In this episode of the Wine Animal channel, I sit down with Tobias and Rachel, the husband-and-wife team behind Unique European Imports, the Australian importers of Forge de Laguiole.
What started as a simple search for a quality corkscrew for their own home turned into a full-blown business importing some of the finest handcrafted knives and corkscrews in the world. Handmade in France, one piece at a time, Forge de Laguiole represents true craftsmanship, the kind that’s increasingly rare in a mass-produced world.
We talk about:
• Why Tobias and Rachel decided to take the leap into business
• What sets Forge de Laguiole apart from every other Laguiole-style brand
• The materials, craftsmanship, and customisation behind each piece
• Why quality still matters — and why people are willing to pay for it
• The realities of leaving a stable career to back something you believe in
If you follow Wine Animal, you’ll know I’m extremely selective about the brands I support. I don’t take money to promote products — but I do back people who are having a genuine go and building something meaningful. These pieces are the real deal.
GIVEAWAY
We’re giving away a Forge de Laguiole corkscrew (the exact style I use myself).
To enter:
Subscribe to the Wine Animal channel
Comment on this video
Winner will be chosen at random. Sydney-based winners will receive hand delivery.
Support small businesses. Support craftsmanship.
Drink well.
13 Comments
Pure wine lover perfection. The lucky winner will be opening bottles with serious style!
Beautiful products. I should have asked for one of their corkscrews for Christmas!
Another great video. I won a very flash imported corkscrew many years ago, which had a handcarved handle made of elkhorn or some similarly exotic material. I put in a safe place and hesitated for years to use it, until I was given a special bottle of wine which I thought was corkscrewworthy. Unfortunately, it seems some exotic greebly had hitched a ride on it and tunnelled its way throughout the handle inside its beautiful leather case, turning it to dust. I'm not sure what the lesson from this is, but there is one somewhere.
Love this!! The support you offer is incredible – from when we talked on the Rootlings call to now this. Epic man! Keep it up
Very nice. Looks like a very solid product.
Love it, engraved with a B ready for me!
Fancy!
I’ve been lusting after one of these via Instagram ads for a while! Beautiful.
👍👍👍
Looks awesome. Might have to look into this as I need a new corkscrew.
Opening a quality bottle of wine just got better! 🔥
A quality bottle needs a quality opener
Love the videos!