The Enthusiast
$47 / year
- Monthly newsletter (printed on parchment-style paper, delivered by a man named Claude)
- Access to the Society WhatsApp group (muted by default)
- One (1) complimentary wine glass smashing per year
The Society
We are a society of discerning individuals who believe that wine is not merely a beverage, but a philosophical position. Established in 1987 in a converted Richmond warehouse, we have been swirling, sniffing, and pontificating for nearly four decades.
- We swirl. We do not swirl ironically.
- We own at least one decanter we don't know how to use.
- We have strong opinions about cork vs. screwcap and will share them unprompted.
Our Philosophy
A wine untasted is a conversation unhad.
— Jaques (founder, disappeared 1992 under mysterious circumstances involving a Châteauneuf-du-Pape and a hot air balloon)
We do not "drink" wine. We engage in a dialogical sensory encounter with fermented grape derivatives.
Membership Tiers
The Connoisseur
$147 / year
- Everything in Enthusiast
- Personalised tasting notes for any wine you send us a photo of
- Invitation to the Annual General Misunderstanding
- Society lapel pin (slightly tarnished)
The Patron
$447 / year
- Everything in Connoisseur
- Your name engraved on a barrel we definitely own
- Right of first refusal on any wine Jaques left behind
- Key to the cellar (location: undisclosed; key: purely ceremonial)
- INVITE-ONLY. Apply with a handwritten letter.
The Cellar
The cellar beneath 1 Palmer Street has not been opened since 1992. We believe Jaques is still in there. We are not in a hurry to find out.
Request a ViewingTestimonials
I joined for the wine. I stayed because I forgot my coat.— Margaret, member since 1994
The Society taught me that any wine can be described as "notes of regret and autumn."— Dr. Philip Chen
I don't actually like wine. Don't tell the others.— Anonymous Patron