Government Hospitality Wine Cellar biennial report 2022 to 2024
Published 31 October 2024
© Crown copyright 2024
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Introduction
1. The Government Wine Cellar is a working resource that is used for the sole purpose of supporting Government Hospitality. The Cellar was founded in 1922, and is managed by the Government Wine Committee, which advises on the purchase and use of wine.
2. This report provides a comprehensive overview of the usage: value, costs and stock levels of the Government Wine Cellar, for financial years 2022 to 2024.
The Government Wine Committee
3. This advisory Committee consist of four Members who are qualified Masters of Wine. The Chairman is a retired senior diplomat. The Committee meets three times a year. Members are un-paid.
4. The aim of the Committee is to enable the government to manage the Cellar in the most cost-effective manner and to serve guests, from home and overseas, with wines of appropriate quality at reasonable cost.
Purchase and sale
5. The Committee advise on wines that can be bought, including fine wines that are young and relatively inexpensive which are then held in the Cellar to be used when fully mature, and wines for use at large-scale receptions which are bought in bulk.
6. The Committee also assess the Cellar’s stock and advise on items that should be sold to ensure the Cellar is self-financing. Decisions are based on the relative value of items and their likely future use.
Usage
7. Advice on usage is based on the Committee’s assessment of a particular vintage’s grading, quality and readiness, and assessed against an event’s strategic significance. The number and seniority of the invited guests is also considered. Ministers hosting events do not select wines.
Statistics
8. Figures used in this report relate to bottles used and no distinction is made between half bottles (37.5 ml), whole bottles (75 ml), or magnums (150 ml) of wine. Costs or values have been rounded to the nearest whole number.
9. The statistics distinguish between reception and fine wines, with the latter described by country of origin but in the case of France and Germany wines are further defined by their region of origin.
10. All statistics are calculated as of 31 March in each respective year. Information on the individual costs of the wines used and purchased is not released to protect Government Hospitality’s commercial interests (Freedom of Information Act 2000, section 43 (2) exemption) and its ability to achieve significant discounts from suppliers.
11. Details of wines used can be found at Annex A, and of wines purchased at Annex B.
Overview
12. In 2023 to 2024 total usage rose by approximately 4% to 2,813 bottles compared to 2,713 bottles of wines and spirits used in 2022 to 2023. (This compares to 1,303 bottles of wines and spirits used in 2021 to 2022).
In detail
| Stock | 2022 to 2023 | 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total stock (bottles) | 32,234 | 31,090 |
| Total value at cost | £804,985 | £795,999 |
| Estimated market value | £3.941 million | £3.803 million |
| Usage | 2022 to 2023 | 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total number of bottles used | 2,813 | 2,713 |
| Of which were British | 1794 | 1771 |
| As a % of the total | 64% | 65% |
| This comprised | 2022 to 2023 | 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Wines | 1,661 | 1,458 |
| Reception Wines (white) | 787 | 883 |
| Reception Wines (red) | 325 | 339 |
| Spirits & Brandies | 40 | 33 |
| Value at cost of stock used | £45,725 | £45,093 |
| Average cost per bottle used | £16.25 | £16.62 |
