By james art A biennial government wine cellar report published on Thursday showed the government consumed 2,813 bottles in 2022/23 and a further 2,713 in 2023/24.
But the figures are still well below pre-pandemic levels, when consumption was over 3,000 bottles a year.
About two-thirds of the wine drunk in the past two years was British, with Sussex-based Ridgeview Wine Estate’s Cavendish red proving to be the most popular.
Costing £36 per bottle, the government consumed 306 bottles in 2022/23 and a further 66 in 2023/24.
Just four bottles of champagne from the government’s collection were used in 2022/23, with the number rising to 18 the following year.
The report shows the government also consumed three bottles of the 1931 Quinta do Noval port in 2023/24, one of the older drinks in its collection and one which the previous winery report said should it is drunk “only on very special occasions”.
The collection aims to “provide guests of the government, domestically and abroad, with wines of suitable quality at a reasonable price.”
Founded in 1922 and located in the basement of Lancaster House in Westminster, the winery includes a cognac from 1878 and a Krug champagne from 1964 in its collection.
It is governed by the Government Wine Committee, which is chaired by a retired senior diplomat and consists of four qualified Masters of Wine.
The committee advises on both the purchase and sale of wine, and the collection is intended to be “self-financing”.
Thursday’s report showed the government spent £47,327 on buying new wine in 2022/23 and £49,862 in 2023/24.
Purchases over the past two years have included 1,920 bottles of English sparkling wine and 888 bottles of white Burgundy.
The government also purchased 69 bottles of gin as a replacement for the 69 consumed during the same period.
At the end of March 2024, there were 31,090 bottles of wine and spirits valued at £3.8 million in the Government’s collection
Despite a slight drop in value from the previous year, when the cellar was valued at £3.9 million, this is still higher than previous years.
In 2021/22 the collection was estimated to be worth £3.66 million.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office, which is responsible for the winery, said: “The wine from the winery, which has existed under successive governments, is used for the sole purpose of supporting the hospitality of government-organised events and international summits where world and business leaders are present.
“The winery generates its own revenue to ensure the operation is as self-sustaining as possible.”