The Society's Pioneers 'Solar Savings' Mixed Dozen

This benchmark wine combines an aromatic, floral nose with a concentrated ripe yet fresh palate rounded out by 15 months' oak maturation. We’re delighted to name Catena as Wine Society Pioneers for their efforts in sustainability. They've invested in many initiatives beyond the water-saving drip irrigation they pioneered here with the aim of reducing water usage by 20% every year, and plan to reforest the vineyards, planting 5,000 trees by 2030, all adapted to the climate and needing no irrigation. Nesting crates have been established for native birds and the aim is to have 40% of their land given over to nature to preserve the ecosystem and encourage fauna, flora and fungi. Their strict code of business ethics also includes alignment with all legal requirements and SMETA regulations regarding modern slavery. They are SMETA 4 Pillars audited every two years and have their own internal audits to verify them and participate in the value chain program to monitor that these requirements are acted on among their suppliers.

Fresh, taut and mineral wine from the cool Limarí region of Chile. Barrel fermentation develops the flavours and contributes a hint of oak without masking its bright aromas and flavours, and decanting is recommended to open them up. Concha y Toro are a leader in more sustainable working practices with embedded strategies to reduce energy and water use, environmental projects including increasing biodiversity, and many local community initiatives, and as such they were an obvious choice to be named one of our Wine Society Pioneers in the field. Certified Sustainable Wine of Chile (Gold) and B Corp. IWCA Gold member, one of only 18 in the world, they 've measured their carbon footprint since 2007 and reduced it by 25% with a goal of net zero by 2040. In a dry country like Chile, and with 99% of their water use going to irrigation, they have installed efficient drip irrigation with systems in place and on the way to ever improve its application. All their wineries treat and release wastewater. Conch y Toro also have, amazingly, responsibility for 4,200 hectares of natural forest around their vineyards, where flora and fauna thrives unhindered. Pollination gardens have been introduced, as have nest houses and drinking pools. It’s a remarkable and rather lovely thought. Concha y toro really put their money where their mouth is.

This fragrant, appley and organic Spanish sparkling wine is produced by Sumarroca, a small family estate. It's a bottle-fermented and aged blend of parellada, macabeo and xarel-lo, plus some chardonnay to add finesse. Sumarocca’s commitment to sustainability is nothing new and we’re delighted to name them as one of our Wine Society’s Pioneers. Their conversion to organic farming began in 2014 and they’re also SMETA (Sedex Members Ethical Trade Audit) certified since 2022, with an in-house annual sustainability report covering all environment and social aspects, including their carbon footprint, reducing it by 36%. Their drip irrigation system is computer controlled, and only for young vines, and they have a wastewater management system that recovers water from the winery, with 87,480 litres recovered in 2025. A herd of sheep provides mowing services and manure, while all kinds of critters are encouraged by the forest that covers 50% of their estate, with beehives and bat boxes are installed, the latter providing handy and very effective pest control.

A lovely blend of 55% viognier for perfume, 35% roussanne and 10% marsanne for structural support and added aromatic complexity. Undurraga’s work in making themselves as sustainable as possible has made it easy for us to name them one of our Wine Society Pioneers. They are Wines of Chile Sustainability certified and an International Wineries for Clime Change Gold member – one of only 9 wineries in the world with that status. Their facilities use solar energy, the measure their carbon footprint with the aim of reducing emissions wherever possible, use lightweight bottles use only drip irrigation for efficient and targeted water use that goes hand in hand with reusing water in the winery too. They preserve biological corridors and native vegetation, protect local wildlife, have deployed an integrated pest management system and promote a balanced eco system. Ineed, it would be quicker to tell you about what they don’t do!

Pinotage takes the lead in this fresh and spicy Cape Blend of young Stellenbosch syrah with older bush-vine pinotage from Swartland. The grapes were lightly crushed and gently handled in the cellar to produce a dark-cherry-flavoured red with approachable tannins. This still-youthful wine benefits from a decant two hours before serving. Certified by the Wine & Agricultural Ethical Trade Association and Integrated Wine Production organisation, Radford Dale go the extra yard to make themselves more sustainable, and we’re delighted to name them a Wine Society Pioneer for their efforts. They farm their Elgin vineyards organically and they follow a low-interventionist approach in the winery, stating ‘If it's not in the grape, it's not in the wine’. Of their two wineries, one is entirely off grid and uses only rainwater for its needs and has a wetland purification system while the other operates 50% on solar power. They compost vineyard waste, recycle other materials as much as they can. Biodiversity is encouraged, with ducks eating unwanted snails, raptor perches installed and seeding wildflowers and allowing some weeds to flourish. In the community, their Land of Hope scheme has been running 20 years, with 50% of profits put in a trust for the education of children of staff from maternity onwards.