| Sales and purchases | 2022 to 2023 | 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Total receipts / revenues: | £45,759 | £82,015.47 |
| Revenue from sales of stock | £5,500 | £49,890 |
| Repayments by other government departments for wines used | £40,259 | £32,125.47 |
| Expenditure on new stock | £47,327 | £49,862 |
| Average cost per bottle of wine purchased | £17.28 | £24.66 |
Annex A: cellar wines and spirits consumption for April 2022 to March 2024
Cellar wines and spirits consumption: April 2022 to March 2023
| Australia | Total |
|---|---|
| Warner Vineyard, Giaconda Shiraz 2002 | 36 |
| Katnook Estate Prodigy Shiraz 2002 | 2 |
| Bordeaux (red) | Total |
|---|---|
| Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 1990 | 17 |
| Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 1990 | 6 |
| Domaine de Chevalier 1990 | 4 |
| Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 1994 | 2 |
| Chateau Latour a Pomerol 1994 | 9 |
| Chateau Lynch-Bages 1994 | 2 |
| Chateau Rauzan-Segla 1994 | 50 |
| Chateau Brane-Cantenac 1995 | 12 |
| Chateau Durfort-Vivens 1995 | 4 |
| Chateau La Lagune 1996 | 8 |
| Chateau Talbot 1996 | 13 |
| Chateau Feytit-Clinet (Mags) 2000 | 18 |
| Chateau Lynch Bages 2000 | 7 |
| Bordeaux (white) | Total |
|---|---|
| Chateau Rieussec 1997 | 1 |
| Chateau Doisy –Daene 2001 | 5 |
| Chateau La Tour Blanche (½bottles) 2001 | 3 |
| Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2001 | 17 |
| Chateau Rieussec 2007 | 18 |
| Burgundy (red) | Total |
|---|---|
| Clos de Vougeot Dom. J Drouhin 1996 | 4 |
| Aloxe-Corton, Clos du Chapitre, Champy Pere et cie 1999 | 10 |
| Clos de Vougeot Dom. Hudelot-Noellat 1999 | 7 |
| Nuits-St-Georges Les Pruliers Dom. Chevillon 1999 | 10 |
| Pommard Clos des Epeneaux Dom. Comte Armand 1999 | 3 |
| Beaune Clos des Mouches Dom. Joseph Drouin 2002 | 5 |
| Latricieres-Chambertin Drouhin-Laroze 2002 | 12 |
| Vosne-Romanee Les Malconsorts Dom. Potel 2002 | 12 |
| Clos de Vougeot Rene Engel 2003 | 18 |
| Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur Marc Roy 2005 | 1 |
| Gevrey-Chambertin Les Cazetiers Faiveley 2009 | 8 |
| Burgundy (white) | Total |
|---|---|
| Chevalier-Montrachet Dom. M. Niellon 1988 | 9 |
| Batard-Montrachet 1989 | 2 |
| Pouilly-Fuisse les Vieilles Vignes 2007 | 53 |
| Meursault Les Charmes Louis Jadot 2013 | 2 |
| Chablis Cote de Lechet Dom. des Malandes 2014 | 4 |
| Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champ Gains 2014 | 16 |
| Chassagne-Montrachet Morgeot Duc de Magenta Clos de la Chapelle 2014 | 30 |
| Puligny-Montrachet La Garenne, Dom. Faiveley 2014 | 12 |
| Champagne | Total |
|---|---|
| Pol Roger, Extra Cuvee Reserve 1998 | 1 |
| Legras Presidence Vieilles Vignes Grand Cru Brut 2002 | 1 |
| Louis Roederer Carte Blanche NV | 2 |
| Chile | Total |
|---|---|
| Le Dix de los Vascos Colchagua Dom. Baron de Rothschild 2001 | 4 |
| Cognac | Total |
|---|---|
| Hennessy 1912 | ¼ |
| Frapin Grande Champagne Cognac 1948 | ½ |
| Frapin FLB NV | ¼ |
| England | Total |
|---|---|
| Chapel Down Chardonnay 2010 | 8 |
| Chapel Down Chardonnay 2014 | 15 |
| Camel Valley Bacchus Dry 2015 | 14 |
| Kits Coty Chapel Down Chardonnay 2015 | 19 |
| Camel Valley Atlantic Dry 2018 | 37 |
| Chapel Down Flint Dry 2018 | 4 |
| Flint Vineyard Silex Blanc 2018 | 12 |
| Winbrirri Vineyard Bacchus 2018 | 17 |
| Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2020 | 4 |
| Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2020 | 16 |
| Breaky Bottom Brut 2014 | 1 |
| Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 | 91 |
| Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs 2014 | 79 |
| Ridgeview Blanc de Blancs 2016 | 58 |
| Ridgeview Rose de Noirs 2016 | 2 |
| Balfour Hush Heath 2018 | 1 |
| Coates & Seeley NV | 144 |
| Hambledon Classic Cuvee NV | 88 |
| Nyetimber Classic Cuvee NV | 74 |
| Nyetimber Demi Sec NV | 17 |
| Ridgeview Cavendish NV | 306 |
| Loire | Total |
|---|---|
| Pouilly-Fume, Dom. Thibault Andre Dezat et Fils 2015 | 15 |
| New Zealand | Total |
|---|---|
| Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2016 Kumeu River | 36 |
| Port | Total |
|---|---|
| Taylor 1977 | 5 |
| Fonseca 1983 | 2 |
| Graham 1983 | 14 |
| Taylor 1983 | 16 |
| Churchill 1985 | 7 |
| Graham 1985 | 3 |
| Fonseca 1985 | 2 |
| Rhein | Total |
|---|---|
| Roxheimer Hollenpfad Riesling Trocken, H.Donnhoff 2011 | 2 |
| Rhone | Total |
|---|---|
| Chateauneuf-du-Pape Chante le Merle 2007 | 2 |
| Cote-Rotie, Dom. Jean-Michel Stephan 2007 | 2 |
| Gigondas Pierre Aiguille, Paul Jaboulet Aine 2007 | 2 |
| South Africa | Total |
|---|---|
| Hamilton Russell Pinot Noir Walker Bay 2003 | 5 |
| Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2008 | 31 |
| Spain | Total |
|---|---|
| Bodegas Alion Ribera del Duero 2000 | 2 |
| Reception wines | Total |
|---|---|
| Chapel Down Bacchus 2018 | 787 |
| Valpolicella Allegrini 2016 | 325 |
| Spirits | Total |
|---|---|
| Gin | 37 |
| Black Label Whisky | ½ |
| Dalwhinnie Single Malt Whisky | ½ |
Wine used at tastings
Chateau Haut-Brion 2001
Chateau la Fleur Petrus 2001
Chateau La Grave Pomerol 2001
Chateau La Lagune 2001
Chateau la Mission Haut-Brion 2001
Chateau Latour a Pomerol 2001
Chateau Leoville-Poyferre 2001
Chateau Montrose 2001
Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 2001
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 2001
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2001
Chateau Pontet Canet 2001
Chateau Bahans Haut-Brion 2003
Chateau Beausejour Duffau-Lagarosse 2003
Chateau d’Armailhac 2003
Chateau Haut Bailly 2003
Chateau La Lagune 2003
Chateau La Mission Haut-Brion 2003
Chateau Les Grands Chenes 2003
Chateau Lynch Bages 2003
Chateau Plince 2003
Chateau Rausan-Segla 2003
Pavillon Rouge du Chateau Margaux 2003
Chateau d’Angludet 2004
Chateau Gazin 2004
Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 2004
Chateau Gruaud-Larose 2004
Chateau La Conseillante 2004
Chateau la Mission-Haut-Brion 2004
Chateau Lynch Bages 2004
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Comtesse de Lalande 2004
Chateau Talbot 2004
Clos Fourtet 2004
Domaine de Chevalier 2004
Vieux Chateau Certan 2004
Chateau Belgrave 2005
Chateau Brane-Cantenac 2005
Chateau Gruaud-Larose 2005
Chateau Lagrange 2005
Chateau Leoville-Barton 2005
Chateau Lynch Bages 2005
Chateau Pichon-Longueville Baron 2005
Chateau Talbot 2005
Domaine de Chevalier 2005
Vieux Chateau Certan 2005
Aloxe-Corton, Clos du Chapitre, Champy Pere et cie 1999
Clos de Vougeot Dom. Hudelot-Noellat 1999
Le Corton, Dom. Bouchard Pere et Fils 1999
Nuits-St-Georges Les Pruliers Dom. Chevillon 1999
Pommard Clos des Epeneaux Dom. Comte Armand 1999
Savigny-les-Beaune Lavieres, Dom. Chandon de Briailles 1999
Volnay Caillerets Ancienne Cuvee Carnot, Dom Bouchard Pere et Fils 1999
Volnay Clos de la Barre, Louis Jadot 1999
Vosne Romanee Les Malconsorts 1999
Beaune Clos des Mouches Dom. Joseph Drouin 2002
Bonnes-Mares Dom. Drouhin-Larose 2002
Chassagne-Montrachet, Chateau de la Maltroye 2002
Latricieres-Chambertin Dom. Nicolas Potel 2002
Latricieres-Chambertin Drouhin-Laroze 2002
Nuits-Saint-Georges Clos des Forets Saint Georges 2002
Nuits-Saint-Georges Dom. des Perdrix 2002
