The idea of a wine society is not original. Numerous exist in France, and several are located in other wine producing countries. Germany also has several wine historical societies. The Wine and Food Society in the United Kingdom is large and active. Nevertheless, there are certain aspects of the Knights of Bacchus that are original and unique. Almost without exception, the wine brotherhoods in France are set up on a regional basis or in support of wines that are supreme in delimited areas. Regional examples are Bordeaux, Burgundy and Alsace. Delimited areas include Beaujolais, St. Emilion and Chateauneuf-du-Pape. These are promotional in nature, founded to sell the wines of these particular areas in preference to wines of other areas.

The key to the fulfillment of the aims of the Knights of Bacchus is to firmly establish a policy of active, individual participation. Over a comparatively brief period of time, each member should be involved in one and eventually all projects. The society should remain small, with a stated maximum number of members. This will permit a larger variety of field trips, allow members to become closer friends, and encourage more individual participation. The membership mixture should be developed as a cross section of society. It should not be overbalanced by any one segment which has a common identification. It should be international, with military and civilians, Americans and persons from other nations. This demands objectivity from the members, and the good of the society should transcend personal feelings in nomination of new members.The basic requirement for the nomination of any prospective member is that the individual have an honest interest in developing their wine education.

The Wine and Food Society opens its membership to anyone who has an interest in good wine and food, and was established to develop the wine trade as a whole. The Knights of Bacchus, on the other hand, is unique in that it is not intended to be a vehicle for wine promotion in any sense, other than to give further scientific and practical knowledge not normally available to the lay person. Wine education is to be based upon private reading, lectures by members and experts, field trips and wine probes of the various wines of the world. It is not intended to be merely a food and drink society.From the outset it is fully realized that the Knights of Bacchus can, because of its very nature, gravitate towards becoming a social club, losing its special purpose. The social functions of the club should exist but be accorded a subordinate role.