Burgundy 2017

Burgundy: tasting the 2016s

The output of some Burgundian cellars is tiny at the best of times, so Toby had his work cut out securing parcels for our en primeur offer. I joined him for a week of this quest.

Beaujolais 2016

Changing Beaujolais

PR Manager Ewan Murray joins buyer Toby Morrhall in Beaujolais and discovers a region moving away from Nouveau and into the crus.

Italy 2016

Giro d'Italia: Part I

Sebastian Payne MW & News Editor Joanna Goodman cover five regions in five days, visiting suppliers old and new, tasting new blends of Society and Exhibition wines and making new discoveries to offer members.

Piedmont 2017

In pursuit of Piedmont’s finest

In preparation for our first ever en primeur offer of 2013 Barolos, buyer Sebastian Payne MW heads to Piedmont in January 2017 to pick the best of the crop. His travelling companions, colleagues David Marsh and Louisa Peskett, both new to the region, share their experiences.

South America 2016

Stories from South America

Buyer Toby Morrhall shares his experiences from visits to Chile and Argentina, finding the best Chilean carmenère, spending a weekend on the coast with Cristóbal Undurraga, the art of the asado, and the romantic tale behind a new chenin blanc from Roberto de la Mota

Italy 2016

Giro d’Italia: Part II

The final leg of this mammoth tour taking in five regions in just five days sees buyer Sebastian Payne MW and News editor Joanna Goodman in land-locked Umbria with Montefalco producer Scacciadiavoli and the Barberanis in Orvieto. Finishing up in Tuscany, they spend time with our Society Chianti Rufina supplier where Gualberto talks on video about the true nature of Rufina wines.

Washington, USA 2016

Discovering Washington

Buyer Freddy Bulmer visits one of the USA’s most up-and-coming wine regions to discover its potential and meet the producers shaping the future of the region.

Beaujolais 2017

Growing Beaujolais

It’s not often that we examine the economics of wine regions, but it’s crunch time in Beaujolais with many growers going out of business. Buyer Toby Morrhall reports on changes taking place to transform the landscape and fortunes of this region and gets under the skin of Beaujolais’ top crus.

Champagne 2016

Champagne Inspiration

Pierre Mansour finds out what two young growers are bringing to Champagne and tastes through the archives at Alfred Gratien, while Janet Wynne Evans shares thoughts on Champagne and food pairing.

Loire 2016

The Glories of the Loire

Cheryl Lee joins Joanna Locke MW on a trip to the Loire to get an early taste of the 2015 Muscadet vintage, before heading to Saumur to blend our latest Crémant.

Provence 2017

Pursuing pinks: two days in Provence

Forget fedoras and linens, if you're on a buying trip to Provence in January, you'd better pack your woollies!

South Africa 2016

Cape Expectations

A new generation has brought a new energy to the Cape's winelands, making this not just one of the most beautiful regions to visit, but also one of the most exciting.

Austria 2016

Discovering Austria

The Society’s digital copywriter Martin Brown joins buyer Sarah Knowles MW on a tour of Austria, where they enjoy the fruits of the excellent 2015 vintage and blend a new Society wine.

Portugal 2016

Portugal Unfortified

Considering its size, Portugal can stake a convincing claim to being the most diverse winemaking country anywhere. Its non-fortified wines continue to excite us.

Rhône 2016

Revisiting the Rhône

Buyer Marcel Williams reminisces about witnessing and helping to bring in the 2016 harvest.

Portugal 2017

A tale of two trade fairs

Joanna Locke MW on two terrific trade fairs in Porto and Lisbon, tips for tourists and updates on Vinho Verde, Bairrada and Dão.

Loire 2017: Part II

Out of Angers

Buyer Jo Locke MW and News & Content Editor Jo Goodman head out of the trade fair in Angers and into the cellars of some of our key suppliers in the region: Gratien & Meyer in Saumur, the Bougrier family in their brand new winery and the hewn-out tuffeau caves in Vouvray, Chinon and Touraine-Chenonceaux.