Nuits-Saint-Georges Les Boudots, Louis Jadot 2002
Vosne-Romanee Dom. Michel Gros 2002
Vosne-Romanee Les Malconsorts Dom. Potel 2002
Cellar wines and spirits consumption: April 2023 to March 2024
| Alsace | Total |
|---|---|
| Riesling Grand Cru Saering Dom. Schlumberger 2008 | 3 |
| Australia | Total |
|---|---|
| Pierro Chardonnay Margaret River 2013 | 3 |
| Bordeaux (red) | Total |
|---|---|
| Chateau Margaux 1983 | 4 |
| Chateau Mouton-Rothschild 1989 | 35 |
| Chateau Talbot 1990 | 2 |
| Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste 1994 | 12 |
| Chateau La Grave-a-Pomerol 1994 | 20 |
| Chateau Latour a Pomerol 1994 | 8 |
| Chateau Leoville-Barton 1994 | 19 |
| Chateau Lynch Bages 1994 | 6 |
| Chateau Rauzan Segla 1994 | 12 |
| Chateau Brane-Cantenac 1995 | 4 |
| Chateau Grand Mayne 1995 | 4 |
| Chateau La Fleur-Petrus 1995 | 2 |
| Chateau Lagrange 1995 | 3 |
| Chateau Latour a Pomerol 1995 | 2 |
| Domaine de Chevalier 1995 | 2 |
| Chateau Duhart-Milon Rothschild 1996 | 8 |
| Chateau Gruaud-Larose 1996 | 7 |
| Chateau Talbot 1996 | 5 |
| Bordeaux (white) | Total |
|---|---|
| Chateau Rieussec 1997 | 2 |
| Chateau Doisy-Daene 2001 | 2 |
| Chateau la Tour Blanche (half bottle) 2001 | 13 |
| Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey 2001 | 19 |
| Chateau Rieussec 2009 | 1 |
| Burgundy (red) | Total |
|---|---|
| Echezeaux Dom. Dujac 1988 | 6 |
| Vosne-Romanee Champy Pere et Cie 1990 | 2 |
| Pommard Grand Clos Des Epenots Dom.De Courcel 1996 | 6 |
| Savigny Les Lavieres Dom. Tollot Beaut 1996 | 2 |
| Aloxe-Corton Les Fournieres 1999 | 1 |
| Clos de Vougeot Dom. Hudelot-Noellat 1999 | 22 |
| Le Corton Grand Cru Dom. Bouchard Pere et Fils 1999 | 2 |
| Nuits-Saint-Georges les Pruliers Dom. R.Chevillon 1999 | 6 |
| Savigny-les-Beaune Lavieres Dom. Chandon de Briailles 1999 | 36 |
| Vosne-Romanee les Malconsorts Dom. Hudelot-Noellat 1999 | 3 |
| Beaune Clos des Mouches 2002 | 4 |
| Latricieres-Chambertin Dom. Drouhin-Larose 2002 | 18 |
| Vosne-Romanee Dom. Michel Gros 2002 | 8 |
| Vosne-Romanee les Malconsorts Dom. N.Potel 2002 | 2 |
| Corton les Grandes Lolieres, Dom. Bertagna 2003 | 5 |
| Burgundy (white) | Total |
|---|---|
| Batard-Montrachet Dom. Gagnard-Delagrange 1989 | 6 |
| Puligny-Montrachet Chateau de Puligny Montrachet 2006 | 4 |
| Puligny-Montrachet Clos de la Garenne Louis Jadot 2008 | 4 |
| Meursault-Charmes, Louis Jadot 2013 | 4 |
| Chablis Cote de Lechet 2014 | 13 |
| Chablis Vaillons Dom. Moreau-Naudet 2014 | 8 |
| Chassagne-Montrachet Les Champ Gains Dom. Michel Niellon 2014 | 4 |
| Chassagne-Montrachet Macherelles Dom. Francois Carillon 2014 | 35 |
| Puligny-Montrachet la Garenne Dom. Faiveley 2014 | 5 |
| Champagne | Total |
|---|---|
| Louis Roederer Carte Blance NV | 16 |
| Alfred Gratien Millesime Brut 1997 | 2 |
| Cognac | Total |
|---|---|
| Hine 1922 | 1 |
| England | Total |
|---|---|
| Chapel Down Chardonnay 2014 | 5 |
| Camel Valley Bacchus Dry 2015 | 22 |
| Kit’s Coty Chapel Down Estate Chardonnay 2015 | 9 |
| Sharpham Estate Dart Valley Reserve 2016 | 2 |
| Chapel Down Flint Dry 2018 | 10 |
| Camel Valley Atlantic Dry 2018 | 34 |
| Flint Vineyard Silex Blanc 2018 | 15 |
| Winbirri Vineyard Bacchus 2018 | 8 |
| Lyme Bay Chardonnay 2020 | 31 |
| Lyme Bay Pinot Noir 2020 | 10 |
| Furleigh Estate Bacchus Fume NV | 2 |
| Breaky Bottom Cuvee M. Moreau 2014 | 37 |
| Nyetimber Blanc de Blancs 2014 | 14 |
| Ridgeview Blanc de Noirs 2014 | 13 |
| Chapel Down Coronation Edition 2016 | 144 |
| Balfour Blanc de Blancs Hush Heath 2018 | 132 |
| Balfour Brut Rose Hush Heath 2018 | 107 |
| Chapel Down Classic Brut NV | 50 |
