Comments on: British sell French wine to pay off drinks tab http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Tue, 21 May 2013 02:26:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Antinous / Moderator http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1669132 Antinous / Moderator Fri, 01 Mar 2013 23:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1669132 If it were France, no one would be in the least surprised that there was a government wine cellar.  In fact, French pre-schools probably have their own wine cellars. If it were France, no one would be in the least surprised that there was a government wine cellar.  In fact, French pre-schools probably have their own wine cellars.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668970 peregrinus Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668970  But doesn't Sainsburys keep winning the champagne awards? I see this as investment activity on behalf of the nation.  They could never get great deals without loads of money, and it's my money.  So it's my wine.  And I'd love a glass.  Or two.  But doesn’t Sainsburys keep winning the champagne awards?

I see this as investment activity on behalf of the nation.  They could never get great deals without loads of money, and it’s my money.  So it’s my wine.  And I’d love a glass.  Or two.

]]> By: jerwin http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668805 jerwin Fri, 01 Mar 2013 19:03:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668805 These are wines that are served at diplomatic functions--state banquets and the like. They aren't parliamentary perks. The intent is to impress high level foreigners (Putin, Obama, etc). The idea of the cellar is to buy wines cheaply, when they're too young to drink, and serve them when they've aged (and considerably more expensive to buy on the open market). Theoretically, this saves money, but only if the cellar is well managed. These are wines that are served at diplomatic functions–state banquets and the like. They aren’t parliamentary perks. The intent is to impress high level foreigners (Putin, Obama, etc). The idea of the cellar is to buy wines cheaply, when they’re too young to drink, and serve them when they’ve aged (and considerably more expensive to buy on the open market).
Theoretically, this saves money, but only if the cellar is well managed.

]]> By: Nash Rambler http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668760 Nash Rambler Fri, 01 Mar 2013 18:23:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668760 LORD SMYTHE: Oh dear, I do hope that "penitence" doesn't include the cheese and sausage trolley? LORD DEMURE: Harumph!  Of course not man!  We're shedding some frog wines, not reverting to bloody savagery! LORD SMYTHE: Oh dear, I do hope that “penitence” doesn’t include the cheese and sausage trolley?

LORD DEMURE: Harumph!  Of course not man!  We’re shedding some frog wines, not reverting to bloody savagery!

]]> By: jerwin http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668612 jerwin Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:26:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668612 I suppose the concept of buying wines when young and cheap, and selling or serving the wines when mature and impressive is sound enough, but austerity is about penitence for penitence's sake. I suppose the concept of buying wines when young and cheap, and selling or serving the wines when mature and impressive is sound enough, but austerity is about penitence for penitence’s sake.

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668582 peregrinus Fri, 01 Mar 2013 16:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668582 <blockquote>A spokeswoman said this was "the first time that wine from the Government Hospitality Cellar has gone to auction" with previous sales conducted privately.</blockquote>I wonder who's been privately buying the stock, and whether they paid arms-length price for it. Can anyone actually see the annual statement?  All I can find is extracts.

A spokeswoman said this was “the first time that wine from the Government Hospitality Cellar has gone to auction” with previous sales conducted privately.

I wonder who’s been privately buying the stock, and whether they paid arms-length price for it.

Can anyone actually see the annual statement?  All I can find is extracts.

]]> By: jerwin http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668569 jerwin Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:49:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668569 <blockquote>Details in the annual statement on the government wine cellar for 2011-12 showed that 4,651 bottles worth 55,679 pounds were drunk from the store between April 2011 and March 2012.</blockquote>Wow, that's almost £12 a bottle!

Details in the annual statement on the government wine cellar for 2011-12 showed that 4,651 bottles worth 55,679 pounds were drunk from the store between April 2011 and March 2012.

Wow, that’s almost £12 a bottle!

]]> By: Nash Rambler http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668544 Nash Rambler Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668544 A plan worthy of the senior wizard staff at Unseen University. A plan worthy of the senior wizard staff at Unseen University.

]]> By: SomeGuyNamedMark http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668542 SomeGuyNamedMark Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:21:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668542 We already have corporate USA We already have corporate USA

]]> By: peregrinus http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668506 peregrinus Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:35:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668506 <blockquote>"This is part of the process for making the cellar self-funding for the lifetime of the current parliament,"</blockquote>... as in, all the privileged lot in Whitehall are so peeved at Osborne and his little publicity generating stunt that we're going to bin it, whoever wins, come the general election, and enjoy some of the lovely stuff we paid for. Yes, it was with our own money.  We get it in the annual budget.

“This is part of the process for making the cellar self-funding for the lifetime of the current parliament,”

… as in, all the privileged lot in Whitehall are so peeved at Osborne and his little publicity generating stunt that we’re going to bin it, whoever wins, come the general election, and enjoy some of the lovely stuff we paid for.

Yes, it was with our own money.  We get it in the annual budget.

]]> By: oasisob1 http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668499 oasisob1 Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:29:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668499 A self-funding government... interesting! A self-funding government… interesting!

]]> By: Rob Beschizza http://boingboing.net/2013/03/01/british-sell-french-wine-to-pa.html#comment-1668493 Rob Beschizza Fri, 01 Mar 2013 14:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=216105#comment-1668493 More Chateau Latour 61 than you could drink in a lifetime. Just think about that, people. More Chateau Latour 61 than you could drink in a lifetime. Just think about that, people.

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