Why buy fine wine?

On the face of it, fine wine may seem an extravagance. However, consider how much of the price of a bottle is absorbed by transport, distribution and other costs, duties and tax. These account for an estimated 75% of a £4 bottle, but nearer 50% of one costing £12. It stands to reason that every extra pound invested adds excitement, complexity and value in the glass, a point appreciated by Society members, who elect to spend, on average, about £8 on a bottle of wine and more for a special occasion.

Some iconic wines have become so expensive that their rarity value and status symbolism have displaced the wine itself as the main event. We leave these to collectors and investors. Our long-established relations with some of the world's best producers give us access to many treasures, but fine wines, for The Society, are purely for pleasure.

Whether you're new to fine wine or an aficionado, the fun starts here

The Society's Fine Wine Hub is designed to offer members easy access to our best bottles. Our published Fine Wine List is a good starting point, but think of it as just the tip of an iceberg, layered with fascinating wines, both from classic and less obvious regions, produced in quantities too small to be listed.

The diversity of these wines is remarkable, but what they all have in common is that they have been intelligently and carefully sourced by our buying team, and stored in perfect conditions in our Stevenage warehouse.

Starting a cellar

Members looking to plan future drinking have a number of options, from en primeur offers for those who want to be in at the first release of a favourite property in a good vintage, to our Vintage Cellar Plan, a fuss-free subscription service which offers medium and long term mini cellars, chosen by The Society's buyers. Our Fine Wine Advisers can even help you plan a cellar tailored to your budget and specific preferences.

Stephen Spurrier's article, A Perfectly Balanced Cellar, may also be of interest to members seeking options to start, or bolster, a collection of special bottles for future enjoyment.

Fine wine to drink now

Should your interest be in imminent, rather than future enjoyment, turn to our current Fine Wine List, or check out the hub as often as you can to catch our range of Small Wonders Under £20. If the occasion is extra special and involves a specific year, our anniversary wines may hold some inspiration.

Help and advice

Owning fine wine raises a number of other questions. You'll find the answers here, from when to drink it and with what, courtesy of The Society's Food & Wine Matcher – not to mention how to keep it in peak condition with our Members' Reserves service.

If these and our FAQs leave you in need of further help, expert advice is only a click or a phone call away.

Remember that fine wine is covered by The Society's guarantee of satisfaction. Should any bottle fail to please, we will replace, credit or refund, as appropriate, and at current market value if the wine was bought en primeur. As risks go, there really are none.