I know it might feel as though I say this every year (it’s not just that I am an eternal optimist), but there really hasn’t been a better time to explore – we’re seeing more and more brilliant wines being made everywhere. Each time one of our team of eight buyers returns from a trip they are bursting with news about exciting new wines and new producers they have discovered. One of our challenges is how to narrow down our selection and then fit them into our programme to make you aware of all the good things out there!
Fine wine can – and does – come from anywhereTim Atkin MW
What looked initially like one-off serendipitous finds last year (with brilliant wines unearthed from Turkey, Poland, Armenia and even China), is proving to be much more of an ongoing trend. There’s a wealth of exciting wines emerging, not just from these more esoteric countries but also from less well-trodden tracks closer to regions traditionally considered classics. It’s prompted a redefinition of what’s considered to be ‘fine wine’.
Hunting down ‘lesser-known’ wines is in our DNA and is one of The Wine Society’s founding principles. The fact that our buyers have the freedom to roam and seek out wines they really believe in, wherever they’re from, allows us to be ahead of the curve as wine regions emerge (or re-emerge). We’re able to put our money where our mouth is because of our members. We know that you’ll get behind our finds and trust us to bring back wines that you’ll enjoy. It’s the most deliciously tangible virtuous circle – the principal benefit of our mutual status.
What to drink in 2026
What to drink in 2026
Pinot Noir Minor, Kamil Barczentewicz 2022
Villard Le Pinot Noir Grand Vin Casablanca 2024
Château Fourcas-Borie, Listrac 2016
The Society's Spanish Monastrell Jumilla 2024 Bag-in-Box (2.25 litre)
Toreye Chardonnay, Weingut Eymann 2024
Viña Zorzal Cueva de La Mora Garnacha, Navarra 2023
Wente Vineyards Beyer Ranch Zinfandel 2022
Château Gloria, Saint-Julien 2012
Château Virevalois, Bordeaux 2023 Bag-in-Box (3 litre)
Amarone della Valpolicella Vigna Garzon, Pieropan 2019
When and where we’re enjoying fine wine is changing too
Perhaps even more significantly, people’s attitudes to fine wine have seen a radical shift too and it’s one we’re fully behind. Increasingly we’re seeing fine wine enjoyed in more everyday settings. Rules about when and where you should enjoy it are OUT. It shouldn’t need saying but people can enjoy these wines however they want to – with fish and chips, your favourite takeaway or with Michelin-star-level dining – you choose what works for you!
Say goodbye to snobbism!
Another radical change is attitudes towards formats. Bag-in-Box (affectionately known as ‘château cardboard’ in the Antipodes) is no longer to be sneered at. Technology has come on a long way since these first made their appearance meaning they are no longer the preserve of cheap and cheerful wines. Increasingly used for higher-quality wines and with the added bonus of their sustainability credentials, boxed wines are a smart choice.
What does the future look like?
Many of the improvements we’re seeing in wine quality are directly linked to what goes on in the vineyard (Toby Morrhall shines a light on the work of the Vincents in Burgundy in our Winter magazine published this month). Whether climate change is bringing vineyard work into sharper focus or it’s just that we’re appreciating more the hard work that goes on in the field, we believe we’re entering into the age of the viticulturist. We’ll be charting the work of these unsung heroes throughout the year and demonstrating why it makes a difference to what’s in your glass.
A new generation
We’re also seeing the rise of a new generation of winemakers bringing fresh energy and ideas to family properties or coming into wine from completely unrelated backgrounds. It’s refreshing to see this changing of the guard and with our own team of buyers taking on new regions at the same time, we’re really seeing some exciting new collaborations and wines coming through as a result.
The rise of white wines from hotter regions
Another trend we’ve been charting is the notable shift in excellent dry whites from unexpected regions – those that you might think are too hot to make decent whites. Winemakers are starting to appreciate and learn how to craft wines from non-aromatic varieties that are really performing beautifully in hotter climates. Look at grapes like viura (macabeu), grenache blanc and marsanne-roussanne-viognier blends from southern Rhône, for example, or the brilliant whites coming out of Greece now.
More Wine Society exclusives
Over the coming year you can look forward to seeing some fine-wine collaborations crafted by our buyers with some of the world’s top winemakers including wines from Dog Point in New Zealand, Weinert in Argentina, Vergelegen in the Cape and Black Chalk here in the UK. Many of these will be offered in bond as part of our First Release programme. Keep your eyes peeled!
What else can we look forward to?
- 2016 vintage ten years on from the Rhône and Bordeaux – wines are now really hitting their stride – look out for releases throughout 2026
- 120 years working with our oldest-established producers – Gratien & Meyer (in the Loire) and Alfred Gratien (in Champagne)
- New own labels from the Loire, Spain and South Africa – our buyers have been working hard to bring even more delicious wines into our own-label fold
- Low & No range – the trend for this category looks set to continue and we’ll be sensibly adding to it when we find the right products, including a new own-label coming soon. And if you want to ‘buy British’ the vast majority of the drinks are made in the UK.
So, there’s plenty to look forward to over the coming months. We can’t wait to share our finds with you and look forward to hearing what you think. Don’t forget to add a review to let fellow members know about your discoveries too.
Here’s to a year of more flavour, more discoveries and more opportunities to share.
