Michel Rolland sells company shares to employees

One of the world’s most influential wine consultants, Michel Rolland, has sold the majority of the shares he owns in his wine consultancy company to his employees.

Michel and Dany Rolland (centre) with Julien Viaud, Mikael Laizet and Jean-Philippe Fort

Founded in 1973 by Michel Rolland and his wife Dany, Laboratoire Rolland is to become Rolland et Associés, and will be run by the Rolland’s team of oenologists. As part of the move, longtime employees, Julien Viaud, Mikael Laizet and Jean-Philippe Fort will take on the role of consultants and lab analysts.

“It is now up to us, through our laboratory and following in the footsteps of Dany and Michel, to remain at the forefront of innovation and to take on the environmental and health challenges to allow wine to retain its great nobility and cultural strength,” the trio said in a joint statement.

“It is with total confidence and unfailing support from us that they will lead the company to success with the synergy of dynamism, experience and skills combined,” Dany Rolland added.

With 48 harvests under their belts, Michel and Dany will remain board members and will continue to work for the firm for the foreseeable future.

Shooting to fame during the height of the Robert Parker era, Michel Rolland is considered one of the world’s top wine consultants and continues to be in high demand, consulting for high-end wineries in over 20 countries.

Based in Bordeaux, Laboratoire Rolland supports estates at all stages of wine production, from the vineyard to vinification to ageing.