Death Announcement: Laurent Chaniac Passes Away
Remembering Laurent Chaniac: A Pioneer in London's Wine and Hospitality Industry
Laurent Chaniac, a renowned figure in the hospitality and wine world, passed away on July 7, 2025. For over 25 years, Chaniac made a lasting impact on London's culinary scene, particularly in the realm of wine and food pairings.
Born with a passion for wines from various regions worldwide, Chaniac's extensive knowledge spanned from the well-known to the lesser-known, such as Georgia, Croatia, and Luxembourg. His expertise extended beyond the traditional, as he was also a sake sommelier.
As a highly respected general manager and sommelier, Chaniac worked with prestigious establishments including L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon, The Square, Harrods, The Stafford Hotel, The Cinnamon Club, and The Cinnamon Kitchen. His major contribution was pioneering innovative wine and food pairings, notably by exploring how spices and regional flavors could harmonize with wines, creating new culinary experiences. This "taste revolution" was particularly evident in his work with high-end Indian cuisine.
In addition to his technical skills, Chaniac was known for his warm personality, professional integrity, and generosity. His calm and determined demeanor earned him respect within the hospitality and wine communities.
Chaniac's contributions were recognised in various ways. He was a longstanding wine judge at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) since 2006, and his work on the wine lists for The Cinnamon Club was noted, with Wine List Confidential magazine ranking it at number 6 among 350 top London restaurants in 2017.
Beyond his professional achievements, Chaniac appreciated wines with a natural character and developed a deep understanding of organic and biodynamic principles and methods.
Chaniac is survived by his loving wife and young daughter. He was remembered and laid to rest in the Chiesa di San Francesco d'Assisi all'Immacolata in Noto, Sicily, on July 10. The hospitality and wine industry has expressed its deepest condolences to Chaniac's family and friends.
Chaniac's legacy will continue to inspire and influence the world of wine and hospitality, leaving a mark that will be long remembered.
In the global-cuisines realm, Laurent Chaniac's influence extended beyond traditional French fare, as he successfully paired wines with high-end Indian cuisines, leading a "taste revolution" in London's food-and-drink scene.
Chaniac's passion for wines from diverse regions wasn't limited to the well-known; he also embraced lesser-known varieties like those from Georgia, Croatia, and Luxembourg, further enhancing his expertise as a sake sommelier.
Beyond his success in the hospitality and wine industry, Chaniac showed a keen interest in data-and-cloud-computing, appreciating wines with a natural character and developing a deep understanding of organic and biodynamic principles and methods.
