Society's Whites

Rather than being made from a single grape variety, this is a blend that varies a little by vintage, so that no one flavour dominates. A little fuller bodied than the 2021 but typically dry and fresh on the palate. Produced for us by the Hugel family, this wine occupies the pivotal spot in our Alsace selection and has introduced the region to generations of members.

Made from a very cool vineyard planted on limestone soils just 7.5 miles from the chilly Pacific Ocean, this is a more mineral than fruity, crystalline, European, less is more style. Limarí's cool and dry climate suits sauvignon blanc and cacti, hence the illustration on the new label. Made for us by Viña Tabalí.

One of Italy's best buys, verdicchio makes vibrant, crisp and refreshing wines. This is from a beautiful and organic single vineyard and has a full, dry style, with grapefruit, lemon and mineral notes that slip down easily with or without food.

2023 was a record breaking harvest for the UK and we're thrilled with our own-label English white produced by Three Choirs in Gloucestershire. We aim for consistency year-on-year to give gentle aromatics of white flowers, hedgerow and gooseberry with a light, delicate palate that's ideal with spring salads or aperitif. The grape blend in this vintage is a delicious melting pot of 30% madeleine angevine, 20% seyval blanc, 5% solaris, 10% siegerrebe, 10% phoenix, 10% reichensteiner, and 5% bacchus.

Succulent pear and white-pepper aromas, followed by nectarine flavours and a refreshing spritz on the palate. Textbook Austrian grüner from the historic Stadt Krems winery.

A fine and refreshing white from the rolling hills of Gascony. This is made from a blend of grape varieties that includes chenin and gros manseng, with touches of tropical fruit and a flash of mouthwatering citrus.

Fresh, round and fruity, with the merest hint of spritz, this is a popular, easy-drinking style from the highly regarded Adega de Monção co-op in northern Portugal. Delicious with shellfish or light lunches.

A fine, dry white wine of great delicacy from the Mâconnais in southern Burgundy, the warmest part of the region. The wine is ripe and round, with flavours of toasted hazelnut, apple and stone fruit, a hint of citrus and a lovely streak of minerality. The quality of the wine reflects the deep involvement in its selection by successive buyers and the skill of our ‘man on the ground`, Jean-Marc Darbon, who excels in sourcing the right blending options for us to work with. The zander (sandre in French) thrives in the rivers of Burgundy and is shown on this wine`s new label. It has a fine flavour because its carnivorous and so is much superior to that of weed-eating fish. It`s as good as wild brown trout to eat and appears frequently on menus in Burgundian restaurants. Don`t hesitate to try it.

The co-operative movement has historically been important in Germany and Ruppertsberg is easily one of the best. This full, fruity dry white is made using a majority of silvaner for body and a little riesling for citrusy fruit and grip. A versatile white to be enjoyed with or without food.

Multi-regional chardonnay from France and the best of three worlds. The majority (60%) comes from Languedoc and especially from cooler Limoux. Weight of fruit comes from the 20% central Languedoc element. The final and essential touch comes from the Maconnais. Dry, clean and crisp. Perfect little chardonnay.

Chenin blanc is better known as a Loire grape but it has been resident in South Africa for many years, having been brought to the Cape by French Huguenot settlers. It is now the most widely planted grape in South Africa and is still sometimes known locally as 'steen', retaining enough acidity to make a crisp, fruity wine. This exclusive cuvée was produced for us by Villiera estate, and is made entirely from their own estate-grown fruit, a proportion of which came from old bush vines averaging over 30 years old - for greater depth of flavour. Chenin blanc is an ideal buffet wine, as its flavours are restrained and will not dominate your choice of dish. This wine's fresh fruity palate with good acidity makes it a good match for fish, crustaceans, and salads too.

Crisp and refreshing in the new vintage, with Muscadet's typical saline note that makes it such a good match for seafood and especially shellfish. This wine has been sourced for nearly 40 years from the impeccable family firm of Chéreau-Carré. Just before the river Loire spills into the Atlantic, it is joined by the Sèvre and Maine rivers. The vineyards around their confluence produce the best Muscadet, whose distinctive tangy flavour is enhanced by prolonged contact with the yeast lees produced during fermentation (sur Lie).