Jean-Philippe Fort’s family was from Périgord. He first discovered the profession through his paternal grandfather, a farmer, winemaker and cooper. He studied animal and plant biology at the university, completing his Master’s degree before attending the Bordeaux Faculty of Oenology. After earning his degree in oenology in 1987, he set out for the Gers to produce white, rosé and red wine at a 90-hectare estate in the Côtes de Gascogne appellation. In 1988, he arrived in the left bank of Bordeaux to work in the cellar of a second-growth Pauillac estate before broadening his skills by becoming a sales manager for an estate in Entre-Deux-Mers.
In June 1990, he joined Dany and Michel Rolland, whose business kept growing. This provided the perfect opportunity for Jean-Philippe Fort to combine what has always motivated him: consulting and sharing with others.
Jean-Philippe Fort now primarily offers consulting services for wine estates on the Bordeaux right bank, which he has travelled through vintage after vintage. He also advises a few estates in the Rhone Valley and occasionally supports projects abroad.

Jean-Philippe Fort

In the Laizet family, viticulture was in the genes. As the son, grandson, and great grandson of winegrowers, Mikaël Laizet learned the trade at home, in the village of Cadaujac. He studied science and earned a Bachelor’s degree in biology, followed by a National Oenology Diploma from the University of Bordeaux in 1998. He then engaged in a wide range of professional experiences: an internship at the end of his studies at Château Cantenac-Brown in the Margaux appellation, and fermentation activities for Gülor estate in Turkey and in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
Mikaël Laizet joined Laboratoire Rolland in 2000 to support the business that was growing once again. For five years, his professional life was divided between Bordeaux and Argentina, where he spent three months of the year at Bodega Salentein to monitor fermentation processes. Back in France, he advised numerous estates in the Bordeaux region, particularly in Pomerol, but also in Saint-Emilion, Pessac-Léognan, and in Bordeaux Supérieur appellations.
Mikaël Laizet now divides his time between the vineyards and cellars in Bordeaux, the Loire and abroad (Argentina, Mexico, Portugal, Spain in Ribera del Duero, Rioja, and Priorat), while still making time to train for his next trail run and play his trumpet.

Mickaël Laizet 

Julien Viaud, an agricultural engineer and oenologist, graduated from Ecole d’Agronomie de Montpellier (Supagro) in 2001. After earning his degree, he took over full management of a 45-hectare family wine estate in the South of France. There he learned the ropes and gained versatile skills working as a vine-pruner, tractor driver, cellar hand, accountant and sales representative. He spent five years there, realising that this experience would be decisive in providing him with a cross-functional view of his profession.
In 2006, he joined Michel Rolland to help during a consulting assignment and rediscovered both banks of Bordeaux (he was born in Libourne). But he has always had a strong desire to travel and is half-Italian from his mother’s side. He also wanted to see other countries, draw inspiration from other cultures, and invent new approaches. India was his next destination, where he pursued a project off the beaten track. He then travelled to Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Russia, China and Lebanon.
These experiences abroad helped Julien Viaud develop a very open-minded view of his role as a consultant and his profession as an oenologist. He uses all he observes year after year – from Languedoc to Provence, the Rhone to Roussillon, in Spain and Italy – to inform and enhance his professional approach. And since his work involves supporting decision-making and helping to develop winegrowing initiatives, the wealth and diversity of the situations he has encountered are of great assistance.
Can he mention one tasting memory that stands out? No, he cannot narrow them down. His ideal wine library would feature a diverse palette: Merlot from the right bank, Cabernet Sauvignon from Médoc, Pinot from the Côte de Nuits, Syrah and Grenache from the Rhone Valley, Nebbiolo from Piedmont, Malbec from Argentina, and Carménère from Chile. In short, a true Tower of Babel.

Julien Viaud 

The laboratories three long-time employees – Jean-Philippe Fort, Mikaël Laizet and Julien Viaud – joined forces with Michel and Dany Rolland in 2020. Launched in the early 1970s, the laboratory is still very active and bears the unique stamp of the Rolland family.

Meet our partners

At 35, oenologist Sophie Maltaverne became the head of Laboratoire Rolland &amp; Associés. She was originally from Paris, and no one could have foreseen that she would pursue a career in the viticultural and winemaking industry. After earning her Bachelor’s degree in Quality, Health, Safety and Environment (QHSE), she obtained her National Oenology Diploma, which took her to the Champagne region and later New Zealand before she joined the Laboratoire Rolland consulting team in 2013. She now juggles her consultant activities (supporting several estates on the right bank) with her work at the analysis laboratory.
She works alongside a team of twelve dedicated Laboratoire Rolland employees to guarantee its proper functioning and reliability. Their team spirit reflects a common commitment to precision, attentiveness and service.

Stéphanie Rolland joined Dany and Michel Rolland at the laboratory and at the family estate in 2001 as the administrative and financial director. She inherited her thorough approach and love of challenges from her parents. She now jointly manages the laboratory with Julien Viaud. 

Our team

Over the past half-century, Laboratoire Rolland has supported the wine industry through major changes. From Michel and Dany Rolland to Rolland & Associés: 4 dates and 50 years of history. The tale of a changing profession.

As young graduates with degrees in Oenology from the University of Bordeaux, Dany and Michel Rolland joined forces with the Chevrier family, owners of an analysis laboratory in Libourne. Oenologists are experts in the lab first and foremost. At a time when modern oenology was still in its infancy, Michel Rolland, the grandson of a seven-generation family of winegrowers, travelled throughout the region visiting numerous estates. He was convinced that wine was primarily made in the vineyards. Meanwhile, Dany Rolland managed the laboratory and the family estates.

The early days as consultants

When an estate in California requested assistance in optimising the potential of local wines, Michel Rolland flew to the United States. His natural curiosity and desire to broaden his horizons led him to his vocation: he would be a consultant working abroad and in his native region – on both banks of Bordeaux. Countless opportunities led him on a path through four continents, to over 150 estates located in more than 20 countries. This incredibly rich journey was filled with memorable encounters that occurred in different latitudes and climates.

An international destiny 

Michel Rolland continued to travel to vineyards in France and around the world. The number of tastings continued to increase, resulting in thousands of analyses. His professional investment was wholehearted. The team of oenologists grew, with a focus on two of the laboratory’s complementary activities: analysis and consulting. Their combined knowledge of soil, the climate and complex human interactions expanded. A wealth of experience and intuition added to their scientific knowledge as they continued on this path.

The laboratory then expanded and moved to Pomerol, where the family’s wine estate is located. 

Nearly 50 years of history in winemaking! This phase of our existence was part of the world history of wine. Michel and Dany Rolland sought to pass on all that they had acquired from a life of work, through a partnership with their three long-time employees, Jean-Philippe Fort, Mikaël Laizet and Julien Viaud. They thus began composing a three-part harmony for the analysis and consulting laboratory.
Launched in the early 1970s, the laboratory is still very active and bears the unique stamp of the Rolland family.

A journey in wine: the Laboratoire Rolland story