In early October 2026, I was in London for The Wine Society’s Autumn/Winter Press Tasting. Established in 1874, The Wine Society is the world’s oldest member-owned wine community. Today, it has more than 184,000 members and offers a range of over 1,400 wines. As a member-owned organisation, its focus is on serving the interests of its members rather than maximising profits.
The Wine Society has enjoyed considerable recognition in 2026. At the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC), it was named Large Online Wine Specialist and Sustainable Large Online Wine Specialist. It also received the International Wine Challenge (IWC) awards for Online Retailer/Wine Club of the Year and Sustainable Specialist of the Year.
There were 147 wines on show at the tasting and I managed to sample a substantial proportion of them. However, my main focus this time was to find exceptional wines that offer great value at more accessible price points, while still including one or two higher-priced selections, particularly within the sparkling wine category. Here are my picks:
Westwell Wicken Foy NV 12% £29
This English sparkling wine, new to The Society, comes from Westwell in Kent, a producer founded by former record label owner Adrien Pike. A blend of 41% Pinot Noir, 36% Pinot Meunier and 23% Chardonnay, it is pale lemon in colour with lively, persistent bubbles. Intense lemon and green apple aromas are complemented by toasty, biscuity notes from lees ageing. Brut in style, it delivers crisp citrus and apple flavours, pronounced acidity and appealing brioche complexity. The finish is long and refreshing.
Black Chalk Classic, Hampshire 2022 12% £40
A new vintage of this Hampshire sparkling wine, which I have previously reviewed. The blend is 46% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay and 12% Pinot Meunier, aged for 26 months on lees and at least six months on cork. Energetic bubbles introduce inviting brioche aromas, followed by intense, dry apple flavours. Sharp acidity gives it a particularly zingy brightness, while the fresh apple character continues through a remarkably long finish. In some ways it is livelier than Champagne, although it retains that lovely bready complexity.
Magnum of The Society’s Champagne Brut NV 12.5% £75
Made by Champagne Alfred Gratien, this blend of 50% Chardonnay, 21% Pinot Noir and 29% Pinot Meunier has a pale lemon colour and fine mousse. Fresh aromas of green apple, lemon and pear mingle with brioche and biscuit notes developed during lees ageing. The brut style combines crisp citrus and orchard fruit with a lovely bready complexity. Light to medium-bodied, with high acidity and a long finish, it has plenty of freshness. A fun format, particularly as the magnum doesn’t carry too much of a price premium.
Kurlong Crush Murray Darling Vermentino 2025 10.5% £8.25
The striking retro label of this new Australian white pays homage to the packaging used for Murray Darling tinned fruit during the 1960s and 1970s. Inside is a blend of 88% Vermentino, 9% Colombard and 3% other white varieties. Pale lemon in colour, it offers bright aromas of lemon, grapefruit and green herbs, with an intriguing hint of sea spray. The flavours are fresh and zesty, with citrus taking the lead and a slightly saline, mineral edge adding interest. A refreshing wine with plenty of character.
Le Bosc Grenache Blanc, Pays d’Oc 2025 13.2% £9.25
This new vintage of 100% Grenache Blanc from the Languedoc in southern France is particularly appealing for the price. Lovely pear aromas lead into soft, rounded stone fruit flavours, giving the wine a gentle richness. A refreshing citrus character carries through to a finish of good length. Very enjoyable and excellent value.
South by South West Margaret River Chenin Blanc 2025 12.5% £14.95
South by South West is a two-woman winery in Margaret River, Australia. This new 100% Chenin Blanc has been matured in second-fill French barriques. Its medium lemon-gold colour is followed by generous aromas of ripe apple, peach and honey, with attractive hints of toast and vanilla. Dry and medium-bodied, the wine has a creamy, textured character, with ripe fruit supported by subtle oak. Medium acidity keeps it balanced, while a slightly honeyed finish adds an appealing richness.
Silbador Rapel Gewürztraminer 2025 13% £8.95
Produced by Viñedos Emiliana in Chile’s Rapel Valley, this new vintage is made entirely from Gewürztraminer. The producer is organically certified and B Corp-certified. Classic aromas of rose petals, lychee and Turkish delight are joined by ginger and warming spices. It is medium-bodied and unmistakably Gewürztraminer, yet feels noticeably fresher and less oily or silky than many Alsace examples. The floral and spicy character remains, but with a lighter touch. An interesting alternative for anyone who enjoys this distinctive aromatic grape but prefers a fresher expression.
Ignacio Recabarren Casablanca Pinot Noir 2024 12.8% £18
Lovely red cherry and strawberry aromas make an immediate impression in this new vintage of 100% Pinot Noir from Chile’s Casablanca Valley. Delicate rose notes and coastal herbs add another dimension. Dry and light to medium-bodied, it combines fresh red fruit flavours with gentle spice and medium tannins that provide just enough structure. There is an attractive elegance to the wine, particularly in its fresh, floral finish.
Arbois Pinot Noir Sur la Côte, Domaine la Grapp’A 2024 12.5% £38
A new 100% Pinot Noir from the Jura in France. Very pale in colour, it is extraordinarily perfumed, with intense redcurrant aromas accompanied by herbs and spice. Cherry and raspberry flavours bring freshness, while an earthy depth provides complexity. The wine is dry and medium-bodied, with low to medium tannins and a beautifully long, earthy finish. It is a more expensive Pinot Noir, but I enjoyed it so much that I couldn’t resist including it.
