Government Hospitality in Protocol Directorate of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office is responsible for the management of the Government Wine Cellar.
Government Hospitality defines the cellar stock as either "fine" or "beverage" wines. Over the last five years the cellar stock has amounted to between 36, 500 and 40, 000 bottles. From this total, approximately 2 000 bottles are "reception" or "beverage" wines, and approximately 35, 000 are "fine" wines. The stock of spirits and liqueurs is approximately 200 bottles. The overall value of the cellar stock is approximately £790,000.
Government Hospitality has recorded the following expenditure on new stock for the cellar over the past five financial years:
£ 2003-04 93,503 2004-05 60,059 2005-06 95,264 2006-07 108,715 2007-08 137,460
English and Welsh wine forms approximately 5 per cent. of the total cellar stock. Government Hospitality has had a policy of purchasing English and Welsh wines for over 20 years. Wines are selected for their quality and longevity, and their suitability for use with a range of British produce.