The Society's Generation Series Hemispheres Red 2022

Shiraz from Heathcote in Victoria and syrah from the Roussillon and the northern Rhône is skilfully blended by Maxime Chapoutier and his team to tease out the best of both hemispheres. Full-bodied, dark, spicy fruit marries Aussie exuberance with French refinement in a look at the future. As we celebrate our 150th anniversary with another release of Generation Series wine looking at the future, might we see more cross-border blends like this? One of a pair of wines (see The Society's Generation Series Hemispheres White 2023) that are groundbreaking, from the concept via the execution to the way members can buy them as a ‘First Release’. They are two of the most innovative wines in our history. We invited the celebrated house of Chapoutier to help us realise a project in wine creation, blending Rhône varieties from France and Australia to create a wine that makes sense and is delicious and rewarding. Chapoutier were key to the project thanks to their global view of wine and love of testing the boundaries. Based in Tain l’Hermitage in the Rhône, and making wine in the Roussillon, Germany and Portugal, they have a historical connection with the town of Heathcote in the state of Victoria, famous for its shiraz . Had anyone thought of blending syrah from Tain with shiraz from Heathcote? Like The Society, the Chapoutier family are keen to innovate and were immediately taken with the project. Tastings in the Rhône saw the component parts selected and shipped in here in bulk, as recent changes in UK law permit international wines to be blended here and be called ‘wine’. It could be abused to create average-quality wines, but we’re creating a fine wine from one of the world’s greatest producers. The wines will be bottled in lightweight bottles in the UK, showing that this isn’t just the route for cheap blends! Drink 2024 to 2029. 14%