Why Does the UK have a Strategic Wine Reserve?

[@Amresh10]

Honestly a really fun, lighthearted video was refreshing from the depressing news recently.

[@kmay4963]

It's a lefty channel. These people are prime targets for fear mongering, hence why they are all europhiles lol.

[@RhysTheTroll]

news is always depressing. news will always be depressing. depressing news gets clicks.

[@optisailorHKG1203]

It's a copy of the FT's AlphaVille segments on this topic. well worth a read - They've been getting information via freedom of information requests during the course of the year (in fact they should probably be cited as a source for this video as it's quite clearly the source!)

[@mshearn3198]

​@@optisailorHKG1203ppllo kk koi ppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppppp😊p

[@Randomstuffs261]

The Strategic Wine Reserve is not a lighthearted matter. It's of the utmost strategic importance to the survival of our country.

[@jezlawrence720]

Its not a 'wine reserve'. Its how we ensure the French stay allies with us. Because IT WOULD BE A SHAME if something were to happen to all that wine, wouldn't it, monsieur...?

[@Aubrey2004-j4k]

😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@anonymoususerinterface]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@jetjames1655]

“Qui” 👨‍🎨🥖

[@Dave_Sisson]

The UK and France are not exactly traditional allies, so why not buy top shelf wines from countries Britain actually likes such as Italy and Australia, while keeping the ordinary guzzling wine proudly British?

[@Ganymede559]

@@Dave_Sisson We do get wines from Australia, Italy & Spain. So things are improving from a trade standpoint.

[@FishareFriendsNotFood972]

Huh, was expecting to roll my eyes, but now I'm actually heartened by a government department being run well

[@juliusnovachrono4370]

I was surprised something like this even exists.

[@pranshukrishna5105]

@@juliusnovachrono4370 starmer will improve things

[@willumbermarchant5510]

Unusually, the people involved actually give a crap about their department

[@davidioanhedges]

So it has no budget, provides a service, and makes money ..... absolute bargain!

[@spacetime3]

To be fair international relations is a decent reason, although id say it should be strictly for this. And the fact they make money is great to be honest.

[@Baarsish]

1. Apologises for incorrectly pronouncing foreign wine names 2. Proceed to incorrectly pronounce the name of an English wine 🤣🤣🤣

[@PANTECHNICONRecordings]

Yep, who knew that “Chapel” was such a difficult word to pronounce?

[@dschanriihl9043]

Bacchus is a german grape. What did you expect?

[@Catmint309]

@@PANTECHNICONRecordingstook me a few months to figure out the pronunciation Chappell in Chappell Roan so I guess I can’t blame them

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

​@@dschanriihl9043 Brits have trouble pronouncing German names? Explains why the Royal Family change theirs to Windsor.

[@Valecto]

At 5:54 when he said "brew" instead of "brut"... for a split second I thought there was some very expensive beer in the reserve as well !

[@JohnDoe-gc1pm]

All Brits keep a strategic wine reserve and regularly rotate stock for strategic reasons

[@matthewddsg]

This is exactly the kind of hard-hitting reporting that makes me value TLDR.

[@exp2745]

Unironically, this. If someone told me that the government operated a multi million pound wine reserve, I could easily be swayed to consider that wasteful, yet this video did a great job providing context on not only the initial reasoning but also how the finances do make sense. Great reporting all around.

[@sebastianflynn1746]

They're just regurgitating an FT article.

[@davey7452]

In Canada we have a strategic maple syrup reserve to make sure the market price for maple syrup remains stable (high).

[@johnyarbrough502]

I was thinking something similar about English wine. Government purchase to maintain profitable price for English vintners.

[@hanneskarlbom6644]

The US has a cheese one if I'm not mistaken.

[@nineballmk2]

@@hanneskarlbom6644 we do

[@Mypromiselive]

Best tldr video pic of the year tbh

[@Banter07]

I do love when they make something silly

[@aubs400]

1. Based WW2 shennanigas 2. I volunteer to try the Latour and let everyone know how it is

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

But surely you would need an entire cask to be certain, would you not?

[@Andrew_BIake]

Suddenly Partygate makes so much sense…

[@tom9571]

Less sense, if they had any sense they would have used this instead of going to the local Tesco…

[@andyf4292]

bojo was trying to drink the reserve

[@NAYRUthunder99]

​@@andyf4292that would have been High treason!

[@jeffjones1638]

The US has a massive cheese reserve, while the UK has a massive wine reserve. That sounds about right.

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

I figured someone must have beaten me to this comment. 1.4 billion lbs underneath Missouri.

[@andyf4292]

US cheese? nobody wants that

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

​@@andyf4292 It's a variety of all kinds. American, Cheddar, Swiss, ect.

[@Tom-uy6te]

and there is a secret underground highway connecting both cellars in case people want cheese with wine

[@tomlangford1999]

Before watching the video: "wow, this looks like a blatant example of government waste" After watching the video: "wow, this might be the most competently run department of the British state"

[@ninjadauo]

Half way in the video and I still can’t believe its not the 1st of april.

[@sam90heywood]

1:52 "has continued to help foreign dignitaries get pissed" 😂 great line!

[@Antonio-hb8rd]

Some chavvy member of parliament bought the Smirnoff and no one wanted it so they put in in the cellar in hopes it disappears.

