The world's best wine club is 150 years old

The full name is in fact The International Exhibition Cooperative Wine Society, and through its dedicated founders, management team, expert buyers and generations of members, has become hugely successful.

The objective of the Society is as a wine buying group, sourcing and providing wines from around the world for members to buy. Not having to produce massive profits to give returns to traditional shareholders in a commercial company environment, means that the prices to members are the fairest possible. The Wine Society is a true wine club, originally formed as a ‘friendly or mutual society’ rather than a limited stock company, a visionary principle, funded by loan debentures which were all repaid – an early example of crowdfunding!

In celebration of this great milestone in the Society’s history, a series of Limited-Edition wines have been created between the Society’s buyers and producers with whom long supply relationships have been built. Named the ‘Generation Series’, three different releases are planned, representing the three 50-year periods of The Wine Society’s existence. The first series celebrates the initial 50 years of the Society, from 1874 to 1924, with wines typically imported and sold during that period. These were the classics such as Red Bordeaux and White Burgundy, together with popular wines at the time such as port and sherry. Curiously, the very first wine bought, which was oddly popular in the late nineteenth century, was a Portuguese white – Bucelas.

The Generation Series are presented with intricately designed, very attractive labels, evoking the origins and past historical moments in the growth of The Society. Here are four wines which truly represent the quality and value of the wines supplied, which now number over 1400. Starting with a membership of 322 in its first year, this figure has now grown to over 180,000!

The Wine Society’s Generation Series Bucelas 2022 is one of the first wines ever bought by The Society. Made from the Arinto grape variety, it is a light, fresh, crisp dry white, with granny smith apple character and lemon zest. Easy drinking anytime wine, with or without food. £13.50. From classic Burgundy comes The Generation Series Macon Villages 2022, a skilfully blended, complex wine from the region, from Jacques Depagneux, with whom the Society has a long relationship, also supplying the Society’s White Burgundy. An imperceptible touch of oak enhances structure and complexity. Good body and length on the palate. £16.50.

Claret (red Bordeaux) from the Medoc region has been on The Society’s lists since the very early days. The Generation Series Haut Medoc 2019 is made by the very respectable Chateau de Beaumont one of the largest properties in the Medoc, in the village of Cussac. A classic, plummy, lightly oaked, satisfying red, with soft tannins, deep colour and elegant fruit. Utterly delicious at £14.95.

Medium sherry was a popular style in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Generation Series Medium Sweet Sherry is based on an Oloroso and comes from a 90-barrel solera of Williams and Humbert, founded in 1877. With an average age of 15 years, the flavour is full and complex, with roasted hazelnuts and a touch of toffee and candied orange. Fabulous before or after a meal, with balanced sweetness and long-lasting flavours. £16.50 per half bottle.