The luxury quarterly magazine’s content covers wine and spirits, culinary, cultural, travel, fashion, design and architecture. The publication is developed by The Conversion Group, the people behind the International Wine & Spirit Competition.
Appealing to the collectors and lovers of the finest things in life, Club Oenologique’s provides insider knowledge, entertainment and education around fine wines and spirits, alongside a focus on curated experience-led luxury, say the publishers.
The first edition of Club Oenologique includes an exploration of Burgundy by Jasper Morris MW, a visit to the astonishing new Macallan distillery on Speyside, an interview with celebrated cinematographer and wine producer Michael Seresin, and a visit to the heart of French truffle country. There are also recommendations for 36 prestige cuvée and vintage Champagnes among other wine and spirit recommendations.
Club Oenologique’s editorial team is headed up by Editor Adam Lechmere and Wine Director Christelle Guibert. Additional experts include Jasper Morris and Jane Anson, two of the most authoritative voices on Burgundy and Bordeaux respectively, as well as Champagne connoisseurs Essie Avellan, Peter Liem and Xavier Rousset. The team also includes photographers Tim Hall and Michel Joly and magazine designer Rashna Mody Clark.
Lifestyle articles – on butchery, recording on vinyl, salt, and urban art – are a vital part of the editorial mix.
Launch issue advertisers include Savoir beds, Ettinger leather goods, the Jefferson hotel in Washington DC, Mayfair tailors and Champagnes and whiskies.
As well as the magazine, Club Oenologique offers a calendar of exclusive experiences, including tastings, masterclasses, dinners and winery & distillery visits hosted by leading experts.
The inaugural issue of the magazine was officially presented at the IWSC Annual Awards Banquet last night and draws on the IWSC’s heritage. Part of a series of celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the competition, the magazine’s title celebrates its history and origins by bringing back the IWSC’s original name, a reference to oenology, the science and study of wine and winemaking.
Adam Lechmere, Editor of Club Oenologique and General Manager of the IWSC, said: “The launch of Club Oenologique is an important phase in the evolution of the IWSC, as we celebrate the finest wines and spirits in the world by writing about the lifestyle that surrounds them. A print publication was the natural way to properly reflect our subject matter. Sure, you can get beautiful images on a screen, but only with the printed page can you have a true emotional investment in the subject. We’re aiming this magazine at people who love the sheer tactility of beautifully-produced artefacts, whether wine, whisky, architecture or urban art.”
Allen Gibbons, Group CEO of the parent company of the IWSC, The Conversion Group, and IWSC Officer, said: “With the recent growth of the luxury sector and the trend towards ‘premiumisation’ in the wine industry – with an increasing number of consumers demanding fine wine alongside exclusive experiences – now is the perfect time to be launching this magazine. Club Oenologique appeals to a discerning and growing group who are bucking the general decline in consumer spending. The launch of the magazine represents the beginnings of a community, and we look forward to helping it thrive.”
Club Oenologique is priced at £10.
