“Each wine is preserved and served with respect for its history.“

A New Chapter for a Historic venue in the Principality

Les Grands Chais Monégasques are opening a new chapter in their history and become GCM. Established in the heart of the Principality since the early 1900s, this iconic venue is now evolving into a resolutely contemporary experience, while preserving the essence of its heritage.

As part of this transformation, GCM unveils a new identity and a new concept: Salon GCM – a space dedicated to on-site tasting, conceived as a confidential destination for fine wine enthusiasts, where each visit becomes an immersive experience.

About Les Grands Chais Monégasques

It was in the early 1900s that Mr. Ginocchio, a Monaco-based merchant, founded a wine trading business near what would later become the Port of Monaco.

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Awarded the Gold Medal at the 1909 International Exhibition in Paris, the house experienced, remarkable growth and, in 1943, became Les Grands Chais Franco-Monégasques, contributing significantly to the development of French wine trade.

In the 1980s, a new management team undertook the modernization of the venue while preserving its identity, with the ambition of anticipating market evolutions.

In 2014, the house reaffirmed its local roots as Les Grands Chais Monégasques, developing recognized expertise, private tastings, and exclusive wine events.

Photo credits: sfphoto_mc

Today, GCM distributes its wines to the most prestigious establishments in the Principality, while also developing a privileged relationship with a private clientele that has been steadily growing for over a decade. Driven by this dual approach, the house has established itself as a key reference in fine wines and rare spirits.

At the helm of this new chapter, the third generation embodies the continuity of a deeply rooted family heritage. With Sébastien Dameno, the venue evolves without ever renouncing its history, giving rise to Salon GCM, a contemporary vision of wine designed as a true experience.

Here, passion is not learned — it is passed on. It is felt, almost instinctively. “My Proustian madeleine is the scent of a bottle of wine breaking on the cellar floor…” he confides.

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A deeply sensory, almost cinematic image that reflects a visceral connection to the place and its substance — that of a child turned heir, then storyteller, shaped by the memories, gestures and aromas of a century-old cellar.

Between memory and modernity, GCM asserts a distinctive signature: a place where wine is not simply consumed, but told, shared and experienced.

Key dates

• Early 1900s: creation of the wine trading business
• 1909: Gold Medal – International Exhibition, Paris
• 1943: creation of Les Grands Chais Franco-Monégasques
• 1980s: modernization of the venue
• 2014: creation of Les Grands Chais Monégasques
• March 19, 2026: press preview of the new GCM concept
• April 3, 2026: official opening to the public

A New Concept: Le Salon GCM

Long dedicated to the sale of fine wines and exceptional spirits, Les Grands Chais Monégasques become GCM and unveil Salon GCM, officially opening on April 3, 2026.

A new concept, driven by a new ambition: to offer a unique experience, perfectly aligned with the expectations of a luxury clientele seeking emotion, sensation, and suspended moments. The space has been entirely redesigned, with every detail carefully curated to elevate the experience.

Conceived as a confidential salon, the venue invites guests to slow down, to feel, and to fully embrace the moment. Beneath century-old wooden vats, in an atmosphere blending stone, aged wood, and soft lighting, time seems to stand still. Elegant yet relaxed, the ambiance creates a timeless interlude, ideal for discovery and exchange.

Accompanied by a sommelier, guests can freely select from over 3,000 references of rare wines and spirits, carefully preserved within the historic cellar, and enjoy the vintage of their choice. Each bottle is presented and served with respect for its history.

The experience extends to the table, with a curated selection of exceptional delicacies — aged charcuterie, cheeses, foie gras, and caviar — designed to enhance each tasting. A place to be lived rather than simply visited, where heritage, fine wines, and art de vivre come together in perfect harmony.

Flavors: A Tailored Gastronomic Experience

Beyond wine, Salon GCM offers a refined selection of exceptional dishes, carefully designed to accompany each tasting. Each pairing is crafted with precision to enhance the aromas of the wines and create a complete sensory experience.

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The selection includes:

• Exceptional charcuterie (Maison Duler, aged up to 70 months)
• Seasonal selection of aged cheeses
• IGP foie gras and gourmet specialties
• Mediterranean selection (tapenades, artichokes, anchovy cream…)
• Caviar, for an ultimate experience

Interview with Sébastien Dameno, Director of Salon GCM

How did the idea for this new concept come about?

Sébastien: We wanted to respond to a shift in expectations within the luxury sector. While the purchase of goods is slowing down, experiences are becoming increasingly important. Today, clients are looking for moments to live, emotions to feel. With Salon GCM, we offer exactly that: discovering a vintage, understanding its story, being guided by a sommelier… and experiencing wine in a more immersive way.

What are GCM’s key strengths?

Sébastien: First and foremost, our heritage. We are the oldest wine cellar in Monaco, with a strong history and a unique setting. Then, the richness of our selection, with over 3,000 references of wines and spirits. Finally, the experience we offer: a tailored approach, in a confidential environment, where each guest can take the time to discover, taste and exchange.

What makes the Salon GCM experience unique in Monaco?

Sébastien: It is the opportunity to experience a moment out of time, within a historic cellar, in a place filled with history. You don’t just taste a wine — you understand its origin, its vintage, its evolution. The setting, the guidance, the selection, and the atmosphere create a truly immersive experience, rare in Monaco, where heritage and modernity meet.