Steve Finlan: ‘Looking Back, Forging Ahead’

By Harpers Editorial team

Published: 11 September, 2026

Rounding off our Q&A series, The Wine Society’s CEO spells out the costs to business of the 2024 budget, enthuses on the joys of the wine world and shares a desert island appetite for an endless supply of Hermitage and Comte.

How has business been for you in the first half of 2026 and how do things compare to where you were last year?

There is no doubt that this is a tough trading environment which I will come onto later, but we are holding our own with sales up against last year. There has been a lot of shape to this with En Primeur tough in most regions, but a very good Bordeaux campaign just closed. Our approach to First Release has more than compensated for this. We have, perhaps not surprisingly given the weather, seen our best rosé performance with other categories generally flat on, or slightly above last year. I see more reason to feel relieved rather than completely satisfied with this performance which reflects the current market conditions and consumer sentiment.

What are you most proud of achieving this year in terms of driving the business forward?

We have had an excellent year of project delivery in the first half, we’ve built an ecosystem around our website with our in-house team, along with two external partners, working together to deliver insight, experimentation, design and implementation as part of a virtual team format. We’ve launched our Fine Wine Service for members – 39,000 are purchasing fine wine regularly, making it our fastest growing member segment. And, at a time when spending is dropping in sustainability, we’ve announced the winners of our latest Climate & Nature Programme winners, who receive grants from our carbon-offsetting pool of £65k for nature-friendly farming practice.

What have been the biggest challenges so far this year and how have you sought to circumvent those?

The biggest challenge is the rise in the cost of doing business. The damage stemming from the 2024 budget cannot be overestimated. Last year we paid £57m to government compared to £46m two years ago – with sales up only marginally. In addition, the return of higher inflation and rising costs across all business activity has also spiked. The real problem here is that the government see tax raising one issue at a time, when business experience them all at once.

Looking ahead to the second half of the year, what do you have in the pipeline?

We came into the second half with a brilliant South Africa Fine Wine Spotlight, including a big En Primeur campaign (a first!).

As mentioned already, fine wine continues to be emphasised with the launch of a Fine Wine service for members and we will see the release of some very exciting wines both classic and more adventurous as our buyers continue to innovate.

What significant or emerging trends are you seeing in the drinks’ world that are likely to have an impact on the future nature of trade?

When we think about this question, it always leans towards AI, Lo/No, less but better, weather events, etc.

For me I see the early stages of the wine industry taking issues of labour abuse in the supply chain seriously. Dom De Ville, our director of sustainability, has done a great job of raising and talking about this issue. Wine remains well behind fashion and food in addressing these concerns and I would like to see this becoming more than just an emerging trend.

From government, consumers, or the trade itself, what change(s) would you most like to see to help your business and others to thrive?

The immediate concern that springs to mind is to pause all the environmental taxes and bring them all together into something which is simple and effective. DRS in Wales is an example of thinking that is simply not joined up and nowhere near ready. In all cases we are being asked to provide more data across multiple schemes and in some cases for multiple (and different) schemes across the UK. On top of the other costs and complexity we face, this is not acceptable.

What fills you with joy and optimism about the drinks world?

More great wine being produced in more places. Despite the challenges, the wine industry is a great place to work with amazing wine and brilliant people working so hard to bring pleasure to wine lovers everywhere.

Any other predictions for the second half of the year?

Common sense to break out at budget time – but I’m not holding my breath.

Quick fire questions…

Burgundy or Bordeaux?

Bordeaux – family holidays in the seventies!

Germany or Greece?

Tough – but I’m going Greece by a nose

Pet nat or prosecco?

Neither really but I do like an Aperol Spritz

A bottle or by the glass?

A bottle unless exploring

Whisky, rum, gin or tequila/mezcal (for sipping)?