A 2026 Wine Champion, this cherry-laden Italian favourite is now made for us by Contesa, whose above-and-beyond efforts in sustainability have earned them a place in our new Society’s Pioneers range. ‘Pure charm’ was the verdict here – if you haven’t tried it since it switched to its new source, we think you’ll like it! One of our Wine Society Pioneers, Contesa is rated in the top 100 most sustainable companies by their local government agency. They use pheromones to confuse local vine moths when they're mating as an alternative to chemical pest control, encourage wildflowers and grasses to attract pollinators and built a solar power plant on their winery roof which currently generates 50kW and covers 60% of their energy needs, and plan to build another 30kW of panels that will bring this up to 80%. Furthermore, Contesa use bottles produced entirely within Italy and of at least 58% recycled glass to reduce their carbon footprint.

A Wine Champion for 2026. Rioja and lamb is a time-honoured union. But there’s Rioja and there’s Rioja! This was judged ‘an absolutely super wine with incredible density and depth of fruit. Rich, deep, brambly and velvety… it’s delish.’

This unique blend especially created for The Wine Society is 80% grillo for lovely rich apricot and peach notes, with 20% carricante to lift the freshness while adding an elegant mineral note to the perfume. 2025 has created wines with real tension and good concentration. One of our Wine Society Pioneers for their work in sustainability, Rallo have been certified organic for 100ha of their own vineyards since 1994, among the first in Sicily to be so. They use only wild ferments and minimal sulphites, while the vines are drip irrigated, and water used in the facilities is purified and returned to the municipal system. Their electricity is 65% wind power, and they have plans to be 90% self-sufficient with the installation of solar panels. 10% of the estate is rewilded land, and the green cover between the vines no longer needs seeding and feeds grazing sheep in winter. All winery waste is recorded, they make compost from 50% of vineyard waste while the rest goes to a local distillery. All plastic, card and paper is recycled. 30 local families work here, while seasonal workers are hired direct, given contracts and paid into bank accounts, treating them the same as permanent staff. It's an impressive approach to be applauded.

Elegant, mineral Soave Classico showing the intensity of lower yields and organically farmed older vines. This has a weighty palate with orchard fruit, sage and lemon balm, and a saline finish. Lively and fresh. Coffele’s innovative commitment to locally relevant solutions in managing environmental sustainability means we are happy to name them a Wine Society Pioneer. From using a local sheep breed to graze cover crops in the vineyards and investments in soil management (in tandem with the University of Verona), to supporting a local NGO, which runs a farm which provides job and rehabilitation opportunities to people facing social, physical and economic hardship, the family are doing a great job.

Stylish, well presented and utterly delicious, this is mostly grenache with cinsault and tibouren in support. The flavour is dry and fruity, yet soft and gentle and with a hint of strawberry on the finish. The Gualtieri family, Aurore, Diane and Marion, whom we are delighted to name as Wine Society Pioneers for their efforts in sustainability, live among the vines so it’s only natural that the environment is important to them and for future generations. Certified organic and HVE Level 4 (high standard), they only use bio-control products in the vineyard and insect pests are faced with sexually confusing pheromones to deter mating. Botanical treatments stimulate vine photosynthesis and add nutrients into the soil while computer-controlled drip irrigation is in place, with soil probes focusing it in a timely manner and only on young vines in the hottest period of summer. A plant-filtered pond behind the winery takes any wastewater from the winery.

Vibrant, charming minimal-intervention grüner, a generous and refreshing expression of the grape from a good vintage. Peach, pear, lemon zest and dried-apple on the nose lead to a zesty palate with fine, fresh acidity providing great focus and structure. Winners of funding from our Climate and Nature Programme and a Wine Society Pioneer for their eco-friendly practises, Geyerhof is a member of biodynamic organisation, Demeter, and the first winery in Austria to achieve Agro-forestry certification, which requires that trees be planted and interact with the vineyards and crops. They are committed to biodiversity and the estate is home to cattle, pigs and chickens. Over 13% of their land is planted with hedges and nature conservation areas, while cover crops are many wild herbs and flowers offering an additional habitat for useful insects while naturally breaking up the soil. There are breeding holes for owls and birds, a small lake has been made for frogs and snakes, and there are 8-hectares of biodiversity areas. Horses are used in the vineyard to avoid soil compaction. They don’t use fertilisers and don't irrigate. .

Our third vintage of the successful Exhibition Spätburgunder has been produced by a young winemaker in the Pfalz, Vincent Eymann, whose estate has been working organically and biodynamically for many years. The 2024 vintage was cooler than both the 2023 and 2022 vintages and is reflected in crushed strawberries, red currant and red plums combined with lots of energy on the palate. Tannins are fine grained and the wine is incredibly well balanced.