Chef & Sommelier

Welcome to our Chef & Sommelier boutique, a French glassware brand launched in 2008 by Arc International, the historic glassmaker based in Arques (Pas-de-Calais) since 1825. Designed as the group's expert brand, Chef & Sommelier is aimed at hospitality professionals, sommeliers and demanding amateurs: wine, champagne, water, beer and cocktail glasses, all designed around tasting. Collections are developed in France and produced in the Arques factories using Krysta, the in-house patented material that combines crystal-like brilliance, transparency and resistance.

Chef & Sommelier's expertise

Chef & Sommelier draws on two centuries of glassmaking know-how from Arc International to design glasses built for intensive service, capable of withstanding repeated professional dishwasher cycles without losing their clarity. Each collection is calibrated for a specific family of drinks.

• Krysta wine glasses: Arc's patented material, with crystal-like brilliance and no lead
• Thermo-toughened ultra-fine rims for demanding hospitality use
• Designs validated by sommeliers and calibrated by grape variety or wine family
• Cocktail, beer and water glasses sharing the same formal language
• French production in Arques (Pas-de-Calais)

Most popular collections on AZ Boutique

Among the many Chef & Sommelier collections available on AZ Boutique, several stand out among restaurateurs and private customers alike.

• Open Up: wine glasses co-designed with the French Sommelier Union to open up aromas at service, AZ Boutique's best-selling collection
• Lima: contemporary range with a slender bowl for wine and water service in hospitality
• Cabernet: historic reference with a classic tulip bowl, a professional catering reliable choice
• Primary: universal collection for wine and water service under intensive use
• Cabernet Tulipe: tulip variant of the Cabernet for structured red wines
• Vigne: tasting glass with crafted proportions for wine
• Cabernet Ballon: generous balloon bowl for powerful reds and grand crus
• Macaron: collection with a retro curve and contemporary bistro feel

Choosing your Chef & Sommelier glassware

What makes Chef & Sommelier Krysta glass stand out?

Krysta is a material patented by Arc International that delivers the brilliance and transparency of crystal without any lead content. Its mechanical and chemical resistance is significantly higher than standard soda-lime glass, allowing it to handle hundreds of professional dishwasher cycles without dulling or clouding. This signature material is what positions Chef & Sommelier in the premium hospitality glassware segment.

Why is the Open Up collection designed with sommeliers?

Open Up was developed with the French Sommelier Union. The inner profile of the bowl is deliberately shaped to aerate the wine as it is poured and accelerate aromatic expression, with no need to decant. The range comes in several formats by wine profile (Tannic, Round, Effervescent, Universal Tasting) to match the glass to the aromatic style.

Open Up or Lima: which collection to base a wine list on?

Open Up is calibrated by aromatic profile (Tannic, Round, Effervescent, Universal Tasting): it is the most precise choice when the wine list distinguishes wine styles and when service emphasises tasting. Lima, more universal with its slender bowl, serves wine and water equally well and suits a generalist list, with fewer references to stock at the bar. For a wide-ranging menu with fast rotation, Lima simplifies service; for a curated cellar, Open Up justifies the multi-format investment.

Which Chef & Sommelier glass should I choose for a restaurant?

For intensive hospitality use, the Cabernet, Primary and Lima collections are the most versatile references: robust and calibrated for dishwasher cycles. For a more curated wine list, Open Up brings a reading by aromatic profile. For powerful reds, the Cabernet Ballon offers a generous volume; for structured reds, the Cabernet Tulipe is more distinctive. The Vigne collection rounds out the tasting offer.

Chef & Sommelier on AZ Boutique

Discover more than 150 Chef & Sommelier products on AZ Boutique, grouped under Glassware and Tableware: wine, champagne, cocktail, beer and water glasses for the home table as well as professional hospitality.