Australia has so called “clean skin” wines. Plain bottles with only the region and grape type.

Large volumes of surplus wine gets sold like this so the big brands can manage their brand value.

It’s pot luck what you get, but sometimes it’s gold and it’s nearly always half decent.

The Laundry Files by Charles Stross, might satisfy.

I’ve never come across another writer that fills The Culture hole.

Keeping their options open for an exit strategy. Must be for their domestic consumption