You’ve probably heard of the Freemasons, the Knights Templar, Skull & Bones, or the Illuminati. But these elite wine groups might be even more exclusive — and arguably more intimidating.
Secret societies have always inspired equal parts fascination and suspicion. Outsiders imagine whispered meetings, coded rituals, and grand schemes of world domination. Shadowy handshakes. Locked doors. Endless speculation.
Those kinds of clubs are great if your goal is global control or government subversion. But what if your ambitions are a little less nefarious? What if you just want to sit down with like-minded people and drink outrageously good wine with great food?
As it turns out, there are elite wine societies that do exactly that. They’re steeped in tradition, fiercely selective, and not exactly handing out applications.
Good luck getting in.
Commanderie de Bordeaux
It should come as no surprise that one of the world’s most prestigious wine regions also boasts one of the most far-reaching wine societies on the planet.
For those who truly live and breathe Bordeaux — drinking it, collecting it, evangelizing it — the Commanderie de Bordeaux is the gold standard. With chapters spread across the globe, this centuries-old organization exists to promote, protect, and celebrate the wines of Bordeaux while bringing together deeply committed devotees.
Membership offers access to tastings, formal dinners, and events most wine lovers only hear about secondhand, all in the company of fellow obsessives who speak fluent First Growth.
Just don’t expect an open invitation.
The Commanderie de Bordeaux didn’t just appear out of nowhere. It all began with Henri Martin, proprietor of Château Gloria, who saw how successful Burgundy’s Tastevin society had been at boosting U.S. exports after WWII. Inspired, Martin founded the first chapter in 1959 in New York, soon followed by chapters in New Orleans, Los Angeles, and Philadelphia.
Today, there are 34 chapters in the U.S. with roughly 1,200 members, and more than 80 chapters worldwide, with new ones popping up in cities across the globe.
But membership isn't for everyone.
Joining isn’t as simple as filling out a form and paying dues. The New York chapter alone has a two-year wait list, and the process is as serious as it sounds.
Here’s the drill. You start with a rigorous written and oral exam, proving you actually know your wine. Next, you host a dinner for two members, serving wines from their cellar, ideally including coveted First Growths that were preferably corked before the Reagan administration. Finally, you pay annual dues, which vary by chapter but typically hover around $1,000 per year.
This isn’t just a wine club — it’s a vetting process that ensures only the most dedicated (and knowledgeable) Bordeaux enthusiasts make the cut.
Club Trésors de Champagne aka "Special Club"
Also known as Special Club, this is easily our favorite of the elite wine societies. Sure, 99.9% of the world has zero chance of membership, but we can all live vicariously through their releases.
The group’s mission is simple: showcase the very best expressions of Champagne. Unlike large-scale producers like Moët or Ruinart, who source grapes from across the region and craft wines in a uniform “house style,” Special Club focuses on wines that reflect a true sense of place.
Membership is reserved for grower-producers who are passionate about crafting wines that highlight the unique terroir of their specific vineyards.
There’s a strict set of rules governing production. First, all wines from a particular vintage are tasted in still form. Only if the vintage meets the club’s high standards do they move forward. Three years later, the wines are tasted again. Only wines that remain exceptional are bottled and released. And every winemaker must produce the champagne entirely on their own premises, using grapes they cultivate themselves. No outsourcing. No cutting corners.
We’re especially partial to Champagne Salmon, but honestly, any Special Club bottling you find is worth the experience. These are wines made by obsessive artisans, designed to be unforgettable.
Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin
If you watch Shark Tank, perhaps you've heard Mr. Wonderful use every opportunity to remind his fellow sharks and viewers about his most excellent taste in wine and his membership in this elite group of people who drink very fancy, very expensive Burgundy. He's talking about the Chevaliers du Tastevin.
In English, that’s “Fraternity of the Knights of the Wine-Tasting Cup.” Their headquarters? Clos de Vougeot in the heart of Burgundy although they have chapters all over the globe.
The club’s stated mission is lofty:
“To hold in high regard and promote Burgundian produce, particularly her great wines and regional cuisine. To maintain and revive the festivities, customs, and traditions of Burgundian folklore,”
…while also encouraging tourism to Burgundy.
Mostly, though? They organize elaborate dinners, drink insanely good wines, and swap stories about last weekend’s epic fox hunt or polo match.
Members wear ornate red-and-yellow robes during initiation ceremonies, where the new inductee is presented with the honorary tastevin, a shallow silver saucer used, as you might guess, to taste wine.
The club has more than 10,000 members worldwide, but that doesn’t mean it’s easy to join. For example, the New York chapter only welcomes 7 or 8 new members per year, keeping things fairly exclusive.
1243 Bourgogne Society
If the Tastevin club feels a little crowded with sub-$1M-net-worth aspirants, there’s an even more elite option, a club where members drink rarer, pricier wines from Burgundy and beyond. We’re talking 1978 Romanée-Conti and 1869 Yquem.
It’s called the 1243 Bourgogne Society. Fairly new yet steeped in history, their homebase occupies a small wing of the Hospices de Beaune, which was originally built in 1243.
The club was founded by Bernard Hervet and Olivier Halley. Hervet told Forbes in 2016:
“We currently have 60 members… Our maximum will be 100, no more, otherwise it is no longer special. I expect we will be full by next year.”
So, chances are the doors are already closed.
Members can store 100 bottles in the private cellar and host their own gatherings on-site. Events often include tasting verticals from rare vintages or quirky themed dinners like sampling only vintages ending in “6.”
Membership cost? Secret. But you can safely assume you’ll need a large ascot collection, multiple châteaux around the globe, and probably a private jet just to get on the radar.
Sure, most of these societies are out of reach for mere bourgeois wine lovers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t start your own. After all, the spirit of exclusivity is something anyone can appreciate — even from your own living room.