| Hambledon Classic Cuvee NV | 8 |
| Nyetimber Brut NV | 39 |
| Nyetimber Demi Sec Cuvee Cherie NV | 10 |
| Ridgeview Cavendish NV | 66 |
| The Grange Classic NV | 120 |
| Loire | Total |
|---|---|
| Sancerre Nuance, Vincent Pinard 2010 | 15 |
| Sancerre le Chene Lucien Crochet 2014 | 2 |
| Pouilly-Fume Dom. Thibault 2015 | 2 |
| Moselle | Total |
|---|---|
| Maximin Grunhauser Abtsberg Riesling Spatlese von Schubert 2007 | 3 |
| Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese JJ Prum 2007 | 4 |
| Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling Spatlese JJ Prum 2010 | 5 |
| New Zealand | Total |
|---|---|
| Kumeu River Hunting Hill Chardonnay 2016 | 10 |
| Port | Total |
|---|---|
| Quinta do Noval 1931 | 3 |
| Fonseca 1977 | 1 |
| Dow 1983 | 4 |
| Taylor 1983 | 1 |
| Warre 1983 | 2 |
| Churchill 1985 | 2 |
| Croft 1985 | 3 |
| Fonseca 1985 | 16 |
| Graham 1985 | 4 |
| Taylor 1985 | 3 |
| Rhone | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Hermitage La Chapelle, | Paul Jaboulet 1990 | |
| Gigondas Chateau du Trignon 1998 | 6 |
| South Africa | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Elgin Chardonnay Boschendahl 2015 | 1 |
| Spain | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Ribera del Duero Bodegas Alion 2000 | 3 | |
| Rioja Calvario Finca Allende 2001 | 3 |
| United States of America | Total | |
|---|---|---|
| Ramey Russian River Valley Chardonnay 2012 | 2 |
| Reception wines | Total |
|---|---|
| Chapel Down Bacchus 2018/21/22 | 883 |
| Valpolicella Allegrini 2016/18 | 339 |
| Spirits | Total |
|---|---|
| Gin | 22 |
| M&S Gin | 10 |
Wines used at tastings
Krug 1982
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 1995
Gosset Grand Millesime Brut 1996
Louis Roederer Cristal 1996
Alfred Gratien Millesime Brut 1997
Pol Roger Brut 1998
Taittinger Comtes de Champagne Blanc de Blancs 1998
Louis Roederer Brut 2000
J Lassalle Blanc de Blancs 2002
Legras Presidence Vieilles Vignes GC Brut 2002
Veuve Clicquot Reserve Brut 2002
Chateau Latour 1961
Clos de la Roche, Dom. David Duband 2003
Clos de Vougeot, Dom. Rene Engel 2003
Corton les Grandes Lolieres, Dom. Bertagna 2003
Corton Pougets, Louis Jodot 2003
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos du Fontenay, Dom Bruno Clair 2003
Nuits-St-Georges, les Saint Georges, Dom.Thibault Liger-Belair 2003
Nuits-St-Georges les Damodes, Dom. J Chauvenet 2003
Gevrey-Chambertin au Closeau, Dom. Drouhin-Laroze 2005
Gevrey-Chambertin Clos Prieur, Dom. Roy 2005
Morey-St-Denis Les Millandes, Dom. Pierre Amiot et Fils 2005
Nuits-St-Georges Clos des Grandes Vignes, Dom Montille 2005
Nuits-St-Georges Les Damodes, Chauvenet 2005
Nuits-St-Georges, Les Vignes Rondes, Dom. Confuron-Cotetidot 2005
Pommard les Petits Noizons, Dom. de la Vougeraie 2005
Volnay-Cailleret, Dom. N Rossignol 2005
Vosne-Romanee, les Suchots, Dom. J Confuron-Cotetidot 2005
Aloxe-Corton Les Fournieres, Dom Tollot-Beaut 2009
Beaune les Bressandes Dom. des Croix 2009
Beaune-Greves, Dom. Tollot-Beaut 2009
Chambolle-Musigny, Dom. Confuron-Cotetidot 2009
Gevrey-Chambertin les Cazetiers, Dom.Faiveley 2009
Nuits-St-Georges les Damodes, Dom Faiveley 2009
Nuits-St-Georges des Forets St Georges, Dom de l’Arlot 2009
Nuits-St-Georges les Pruliers, Jean Grivot 2009
Graham 1994
Annex B: details of purchases
| Type | For year 2022 to 2023 | For year 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| English Sparkling | 1536 | 384 |
| English Still | 144 | 0 |
| White Reception wine | 540 | 720 |
| Red Reception wine | 480 | 0 |
| White Burgundy | 0 | 888 |
| Spirits: Gin | 39 | 30 |
| Total Cost | £47,327 | £49,862 |