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If you’re passionate about wine, you might want to think about joining a wine society. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a seasoned connoisseur or you’re just beginning your journey along the grape vines, being part of a wine society has several big benefits – not least that it allows you to discover new styles and flavours of wine.
To shine a light on why wine societies are becoming so popular, we’ve partnered with The Wine Society itself, which is the world’s oldest member-owned community of wine lovers. Since 1874, The Wine Society has been educating, inspiring, and delighting hundreds of thousands of wine enthusiasts across the globe, and uniting people with a shared passion for all things vino.
By joining The Wine Society, you also won’t be tied to paying a monthly or quarterly subscription. In fact, one of the great things about it is that you only need to pay a one-off fee of £40, which will give you access to high-quality wines at affordable prices for life. Plus, you’ll get £20 off your first wine order.
What is a wine society?
Wine clubs and societies all operate differently, so it’s best to make sure that you understand what each membership will offer you – though they’re generally designed to give members access to a variety of brilliant wines at fair prices. For example, as mentioned, after paying a one-off £40 fee to join The Wine Society, you can access affordable, delicious wines for life, as and when desired.
The Wine Society aims to introduce enthusiasts to new and unique wines, offering a chance to explore different regions, grape varieties, and styles. Their lifetime access membership also comes with other perks such as tasting notes, food pairing suggestions, and exclusive discounts – including £20 off your first order.
Below, we’ll delve a little deeper into some of these benefits and explore what The Wine Society’s lifetime membership has to offer.
5 benefits of joining a wine society
1. You’ll discover new wines
If you’re keen to discover beautiful new wines, joining a wine society is perhaps one of the best things you can do. While it may be natural to stick to wines you like, becoming a member of a wine society can help you learn about exciting new varieties and broaden your wine knowledge.
The Wine Society works with the most experienced wine-buying team in the business, and the job of these experts is to discover new, wonderful wines from across the globe. There’s always plenty of variety with these wines too, from bottles priced at under £7 to fine wine, and unusual wines that come from well off-the-beaten-track.
With over 10,000 grape varieties available, and new blends and bottles being released all the time, sticking to the same rioja or chardonnay week-in and week-out inevitably means you’ll be missing out on trying a huge range of other delicious wines. But as part of a wine society, you can avoid getting stuck in your comfort zone and discover many new favourites.
2. It’s convenient
Many of us have experienced the annoyance of getting home after a long day and going to pour ourselves a glass only to find we’ve run out. But when you’re a member of a wine society, you can enjoy the perks of having wine delivered directly to your doorstep.
This means no more traipsing back to the shops to grab a bottle, rushing out to stock up for a last-minute social event, or forgetting to restock your supply. If you’re a member of The Wine Society, you can sit back and relax as your selection of wine arrives straight to your door, saving you the time and effort of shopping.
Plus, another perk of joining The Wine Society is that you can enjoy free next-day UK delivery on every order. So, whether you’re hosting an impromptu dinner party, looking for a last-minute gift, or just want to try a new bottle for dinner, you’ll get the wine you want right when you need it.
Interested in joining The Wine Society?
3. You could save money
When you join a wine society, it isn’t just time and effort you can save – it’s also money.
For example, The Wine Society is owned exclusively by its members and exists solely for their benefit. This means that because there are no external shareholders to keep happy, the organisation is free to reinvest profits into better prices for members. Their non-profit-maximising mutual status makes sure that the 1,400 available wines are always at reasonable prices (from £6.25 per bottle).
It can also be reassuring to know that you’re part of an organisation that puts member satisfaction ahead of profit. Though, if that weren’t enough, you get £20 off your first order. And, by signing up for a lifetime membership with The Wine Society for a £40 one-off fee, you can access a huge range of high-quality wines at fair prices for life. This differs from subscription-based wine services where membership fees may be taken monthly or yearly.
4. You get access to events and tastings
If you’re interested in attending wine-based events, then you’ll be pleased to know you can take advantage of the extensive range of events hosted by The Wine Society every year. From sampling new wines at tastings to learning from experts at wine dinners and meeting winemakers at growers’ events, there’s something for everyone.
There are a whole host of online events to join too so you can learn more, try new wines, and have a good time without even having to leave the comfort of your home. These events are designed to encourage members to engage with The Wine Society team who can help to guide each person on their particular wine journey.
If you’re keen to sample new wines and learn about their qualities, the tasting events may be right up your street. Whether the event is showcasing styles, regions, or grapes, there’s a whole host of formats to explore. Or, perhaps you’re interested in learning more about different winemakers instead…if so, the ‘Meet the Winemakers’ events will likely be of interest.
If you’re keen to perfect the art of pairing wine with food, you may want to attend an online cheese and wine-tasting event from your sofa. Or, for something more immersive, there are in-person, multi-course menus that teach you how to share and pair like a pro. Plus, 2024 is the 150th anniversary of The Wine Society, so there’ll be even more exciting events to look forward to.
Keen to join food and wine pairing events?
5. You’re guaranteed satisfaction
And finally, another perk of joining The Wine Society in particular is that your satisfaction is guaranteed. Discovering new wines will never be a risky business, thanks to the Society’s Promise. Because the Wine Society is a mutual organisation, member satisfaction is key, and if you don’t enjoy a wine for any reason, you’ll receive a replacement or refund.
This doesn’t just apply to wines that might be faulty, whether corked, oxidised or otherwise out of condition. If the wine simply isn’t to your taste, you can contact the team and they’ll arrange a refund or voucher. If you’ve got unopened bottles of the same wine you no longer want, that’s no problem either; the Wine Society will collect them free of charge and credit your account.
The Society Promise means you can explore and taste new wines with complete confidence – and if, on the rare occasion, you don’t enjoy a bottle, you won’t lose out.
Final thoughts…
We hope this article has helped to shed more light on what wine societies have to offer. For just £40, you can become a lifetime member of The Wine Society itself – so, if you’re passionate about wine, many would argue it’s a no-brainer.
Not only will you be able to discover a whole selection of wines you’ve never heard of before or considered trying, but the satisfaction guarantee means that you’ll have the security of knowing that your glass will always be filled with something exceptional – and there’ll always be a brilliant bottle in the wine rack.
Plus, if you’re looking to take your passion for wine to new heights, you can take advantage of all the events and tastings that are held throughout the year, as well as access educational resources, like tasting notes and food pairing suggestions.
You also save considerable time and money because wine is always priced fairly, and having bottles sent straight to your door, at no extra cost, is incredibly easy. So, whether you’re thinking about becoming a member of a wine society yourself, or gifting a loved one with membership, it’s an experience that every wine lover deserves.
To find out more about The Wine Society and become a member, you can visit their website below. By signing up today, you’ll also get £20 off your first order.
Are you a member of a wine society? Or perhaps you’re thinking about joining The Wine Society itself? We’d be interested to hear from you in the comments below.