The Wine Society
co-operative wine retailer | |
Founded | 1874 |
---|---|
Headquarters | Gunnels Wood Road, Stevenage, Hertfordshire SG1 2BT United Kingdom |
Website | thewinesociety |
The International Exhibition Co-operative Wine Society Limited, commonly referred to as The Wine Society, is the world's oldest wine club[1] having been founded on 4 August 1874 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, United Kingdom.[2]
The Wine Society was created and still operates as a
It has received several accolades from the wine trade industry throughout the years and is currently Decanter Outstanding Retailer of the Year (for the seventh time in eight years) and the IWC Wine Club of the Year (for the third consecutive year).
History
The foundation of The Wine Society followed the last of the great
Major-General
George E. Scrivenor, a senior
Although there is no evidence explaining why Major-General Scott suggested following the example of the
The "Objects of the Society" were originally published as follows:[citation needed]
- To purchase and import Foreign Wines, and to sell them at cheap rates to Members of the Society.
- To introduce, in addition to the Wines in general domestic use, other Foreign Wines hitherto unknown or but little known in this country.
- To endeavour to obtain Wines direct from the growers, in a pure, unadulterated condition, and, as far as possible, free from added spirit.
- The Society is enrolled under the Industrial and Provident Societies' Act, 1876.
- The Interest of a Member is limited to One Share.
- No Dividend will at any time be payable on the Shares, which will form the Working Capital of the Society.
- Wines will be sold at the lowest possible price, and for ready money only.
The first Chairman of The Wine Society was Norman MacLeod, the 25th Chief of the
Other famous members during The Wine Society's early years included
The Wine Society grew gradually and, without any external shareholders to consider, surplus trading profits were used to provide better services to members and to increase the value of its wines.
By 1965, The Wine Society was operating out of three separate cellars in London: one under the
In 1965, thanks to the foresight of the then chairman Edmund Penning-Rowsell and treasurer Norman Alexander, The Wine Society moved to more suitable premises in Stevenage to the north of London, where all its operations have since been concentrated.
The freehold of the Stevenage site was acquired in 1983, adjacent land purchased, a fleet of own delivery vans built up, and over 250,000 square feet (23,000 m2) of temperature-controlled warehouses have been built between 1965 and 2008 to contain some seven million bottles of wine.
Membership
In order to trade with The Wine Society, proof of membership is required as only members with
Wine buyers
The Wine Society's eight buyers, who have been referred to as "some of the best noses in the business",[1] are briefed to buy only wines that they are enthusiastic about from producers who share their passion for quality at all price levels.[4]
The team is led by Pierre Mansour and includes three
According to Charles Metcalfe of the International Wine Challenge, "much of The Society's success is down to the buyers – truffle-snufflers, experts at finding interesting parcels from smaller producers and not buying for the sake of fashion."[4]
Management
The board of The Wine Society is known as the Committee and it consists of up to 13 members. Eight are elected by the membership; one is the Chief executive; and up to another four may be co-opted for limited periods by the eight elected members. The elected members appoint from their number the chairman and Deputy chairman (known as the Officers).[citation needed]
The Committee has responsibility to the members for the direction of the business, with day-to-day management in the hands of an executive team led by the Chief executive.[4] The current CEO is Stephen Finlan.
See also
References
- ^ a b "Wine on the Web". Archived from the original on 17 February 2012. Retrieved 26 March 2008.
- ^ Edmund Penning-Rowsell, A Short History of The Wine Society, 1989.[where?]
- ^ a b "History of the Society". The Wine Society. Archived from the original on 18 November 2015. Retrieved 17 November 2015.
- ^ a b c d The Wine Society Archived 10 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine.