What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

Sadly, we English are not to be trusted with such information. Moreover,
the Government claims that revealing exactly what it has, and how much,
could disrupt the entire market for fine wines

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol...icle355184.ece


However, if your governemnt reveals what wine it buys, that argument can be
demolished.


Occasionally one gets a glimpse of a rather sociable committee meeting:
http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Mi...0Feb%20041.htm

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

Bill Davy wrote:
> Sadly, we English are not to be trusted with such information. Moreover,
> the Government claims that revealing exactly what it has, and how much,
> could disrupt the entire market for fine wines
>
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol...icle355184.ece
>
>
> However, if your governemnt reveals what wine it buys, that argument can be
> demolished.
>
>
> Occasionally one gets a glimpse of a rather sociable committee meeting:
> http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Mi...0Feb%20041.htm
>
>



Australia. John and Janette Howard [the prime minister and her husband,
little political in-joke there for Australians] obviously aren't big
wine buffs.

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/20...?from=storyrhs


It was reasonably big in the news at the time, whether they've updated
and / or upscaled since then I'm not sure.




They're quite happy shelling out tens of thousands for furniture,
accomodation etc etc etc and even paying a wine consultant thousands of
dollars though. Its a double edged sword though, nice to see them not
wasting more money for dodgy dudes getting liquored up on fine wine, but
on the other hand a bit embarressing to see international dignitaries
alledgedly getting second rate $10 wines.

Seems to me the wine consultant didn't do a very good job.

I could have done a better job for much less, and calling me an expert
would render many ppl ill from prolonged laughter.

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

In article >,
says...
>
>Sadly, we English are not to be trusted with such information. Moreover,
>the Government claims that revealing exactly what it has, and how much,
>could disrupt the entire market for fine wines
>
>http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol...icle355184.ece
>
>
>However, if your governemnt reveals what wine it buys, that argument can be
>demolished.
>
>
>Occasionally one gets a glimpse of a rather sociable committee meeting:
>http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Mi...0Feb%20041.htm

Hm-m-m, maybe I need to secure an invitation to Lancaster House, next time I'm
in London.

I would suspect that much of the stash of wine in the UK (under gov. control)
would be Claret and Port, given history.

I do not know that the US gov. has an "official" wine stash. From time to
time, we hear of what is being served at the White House, as the Official
wine(s), but that is about all. Some of the wines have surprised me quite a
bit. Past-President, Clinton seems to have been fond of an AZ cuvee, Buena
Suerte from Callaghan Cellars in Elgin, AZ. Without getting political, it may
be the best that I can say for his administration. I do not know if the Bush
White House has an Official Wine, given the "drinking issues," within the
Presidency - maybe some of the up-n-coming Texas wines?

Interesting stuff,
Hunt

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

In article >, zanekurz@sansnetcom.
com says...
>
>On 5 Apr 2006 15:20:36 GMT, (Hunt) wrote:
>
> (snip)
>
>> I do not know if the Bush
>>White House has an Official Wine, given the "drinking issues," within the
>>Presidency - maybe some of the up-n-coming Texas wines?
>
>Per Texas wines and gummint-- quotes from the Fall Creek Vineyards
>website:
>
>"Fall Creek Vineyards 1998 Reserve Chardonnay and 1998 Reserve
>Cabernet Sauvignon were served at President George Walker Bush’s
>Inaugural Festivities in 2001, Washington, D.C. Fall Creek Vineyards
>wines are the only Texas wines to be poured at three different
>Presidents’ Inaugural events".
>
>" The Crawford Summit: Fall Creek Vineyards 2000 Sauvignon Blanc and
>2000 Granite Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon wines were served at the
>Crawford Ranch for Russian President Putin’s visit to Texas, November
>14, 2001."
>
>" Fall Creek wines were served at the inauguration of President George
>W. Bush in January, 2005."
>
>" United States Ambassador to Switzerland, Pamela Pitzer Willeford,
>selected Fall Creek Vineyards wines to be shipped (November, 2003) to
>Switzerland for use at official State functions at the Embassy and
>Residence during her tenure as Ambassador."
>
>Another:
>
>' As one of Texas' most prominent vineyards, Becker wines have become
>staples in the Bush White House. They're also a favorite at the Texas
>White House in Crawford where Russian President Vladimir Putin was
>served the winery's 2000 Chardonnay Reserve and the 1999 Cabernet
>Sauvignon.
>
>"It's very gratifying to have our wines served at the White House,"
>Becker adds. "Mrs. Bush served them in the governor's mansion and when
>she got to Washington she recommended them to the White House
>sommelier and he liked them too." '
>
>Zane

Thanks Zane. It made sense to me, but I didn't know a ready source. Haven't
had the Fall Creek wines, but some of the Texas whites and reds have been far
more than I had imagined they would be.

Hunt

--
NewsGuy.Com 30Gb $9.95 Carry Forward and On Demand Bandwidth

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

Hunt wrote:

> I do not know that the US gov. has an "official" wine stash. From time to
> time, we hear of what is being served at the White House, as the Official
> wine(s), but that is about all. Some of the wines have surprised me quite
> a bit. Past-President, Clinton seems to have been fond of an AZ cuvee,
> Buena Suerte from Callaghan Cellars in Elgin, AZ. Without getting
> political, it may be the best that I can say for his administration.

I've been in at least four or five wineries here in California which had
letters from the White House thanking them for their wines, used at official
state dinners.

None of these were top-rated wineries in my book; one makes strictly
undrinkable dreck, as far as I'm concerned.

Curt

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

Hunt wrote:
> Clinton seems to have been fond of an AZ cuvee, Buena
> Suerte from Callaghan Cellars in Elgin, AZ.

Arizona isn't known for much of it's wines but Callaghan does produce
some excellent wines and the Cuvee has IMHO is a top notch wine at a
bargain price.

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

"Bill Davy" > wrote in message
...
> Sadly, we English are not to be trusted with such information. Moreover,
> the Government claims that revealing exactly what it has, and how much,
> could disrupt the entire market for fine wines
>
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol...icle355184.ece
>
>
> However, if your governemnt reveals what wine it buys, that argument can
> be demolished.
>
>
> Occasionally one gets a glimpse of a rather sociable committee meeting:
> http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Mi...0Feb%20041.htm
>
When Liz hosted a state banquet for Chirac at Windsor Castle (it were on the
telly, like) she served a 2nd Growth: Léoville Poyferré, IIRC.
Graham

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

On Wed, 5 Apr 2006 10:53:26 +0100
"Bill Davy" > wrote:

> Sadly, we English are not to be trusted with such information. Moreover,
> the Government claims that revealing exactly what it has, and how much,
> could disrupt the entire market for fine wines
>
> http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/pol...icle355184.ece
>
>
> However, if your governemnt reveals what wine it buys, that argument can be
> demolished.
>
>
> Occasionally one gets a glimpse of a rather sociable committee meeting:
> http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/Mi...0Feb%20041.htm
>
>

Fascinating Bill. Thanks. I looked on google to try and find out
what the French gov drinks (aside from French of course) but
couldn't find much. I did see that the senate, assembly, prime
minister and presidents palaces all have their own collections.
An article on michelin interviewing some senator intimated that
(naturally) the senate's list is the envy of the others. The only
thing they mention is that they are looking in "new" regions
and have a Condrieu (forget which one) and a La Nerthe CdP blanc.

I'd be fascinated to get a look at the cellar list for the Elysée Palace,
anyone have any more info?

-E

--
Emery Davis
You can reply to ecom
by removing the well known companies

What Wine Does Your Government Buy?
 

Yes, little Johnnie doesn't know much about his wine does he. What a
shame, couldn't he show a little more interest? Surely it has some sort
of impact on the industry, and opportunities must be lost in promoting
the best of Australian wine.