The Wine Society
I'm well aware that I have something of a reputation when it comes to drinking wine. It was only last week on Twitter when I posted a picture of my dinner that someone wondered which ridiculously expensive bottle I might be drinking with it. It's true that I've been incredibly lucky to be able to drink some amazing wines thanks to a friend of mine, a very generous friend of mine, who is a serious wine collector and through whom I've managed to drink some absolutely fabulous bottles. When it comes to my everyday drinking however, (and to be clear I'm not talking about drinking everyday) the vast majority of my wine comes from the Wine Society. I've been a member since 2009 and think it's one of the best kept secrets out there when it comes to buying wine.
There are many who are far more knowledgeable about wine than me. If you want to learn more about wine generally or specific regions then the internet is awash with great resources. I’d also suggest following Professor Dominic Regan, Tim Atkin and Nayan Gowda.
I should add that this post is not sponsored by the wine society or endorsed by them. I simply want more people to know about the society and how you can get more bang for your buck. Wine should be about finding what you like at a price you are willing to pay.
At the £10 mark I am certain that what you’ll get from the Wine Society beats the vast majority in a supermarket at the same price. That’s right, it’s not just a list of fine wines, but bottles starting from £6.95 with plenty around the £10 mark.
Let's clear up what is probably the second most common misnomer about the wine society. unlike some online wine merchants this is not a club or a subscription where you are signing up for regular deliveries of wine. Instead you pay a one off membership fee of £40 and that is your only commitment for life. You immediately get £20 of that £40 back as a credit against your first purchase. There is no further commitment beyond your membership fee. You won't get sent bottles in the post each month. You order when you want to and that’s that.
The real stars in their line-up are their two own labels; ‘Society’ and the slightly more expensive, ‘Exhibition’. By trusting the Wine Society to find the best Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand and sell it to you for £11.50 you can take the guess work out of finding a bottle elsewhere. Similarly, if you want to try something new, you can for a reasonable price knowing you’re going to get a great example of it.
I bought all of the wines for my eight course tasting menu from the Wine Society on a strict budget. (Click on the tweet to see the entire thread)
The Society Range
Society wines are at the heart of what we stand for. They are the wines which members buy and re-buy most often, and the wines which the buyers spend most time sourcing and often blending to ensure they are ‘best in class’ examples of their type, taking into account overall price and quality. The single most important ingredient behind any good wine is the person who makes it. Society wines are sourced to our specifications from people who have a track record of providing excellent bottles. The range is designed to give consistent pleasure and enjoyment, while also respecting vintage differences.
No fancy labels, no discounting to make you think you are getting a bargain but instead bottles of white wine starting from £6.95 and reds from £5.95. Find the grapes you like and know that you will consistently be able to buy good wine at prices that remain fairly static.
Exhibition Wines
The Exhibition range is sourced from the world’s finest growers in some of the greatest wine-producing regions on the planet. The wines are from more closely defined geographic areas than The Society range, and reflect the classic character of their region or commune. Our buyers work incredibly hard on this range: they are heavily involved in the selection and often blending processes, all to provide members with flagship bottles to buy with total confidence. Where appropriate, we also keep Exhibition wines in our cellars and only release them when perfectly ready to drink for maximum enjoyment.
Here, you are looking at white wine from £8.95 and reds from £10.50
What to buy
Browse the site and pick your favourites or go for one of their pre-selected cases. Delivery is free if you buy 12 bottles or more and a reasonable £5 if you buy less. There are next day and name the day delivery options for £6-£10. If you live near Stevenage you can collect from their Showroom where you can also find bin ends.
Not sure what to buy? Looking to expand your wine palate? Here’s two cases, one from each range, based on my recent purchases.
Ish’s Society case (£113.15 for 12 bottles)
I chose this case with an eye on ensuing that the total cost was under £120 for 12 bottles. Wine here from across the range in terms of price and styles. The Chablis and Rioja are two stand out favourites.
The Society's Vinho Verde 2019 (£6.95)
The Society's Pinot Grigio 2019 (£8.50)
The Society's Falanghina 2019 (£8.95)
The Society's White Rioja 2018 (£8.95)
The Society's White Burgundy 2019 (£9.95)
The Society's Chablis 2019 (£14.95)
The Society's French Pinot Noir 2019 (£7.50)
The Society's Claret 2019 (£7.50)
The Society’s Beaujolais-Villages 2019 (£7.95)
The Society's Rioja Crianza 2017 (£8.50)
The Society's Sicilian Reserve Red 2016 (£8.50)
The Society's Exhibition Haut-Médoc 2015 (£14.95)
Ish’s Exhibition case (£201.85 for 12 bottles)
The Oloroso sherry smells like Christmas in a glass and I always a have a bottle in my cupboard. There’s a medium dry version too. Again the Chablis and Rioja are two that I buy regularly albeit not as often as the ones from the Society range.
The Society’s Exhibition Mature Medium Sweet Oloroso Blend (12.95)
The Society's Exhibition Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc 2020 (£11.50)
The Society's Exhibition Rheingau Riesling 2018 (£13.95)
The Society's Exhibition Saint-Aubin Blanc 2018 (£18)
The Society's Exhibition Chablis Premier Cru Montmains 2019 (£22)
The Society's Exhibition Pouilly-Fuissé 2017 (£22)
The Society's Exhibition Fleurie 2019 (£10.50)
The Society's Exhibition Crozes-Hermitage 2018 (£13.95)
The Society's Exhibition Rioja Reserva 2014 (£16)
The Society's Exhibition Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir 2018 (£16)
The Society's Exhibition Pauillac 2011 (£21)
The Society's Exhibition Margaux 2015 (£24)
Fizz
The Society sells a large range of Champagne and Sparkling Wine. For those who must The Society’s Prosecco is a reasonable £10.95 but really if you like drinking something sweet and fizzy, might I suggest Diet Coke or fizzy Ribena instead of Prosecco.
The real non-Champagne stars are their own label Saumur and Cremant for under £13, English Sparkling Wine at £23 and Champagnes from £35-£40.
Have a look around and see what you think. I guarantee it’s £20 well spent to join.