Official Hospitality.

Tuesday, 16 May 2006

Ceisteanna (205)

Ciarán Cuffe

Ceist:

258 Mr. 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 his Department’s policy in this regard. [18087/06]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

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	Date of Most Recent Purchase	Unit Price at date of Most Recent Purchase
Angoves, Chardonnay	2000	7	25/03/2002	9.59
Angroves CR Classic Reserve Shiraz	1998	10	25/03/2002	12.08
Anselmi San Vincenzo	2000	2	09/07/2003	12.29
Barola Riserva della Casa	1997	52	14/12/2005	49.95
Ca da bosio, Gavi di Gavi	2005	16	15/03/2006	12.94
Chablis Premier Cru “Brocard”	2004	48	15/12/2005	15.99
Chablis Premier Cru, Montmains	2003	30	30/03/2006	16.49
Château Chasse Spleen	2001	24	30/03/2006	32.95
Château Clarke	2001	6	30/03/2006	22.73
Château de Blagny, “Louis Latour”	2002	14	14/12/2005	37.95
Château de la Ligne	2003	24	16/12/2005	18.95
Château Fourcas Dupré, Listrace Médoc	1999	72	10/05/2004	16.52
Château Gaudrelle Vouvray	2000	2	26/03/2002	12.80
Château Kirwan Margaux	2000	48	31/05/2005	65.00
Château Leoville Barton	1998	108	31/05/2005	68.00
Château Lynch Bages, Grand Cru Classé	1998	96	15/12/2005	58.65
Château Peyros “Magenta” Madrian	1999	23	14/12/2005	15.95
Château Phelan Segur	2002	60	15/12/2005	28.04
Château Vignelaure	1997	30	26/03/2002	15.62
Chatelain Pouilly Fumé	2002	16	05/02/2004	10.49
Collio, Pinot Grigio, Collavini	2004	5	07/10/2005	10.95
Collio, Pinot Grigio, Collavini	2002	23	10/10/2005	10.95
Constantia Uitsig	2001	20	30/03/2006	21.95
Domaine Ardhuy Bourgogne	1998	18	27/03/2002	23.00
Domaine Bitouzet Prieur, Meursault	2003	24	30/03/2006	27.23
Domaine Brusset Venise Rouge	2001	23	16/12/2005	34.50
Domaine de le Madene Fleurie	2003	36	16/12/2005	15.95
Domaine Grand Veneur Châteauneuf de Pape	2002	36	16/12/2005	24.95
Domaine Jacqueson Rully Premier Cru	1997	22	16/05/2002	19.50
Duos Quintas, Vino Tinto Riserva	2000	21	06/07/2004	22.76
Finca Sobreno Riserva	1999	15	14/04/2004	16.84
Grand Feudo, Riserva	1998	20	09/06/2004	12.95
Guigal Côtes du Rhône	1999	33	03/03/2005	10.65
Höpler Zweigelt Barrique	2000	14	24/01/2004	15.95
Höpler Zweigelt Barrique	2002	6	24/01/2004	15.95
la Porte Caillou, Sancerre	2004	33	31/05/2005	14.40
Lager de Cervera, Albarino	2004	21	30/03/2006	17.95
Leeuwin Estate “Art Series” Cabernet Sauvignon	1997	34	27/03/2002	23.48
Leeuwin Estate “Art Series” Riesling	2002	19	04/07/2005	31.50
Lytton Springs, Zinfandel	1999	36	26/03/2002	31.88
Mahoney Estate, Pinot Noir	1999	25	26/03/2002	21.74
Marchesi di Barolo, Gavi de Gavi	2004	11	16/12/2005	20.95
Menetour-Salon Morogues	2000	8	26/03/2002	12.80
Napa Vista, Chardonnay	1999	3	29/01/2003	21.50
Napa Vista, Merlot	1998	5	29/01/2003	21.50
Naughton Flight, Shiraz	2003	12	16/12/2005	19.95
Nijinski Cabernet Sauignon	1999	92	26/03/2002	8.72
Portal del Alto, Grand Reserva Carmenére	2001	12	08/11/2004	17.95
Pouilly Fuissé	2001	11	30/01/2004	12.74
Rocca delle Macíe, Chianti Classico	2000	9	26/03/2002	12.61
Rockford Moppa Springs	1998	47	26/03/2002	21.96
Rockford Shiraz	1998	12	26/03/2002	33.28
Rockford, Riesling	1999	10	26/03/2002	18.63
Roero Ameis	2004	19	30/03/2006	16.49
Ruedo, Solar de Iriarte Sauvignon Blanc	2003	6	14/12/2005	12.50
Salice Salentino Riserva Leone de Catris	2002	35	14/12/2005	18.95
Santa Rita Merlot	2004	24	29/11/2005	11.00
Sierra Cantabria, Rioja	1999	17	03/03/2005	14.81
Simcic, Teodor Belo Reserva	2001	3	April 2004	21.36
Solar de Samaniego Reserva	1999	36	30/03/2006	18.97
Veuve Cliquot NV	Non Vintage	9	05/02/2004	38.50
Vina Ardenza la Rioja Alta Reserva	1998	17	14/12/2005	27.00
Wieninger, Blauburgunder	2000	24	24/01/2004	16.49
Zenato, Valpulicella	2003	11	15/03/2006	12.00
Zisola	2004	12	15/03/2006	11.50

Appendix B: Wines purchased prior to 1 January 2002

Name	Vintage	Quantity in stock	Unit Price at date of Most Recent Purchase
Angroves CR Classic Reserve Shiraz	1999	5	12.08
Argiano Brunello di Montalcino	1988	4	23.05
Château Brance Cantenac Margaux	1985	9	37.77
Château Talbot	1995	120	38.41
Château Yon-Figeac Grand Cru Classé	1993	18	21.20
Château du Tertre Margaux	1995	9	15.68
Château Leoville Barton Cru Classé	1995	2	72.38
Reservé de Barton Saint Julian	1998	60	21.82
Château Rausan Ségla Margaux	1982	2	28.82
CVNE Imperial Reserva Rioja	1988	9	16.39
CVNE Vina Real Rioja	1988	5	16.65
Domaine de L’arlot Premier Cru	1989	32	28.58
Don Melchor Cabernet Sauginon	1991	36	13.45
Kanonkop, Pinotage	2000	7	22.69
Peter Lehmann, Stonewell, Shiraz	1992	24	33.80
Pio Cesare, Barola	1991	17	22.92
Volnay les Caillerets	1992	36	25.53
Delheim, Shiraz	2000	8	12.18
Chanson beaujolais Villages	2000	8	10.10
Castell de Remei, Gotim Bru	1999	10	10.10
Allendorf, Riesling	2000	16	14.59
Louis Latour Charlemagne Grand Cru	1998	2	19.95
Tasman Bay, Chardonnay	1996	8	16.01
Delheim, Chardonnay	2000	9	10.58
Leeuwin Estate “Art Series” Chardonnay	1999	21	31.48
Luis Felipe Edwards, Chardonnay	2000	6	18.63
Moet & Chandon	Non Vintage	17	27.06