Listán Negro Piedra Fluida, Tenerife 2021 13% £17
Made entirely from Listán Negro grown on 80-year-old vines in Tenerife, this new wine has a wonderfully distinctive character. The aromas are decidedly savoury, with a striking bacon note. Red fruit, red liquorice, goji berries and plum then emerge, alongside a continuing savoury quality that makes it particularly intriguing. I have included it because it is similar to the excellent wine from last year that I reviewed separately. That was a blend, however, whereas this is 100% Listán Negro.
The Society’s Exhibition Naoussa Xinomavro 2023 13.5% £14.95
A new vintage of this characterful Greek red, made from 100% Xinomavro in Naoussa. There is a slight browning to the colour, while the complex aromas bring together sour cherry, tomato leaf, olive and dried rose. Cherry and raspberry flavours are accompanied by spice and a distinctive savoury quality. Dry and medium-bodied, with medium to high tannins, it has something of the structure and character of Nebbiolo. The long finish is aromatic and savoury, making this an especially interesting wine.
Undurraga Candelabro Maule Carmenere 2025 14% £9.95
This new vintage of 100% Carmenere from Chile’s Maule Valley is a wine I have previously reviewed separately. Delicate floral aromas have just a whisper of earthiness, leading to ripe raspberry flavours with a touch of sweetness to the fruit. Soft tannins make it approachable, while a gentle savoury edge prevents it from feeling overly ripe. There is a freshness and lightness here that makes it rather different from the richer styles of Chilean red wine many people might expect.
Ravasqueira ‘Encantado’ Tinto, Alentejano 2025 14% £9.50
A new red from Portugal’s Alentejo region, blending Syrah, Touriga Franca and Alicante Bouschet. Deep purple-ruby in colour, it opens with generous blackberry and violet aromas, accompanied by dark chocolate and spice. The dark fruit flavours are rich and concentrated, with floral notes, sweet spice and a subtle suggestion of oak adding interest. Dry and full-bodied, yet with relatively gentle low to medium tannins, it has a soft texture and a long, dark-fruited, spicy finish. Great value at this price.
Eguíluz Joven, Ábalos Rioja 2025 13% £10.50
Not what you might expect from Rioja. This new wine, made from 90% Tempranillo with 10% Viura and Garnacha Tinta, takes a modern approach by focusing on the grape rather than oak ageing. Its vivid purple colour and attractive violet aromas are followed by fresh, youthful fruit flavours. Lighter in style than traditional Rioja, with medium tannins and no oak influence, it offers an unusually direct expression of Tempranillo. A fascinating opportunity to discover what the grape itself really tastes like.
Mendel, Finca Mendel Mayor Drummond Mendoza Malbec 2023 14.4% £19
Deep purple in colour, this new vintage of 100% Malbec from Mendoza, Argentina, is packed with intense aromas of black plum, blackberry, violet, spice and cocoa. Dense, ripe dark fruit dominates the flavours, supported by medium to high tannins. Dry and medium to full-bodied, it has considerable depth and structure, finishing long with lingering dark fruit. This is a wine that benefits from breathing before drinking, or being enjoyed alongside food.
Magnum of The Society’s Exhibition Rioja Reserva 2020 14% £40
I enjoyed the previous vintage of this wine so much that I bought it more than once and eventually reviewed it separately. This new vintage is again made from 100% Tempranillo by La Rioja Alta, one of the best-known names in traditional, age-worthy Rioja and widely considered one of the region’s classic producers. Aromas of dried red fruits, leather, tobacco and sweet spice give it a beautiful character. Dry and medium-bodied, with low to medium tannins, the red fruit flavours are elegant, leading to a long, slightly savoury finish. It looks as though I will need to buy more.
Kanonkop Estate Pinotage, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2015 14.5% £45
This new vintage of Kanonkop’s 100% Pinotage from Stellenbosch, South Africa, has a deep ruby-purple colour and a complex combination of plum, blackberry, sweet spice and hints of hoisin and umami. Rich dark fruit flavours are complemented by a savoury character, giving the wine plenty of depth. It is dry and medium to full-bodied, with medium tannins providing a balanced structure. The finish is medium in length, leaving a lingering impression of savoury spice.
Mendel Paraje Altamira Late Harvest Petit Manseng 2024 50cl 13.2% £13.95
A new vintage of this sweet wine from Mendoza, Argentina, made entirely from Petit Manseng. The grapes are harvested late to concentrate their sweetness, without any botrytis influence. Intense pineapple aromas are accompanied by a slightly nutty character, while the flavours are rich and honeyed without becoming oily or heavy. The acidity balances the sweetness beautifully, keeping everything fresh and lively. A clean but persistent finish rounds off a thoroughly enjoyable sweet wine that represents great value.
Wine Society membership costs a one-off fee of £40, which gives you a share in the Society and includes £20 off your first order. Members also gain access to exclusive tastings and events, but perhaps one of the most appealing benefits is free UK delivery on every order, with no minimum spend. That means you can order just a single bottle and still have it delivered free of charge!
Please note that, at the time of writing, not all the wines featured may yet be available to purchase.
Prices and availability are also subject to change.
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