Benoît Laly named Best Wine Merchant in France 2026

Benoît Laly, an independent wine merchant from Cave Laly in Autun, has been crowned the Best Wine Merchant in France 2026. The title was awarded following a two-day competition held at Château Val Joanis in the Luberon region.

The biennial competition, organized by the Syndicat des Cavistes Professionnels (SCP) and Cavistes & Co, involved forty professionals who passed an initial digital pre-selection. The final stage featured eight finalists who were evaluated on their viticultural knowledge, blind tasting abilities, and customer service skills. Tests included a rapid-fire quiz on appellations and grape varieties, oral presentations, and sales simulations involving mystery clients.

Jean-Philippe Leroy of Vinothentik took second place, while Olivier Marotte of De la Vigne à l'Olivier earned third. Maxime Pavageau was recognized as the best young wine merchant under the age of 30.