UK politicians splash taxpayer money on wines

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”. 

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. 

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).

The world's largest hotel wine cellar celebrates 150 years

Created in 1874, the legendary wine cellars at Monaco’s Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo are this year marking 150 years - in conspicuous style.

With 350,000 bottles spread over 1.5 kilometres of racks in a 1500m2 space, the hotel cellars are the largest in the world and hold myriad treasures. They will play host to a a series of dinners and masterclasses, The Monaco Tribune reports.

The Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer, the group which owns the hotel, is pulling out all the stops,

Stéphane Valeri, SBM’s managing director, says: “The 150th anniversary of the Hôtel de Paris cellars celebrates not only Marie Blanc’s fabulous legacy, but also the passion and talent of our cellarmen and sommeliers, who are keeping this heritage alive, whether in the cellars, or in our 30 or so restaurants and bars today.

"For our group, it’s about sharing and handing down through the years.”

Additionally, Hôtel de Paris Monte-Carlo’s is renewing its production tradition to launch a Grande Champagne Premier Cru de Cognac, an XO Extra Old quality Champagne Cognac.

The Cognac will be available from this month.

The cellar was carved into the rock under the palace at the request of Marie Blanc, the wife of François Blanc, founder of the Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer.

To coincide with the 150th anniversary, the cellars are undergoing a two-stage renovation project, beginning with a new entrance, reception, and tasting room.

Image: Monaco Tribune