Laurent Vialette opens the Cave des Banques

In the hushed calm of the banking district, a new epicurean hangout has opened its doors. La Cave des BanquesLa Cave des Banques, which opened two months ago, cultivates a rare charm: a fine XIXᵉ decor, with just the right amount of patina, from an old Berlin pharmacy dating from 1889. Everything here exudes warmth, wood, memory… and above all, wine. At the helm is Laurent Vialette. Trained as a sommelier, president of the Grand Jury International du Vin and owner of two estates in the Chablais and Jura regions, he has turned this place into a showcase for wine and cigars. In the collector’s cellar, vintage bottles follow one another, perfectly aligned, some almost unreal: an 1871 Yquem slumbers in the basement, like a reminder that time can be a precious ally. Private tastings, exclusive dinners around great vintages… here, every experience aims to approach wine as one approaches history, with respect, exacting standards and a touch of emotion. A state of mind shaped by Laurent Vialette’s singular career path, from law in Bordeaux to the creation of Royal Glass, before settling in Geneva. On a daily basis, Violaine and Florine run the place like an orchestra, with finesse and precision, accompanying the curious as well as the well-informed connoisseur. A new refuge for lovers of great wines, to be discovered without delay.