As a member of The 1865 Wine Club, you have a unique opportunity to celebrate KA’s history and ensure its future!

Since 1865, the bonds of our brotherhood have only grown stronger. Our alumni have the unique opportunity to support the educational initiatives of the Kappa Alpha Order Educational Foundation by becoming members of the 1865 Wine Club . Brothers who join this club will receive two shipments of 3 or 6 bottles per year of handcrafted Napa Valley wines made exclusively for Kappa Alpha Order members.

When you enjoy a glass of Excelsior Napa Valley wine, you are supporting the Fraternity and the education of our brothers, while enjoying fine wine from America’s most famous wine country.

We would love for you to consider joining the 1865 Wine Club to celebrate our great fraternity and give back to the organization that holds such a special place in our hearts.

Practical Founders Red - Samuel Zenas Ammen - 2022 Red Wine - Napa Valley

Samuel Zenas Ammen joined Kappa Alpha in 1866 as a serious, disciplined young man, a veteran, and a Master Mason well versed in the power of ceremony and tradition. He found the fraternity's original ritual somewhat lacking, later recalling it had "nothing to touch the imagination of initiates nor stir their fancy." Rather than walk away, Ammen threw himself into reshaping it: meeting late into the night with fellow brothers, gathering ideas from chapter discussions and essays, and weaving in the inspiration of ancient chivalric orders. Piece by piece, he built a ritual, constitution, and set of symbols that transformed a small student society into what has been an enduring Order. These efforts earned him the title of Practical Founder of Kappa Alpha Order.

This elegant 2022 red wine opens with enticing aromas of ripe plum, black fig, and roasted chestnut, accented by subtle herbal notes and warm baking spice. The palate is rich and expressive, revealing layers of blackberry and dark cherry, supported by refined tannins and balanced acidity. Full-bodied yet beautifully composed, it finishes long and smooth, with lingering notes of spice and dark fruit—a wine inspired by the strength, passion, and determination of Alpha Phi’s own Louise Viola Shepard Hancock.