Argentina

Argentina: the present and the future

Argentina's malbecs, with their softly alluring, fruit-forward charm, are deservedly in vogue. I've been buying South American wine for over two decades and have been excited to see the increasing variety and nuance.

England 2016

Blending Three Choirs

English wines are increasingly valued by members and we are lucky enough to have exclusive blends from long-time producers, Three Choirs. So what better place to start learning about blending wines than on our own shores with some master blenders?

South Africa 2016: Part 2

The Cape in a new light

A new generation has brought a new energy to the Cape's winelands, making this not just one of the most beautiful regions to visit, but also one of the most exciting.

Spain 2016

Buyer Pierre Mansour makes a pilgrimage to Spain, to visit one of the country's oldest but least known wine regions, before returning with Trainee Buyer Freddy Bulmer to try some exclusive and very special blends.

Bordeaux 2016

Bordeaux for the first time

Trainee buyer Freddy Bulmer joins head of buying Tim Sykes on an eye-opening trip to Bordeaux where he’s thrown in at the deep end with trips to Society favourites Sichel, Dourthe, Moueix and Dubourdieu.

Australia 2016

Adventures in Oz

Buyer Sarah Knowles MW embarked on a whirlwind tour of Australia, discovering the jewels of the 2016 vintage and scoping out exciting additions to the Exhibition range, overcoming floods, blackouts and hunting down wild orchids along the way.

Piedmont 2015

Perfect Piedmont

Protected by the Alps to the north and west and the Appennines to the south, Italy's north west is one of the wine world's most exciting regions. Paul and Janet try to get to grips with the Langhe, map Barolo, understand Barbaresco and round-up the latest Barolo vintages

Champagne 2015

The Pull of Pol

Buyer Pierre Mansour and head of copy Paul Trelford visit Champagne house Pol Roger, ‘the world’s most drinkable address’ and find out more about the importance of ageing and the date of disgorgement.

Bordeaux En Primeur 2016

A First Taste of Bordeaux En Primeur

Assessing wine when it is still in barrel and making a judgement, not just about its quality, but also its potential keeping quality, is a challenging task which David Marsh was intrigued to witness first hand.

New Zealand 2016

Springtime in New Zealand

A whistle-stop tour en route to Oz to take in some key producers, taste new wines and pick up on the latest gossip!

Southern Italy 2016

Autumn in the heel of Italy

Tim Sykes accompanies Italian buyer Sebastian Payne MW on a whistle-stop tour of Campania, Puglia, Basilicata and Calabria, visiting existing suppliers and prospecting for new ones. Surprising highlights include sadly neglected Calabria and singing nuns!

France 2015

South by South-West

Marcel Orford-Williams embarks on a whistle-stop tour starting in Saumur, on to the South West, the Languedoc then hopping over to Corsica.

Tuscany 2016

On tour in Tuscany 2016

News editor Joanna Goodman and buyer Sebastian Payne MW get under the skin of the sensitive sangiovese grape in its spiritual homeland of Tuscany

Burgundy 2016

Assessing Burgundy

Freddy Bulmer joins buyer for Burgundy Toby Morrhall for the last leg of his trip to assess wines from the 2015 vintage. He shares his thoughts on tasting you Burgundy and why it holds more mystery for him than Bordeaux and introduces us to some of the growers he met.

Portugal 2015

Douro top to toe

Digital analyst and keen wine student David Mitchell joins buyer Joanna Locke MW on a revelatory three-day tour of the Douro Valley.

Germany 2016

Germany Revisited

Marcel Orford-Williams reflects on how history has shaped the German wine scene and on the how it has changed over the last decade.

Cognac 2017

Getting to know Cognac

Emma Briffett learns about the dedication put into creating our Society and Exhibition Cognacs, even witnessing one of them being blended, and changes from a relative Cognac novice to an avid enthusiast.

Loire 2017

Salon des Vins de Loire

The annual Loire trade fair was an exciting opportunity for buyer Jo Locke and News & Content Editor Joanna Goodman to catch up with some of our producers - and discover a few new ones too.