Australian politicians have been under fire for taking flight upgrades and using posh Qantas lounges but in the UK politicians have been splashing out on wines for themselves and their guests.
The UK Government has spent £97,189 (that's around $190,000 Aussie dollars) restocking its wine cellars in the last two years, government hospitality figures show.
News portal the drinks business reported that there are currently 31,090 bottles in stock, with an estimated market value of £3.8 million, the figures showed,
The stats showed that the government cellar was topped up with £49,862 worth of wines during 2023-24, including 888 bottles of white Burgundy, following spending of £47,327 the previous year.
Over the two-year period, 1,920 bottles of English sparkling wine were purchased, 1,260 bottles of white reception wine and 480 bottles of red reception wine, as well as 60 bottles of gin.
The average cost per bottle of wine purchased rose from £17.28 in 2022-23 to £24.66 in 2023-24.
Meanwhile, the hospitality wine cellar report also showed that the number of bottles drunk in 2023 to 2024 rose by 4% to 2,813 bottles compared to 2,713 bottles of wines and spirits used in 2022 to 2023, and 1,303 in 2021-22.
The cellar, which was set up in 1922 and is located in the basement of Lancaster House in Whitehall (above), is used to provide guests of the government, both domestic and international, with wines “of appropriate quality at reasonable cost”.
Meanwhile, the hospitality wine cellar report also showed that the number of bottles drunk in 2023 to 2024 rose by 4% to 2,813 bottles compared to 2,713 bottles of wines and spirits used in 2022 to 2023, and 1,303 in 2021-22.
The cellar, which was set up in 1922 and is located in the basement of Lancaster House in Whitehall (above), is used to provide guests of the government, both domestic and international, with wines “of appropriate quality at reasonable cost”.
A committee for the cellar, which comprises four MWs, also advises on wines – both those to be used at large-scale receptions, as well as fine wines that can be bought young and matured in the cellar.
Over the two-year period, 5,526 bottles of wine were drunk (100 less in 2023-2024 than in the previous year), of which around 65% (3,565) were English sparkling wines.
Over the two-year period, 5,526 bottles of wine were drunk (100 less in 2023-2024 than in the previous year), of which around 65% (3,565) were English sparkling wines.
Bordeaux was the most consumed wine, with 307 bottles of red Bordeaux consumed over the two-year period, followed by 215 bottles of red Burgundy, and 211 of white Burgundy.
Individually, the top bottles in 2022-3 included a Pouilly-Fuisse les Vieilles Vignes 2007 ( maker identified), which clocked up the most bottles in 2022-23 (53), ahead of Bordeaux’s Chateau Rauzan-Segla 1994 (50).
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