The Wine Society ‘rediscovers its innovation’ with 60 new wines from far-flung wine regions
The Wine Society has refreshed its range with a slew of new wines from Poland, Armenia, Syria, Turkey and the Canary Island, saying it has “rediscovered its spirit of innovation and exploration”.
Around half of the wines at the tasting were new to the range, and most are not the “under £10 versions” but more premium wines above the £20 mark, CEO Steve Finlan told db.
The additions includes three wines from Poland: a Chardonnay Breton, a Pinot Noir Minor and a Blaufränkisch from producer Kamil Barczentewicz (RRP: £22 and £26 and £18 respectively) from grapes grown on limestone slopes, close to the Vistula River in the south-east of the country; an Armenian classic red from producer Zulal, made from areni (RRP: £19); an “energetic” red wine produced “in the wake of Tenerife’s worst wildfires in 40 years”, Piedra Fluida Majec, a blend of listan nego and listan blanco (RRP: £14.95).
Wines from other rare grapes include a lower alcohol white wine made from a Turkish grape Sungurlu, which is facing extinction, by producer Yaban Kolektif. The grapes for the Yaban Kolektif’s Sungurlu ‘Ayağıbüyük’ 2023 (RRP: £33) are hand-picked from vineyards planted more than 100 year ago in the village of Ayağıbüyük, in the southeast district in Çorum.
“We have rediscovered our innovation and exploration as well,” CEO Steve Finlan told db at last week’s tasting.
The team has boosted its range of new sparkling wines with a traditional method sparkling wine from Armenia, Keush Origins Brut NV (RRP: £21) which is made from indigenous voskehat and khatouni grapes from 60-100 year old ungrafted vines planted at 1500-1750m asl (some of Europe’s highest vineyards, buyer Fiona Hayes noted); two new Crémant – a Crémant du Jura Brut NV from Domaine de la Croisee Comtoise (RRP: £17) and a Cremant d’Alsace 2020 from Domaine Boxler (RRP: £25), a producer better known for its still wines; and Pol Roger Blanc de Blanc 2016 vintage, which is being released only in small quantities (RRP: £91).
It has also expanded its own label sparkling ranges, with additions to the Exhibition range including a Cava Gran Reserva, a “modestly priced” Cap Classique that offers “great complexity and style” to put this South African sparkler from producer Simonsig in the limelight; and a late-disgorged English sparkling wine.
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Other additions to the Exhibition range include a Godello from producer Virgen de Galir (RRP: £14.50), a Brunello di Montalcino and an own-label wine from Jura, which it says is a first for an own-label range.
Finally, Australia is the subject for its rolling Fine Wine Spotlight, which was introduced in July, with: a Forage Supply Co ‘The Riptide’ Barossa Valley Semillon Viognier-Rousanne 2025 (RRP: £14.95) and Cirillo ‘1850 Ancestor Vine’ Barossa Valley Semillon (RRP: £26) and a 2018 vintage Grenache from the same producer (RRP: £44) .
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