positioning | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Château LAGUIOLE® | Heritage & excellence | The historic sommelier corkscrew |
| LIGNE W | Innovation & design | Contemporary corkscrews, table knives |
| Guy Vialis | Artisanal tradition | Folding knives, heritage pieces |
All pieces are made in Thiers, in the French Massif Central, by artisan cutlers whose know-how has been passed down for generations.
The future
In 2026, Maison Château LAGUIOLE continues to innovate: a 3D configurator to customize your knife online, expansion in Asia with partners in China, Taiwan, and Japan, and the launch of new exceptional materials.
Guy Vialis's spirit lives on: offering sommeliers and wine lovers an object that transcends utility to become an exceptional companion.