The building is 18th century, but the subterranean vaults themselves may be a thousand years old and have, appropriately, been used for the storage of wine for most of this time. The earliest owners on record were the monks of Newbattle Abbey. After the reformation they passed to the Vintner's Guild of the Port of Leith, which met in The Vintner's Room, now part of the excellent restaurant beneath the Society.

The subterranean vaults may be 1,000 years old.