16 May 2006

Foreign Affairs

Contents of Department's Wine Cellar

Ciarán Cuffe asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will provide a full listing of the contents of his Department's wine cellar, including the vintages, quantity, dates acquired, prices paid and supplier; and if he will make a statement on the matter. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern): The Department of Foreign Affairs maintains a stock of wine for use in relation to State and Official hospitality. There is significant saving to the tax payer in this direct purchase approach, as against sourcing wines for individual events through a caterer and being subject to a mark-up in the price. The range of wines in stock also facilitates choices being made that are suitable for events at various levels.
Appendix A lists the names, vintages, quantity, date of most recent purchase and unit price at date of most recent purchase of wines purchased since 1 January 2002. In the period since 1 January 2002 the Department has purchased wines from a number of suppliers, including G. Elliott & Sons Ltd, Henry J. Archer & Sons Ltd, Kevin Parsons Wines Ltd, Mitchell & Son Wine Merchants, O'Briens Wine Off-Licence, Searsons Wine Merchants and The Wine Vaults.

Appendix B lists the names, vintages, quantity and unit price at date of most recent purchase of wines purchased prior to 1 January 2002. It was not possible, in the time available, to supply the date of most recent purchase or supplier of wines purchased prior to 1 January 2002.

Appendix A: Wines purchased since 1 January 2002

 

Name	Vintage	Quantity in stock	Unit Price at date of Most Recent Purchase	Date of purchase (if known)	total cost
Château Leoville Barton Cru Classé	1995	2	€72.38		€144.76
Château Leoville Barton	1998	108	€68.00	31/05/2005	€7,344.00
Château Kirwan Margaux	2000	48	€65.00	31/05/2005	€3,120.00
Château Lynch Bages, Grand Cru Classé	1998	96	€58.65	15/12/2005	€5,630.40
Barola Riserva della Casa	1997	52	€49.95	14/12/2005	€2,597.40
Veuve Cliquot NV	Non Vintage	9	€38.50	05/02/2004	€346.50
Château Talbot	1995	120	€38.41		€4,609.20
Château de Blagny, "Louis Latour"	2002	14	€37.95	14/12/2005	€531.30
Château Brance Cantenac Margaux	1985	9	€37.77		€339.93
Domaine Brusset Venise Rouge	2001	23	€34.50	16/12/2005	€793.50
Peter Lehmann, Stonewell, Shiraz	1992	24	€33.80		€811.20
Rockford Shiraz	1998	12	€33.28	26/03/2002	€399.36
Château Chasse Spleen	2001	24	€32.95	30/03/2006	€790.80
Lytton Springs, Zinfandel	1999	36	€31.88	26/03/2002	€1,147.68
Leeuwin Estate "Art Series" Riesling	2002	19	€31.50	04/07/2005	€598.50
Leeuwin Estate "Art Series" Chardonnay	1999	21	€31.48		€661.08
Château Rausan Ségla Margaux	1982	2	€28.82		€57.64
Domaine de L'arlot Premier Cru	1989	32	€28.58		€914.56
Château Phelan Segur	2002	60	€28.04	15/12/2005	€1,682.40
Domaine Bitouzet Prieur, Meursault	2003	24	€27.23	30/03/2006	€653.52
Moet & Chandon	Non Vintage	17	€27.06		€460.02
Vina Ardenza la Rioja Alta Reserva	1998	17	€27.00	14/12/2005	€459.00
Volnay les Caillerets	1992	36	€25.53		€919.08
Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf de Pape	2002	36	€24.95	16/12/2005	€898.20
Leeuwin Estate "Art Series" Cabernet Sauvignon	1997	34	€23.48	27/03/2002	€798.32
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino	1988	4	€23.05		€92.20
Domaine Ardhuy Bourgogne	1998	18	€23.00	27/03/2002	€414.00
Pio Cesare, Barola	1991	17	€22.92		€389.64
Duos Quintas, Vino Tinto Riserva	2000	21	€22.76	06/07/2004	€477.96
Château Clarke	2001	6	€22.73	30/03/2006	€136.38
Kanonkop, Pinotage	2000	7	€22.69		€158.83
Rockford Moppa Springs	1998	47	€21.96	26/03/2002	€1,032.12
Constantia Uitsig	2001	20	€21.95	30/03/2006	€439.00
Reservé de Barton Saint Julian	1998	60	€21.82		€1,309.20
Mahoney Estate, Pinot Noir	1999	25	€21.74	26/03/2002	€543.50
Napa Vista, Merlot	1998	5	€21.50	29/01/2003	€107.50
Napa Vista, Chardonnay	1999	3	€21.50	29/01/2003	€64.50
Simcic, Teodor Belo Reserva	2001	3	€21.36	Apr-04	€64.08
Château Yon-Figeac Grand Cru Classé	1993	18	€21.20		€381.60
Marchesi di Barolo, Gavi de Gavi	2004	11	€20.95	16/12/2005	€230.45
Louis Latour Charlemagne Grand Cru	1998	2	€19.95		€39.90
Naughton Flight, Shiraz	2003	12	€19.95	16/12/2005	€239.40