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

So the brits have a wine reserve, us Americans have a cheese reserve, does that mean the French have a PB & jealousy reserve?

[@andyf4292]

ive tried pb and j.. id prefer famine

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

​@@andyf4292 Then by all means, continue to enjoy your kidney pie.

[@MarkSuckerburg-dt6yo]

Kinda makes sense that the government takes on some fringe tasks that would not be cost effective or even profitable in the free market. I get that people always want to hate on the governments but sometimes not understanding something is normal for us normies and it's not always just an conspiracy or evil intend.

[@carus6280]

though in this case it is cost effective and even mildly profitible. Allows goverment departments acess to wine at a better than standard market rate, plus sells off wine as it ages to make a profit. It could be said that at this point the goverment never actually buys wine as it can use the reinvested funds from sales for it.

[@roof_of_the_fop]

as someone who can't stand wine this is one of your best videos. i have no idea why i found it so entertaining 😭

[@Catmint309]

If you asked me to name a nation that has a strategic wine reserve, I don’t think I’d name the UK. Figured you’d have a Greggs Sausage Roll reserve if anything

[@ricequackers]

That's kept in a secure location somewhere near Newcastle, alongside the national stottie cake reserves.

[@cianoreillycork]

More fun videos like this please!

[@nulnoh219]

2:58 The Non-Dept Governmental Body sounds fun. Wine, Gambling, and the Environment in which to party.

[@tulliusexmisc2191]

It reminds me of the story in the Onion about the fun times that ensued when the Federal Drug Administration brought some of the good stuff round to a party at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms.

[@SamuriLemonX18]

Not great when its the Environment Commision's turn to host though

[@getnohappy]

Classic example of "gate house problem", i.e., a number the average person can get their head around but is meaningless in overall context, but something that someone can bring up in a podcast to fake outrage.

[@danieltan8085]

I’m not outraged. I think it’s just interesting

[@zenokada2278]

That’s what people use for illegal immigration

[@SamuriLemonX18]

Why is that called the gate house problem?

[@samthurgood]

Genuinely more interesting than I thought it would be! Well done!

[@manuelapollo7988]

Wine not?

[@Aubrey2004-j4k]

😂😂😂😂😂

[@jtgd]

Because it’s important to have an alcohol stock for the apocalypse

[@glen1555]

Exactly, if you read Neville Shute's book On The Beach. As the radioactive clouds drift down to Australia, the old boys at a private members club decide, whilst waiting for the end to come, to drink the cellar empty of its vintage wines and ports

[@mceetb10]

As an entrepreneur running a big company, I will be boring and say that opportunity cost of this is higher. Renting out the whole wine cellar at Lancaster house on commercial terms would generate more money for the taxpayer. But it does carry some intangible value such as the wine from the government cellar is such a great entry line or conversation starter at a gov event to keep these international relationships going.

[@Stjorn]

Government is a difficult job. When you're doing the whims of special interests, you're gonna need an emergency wine supply, just like my mom.

[@hornetgamer8980]

The next tour of the wine cellar will commence in ten min-nin-ni-nutes.

[@Hildreth1101]

Apparently the US keeps a strategic Cheese reserve as well, now that I know about our Wine Reserve, I understand why it is called the "Special relationship".

[@andyf4292]

its only the UK that ever mentions it... the US calls it ' the minions'

[@AbdulGoodLooks]

Unironically the best TDLR video of all time

[@douglaswolfen7820]

So just to be clear: the wine cellar makes enough profit to pay for itself _and_ to provide all the wine needed for international reception events? Did I get that right? Sounds great. A hobby for some members of government who like wine, which costs us nothing and provides us with something we need. It's awesome Now if I could just snag a couple of bottles of red for my own use, it'd be perfect

[@dreadlock360]

Haha sir we saw that face at 7:16, legend held it together for the whole video, have another on us 😄

[@Greeno999]

Thought I’d drank some of the wine when Ben goes from a long sleeve t shirt at 7:17 to a checkered shirt at 7:25. Smooth

[@benlu]

This was such a great vibe

[@thesmithersy]

Bring back the Government Hospitality Advisory Committee for the Purchase of Wine!

[@jacksteven781]

It's so fitting that the closest thing the British Government has to a sovereign wealth fund is a cellar of wines to be had by our politicians, monarchs and that of other countries. Real good investment for the British people.

[@goldenfiberwheat238]

What’s a sovereign wealth fund?

[@jacksteven781]

@@goldenfiberwheat238 Long story, I suggest you search it up. But basically think of it as a bank account for a whole countries (normally used by eastern countries and Norway). This bank account is used to buy parts of companies in their own countries and companies in other countries, they also build properties all over the world and buy government bonds of other countries (give loans to countries), and all sorts of other good investments. Then the companies, buildings, loans, gives money back to the sovereign wealth fund when they make a profit, lease an office or house, etc. The countries then can use that money they got back to pay for things like military, police, firefighters, or more investments. Importantly, that money you get back from the investments can be used to reduce the amount people need to pay in taxes. Normally, the SWF's also buy parts of utility companies in their own country. But lord knows Margaret Thatcher wanted to make the rich richer so she sold them all, and now the UK Government doesn't have the money to buy back into these companies.🤣🤣🤣

[@jacksteven781]

@ it’s a long explanation. I suggest you look it up. But think about it like a bank account for countries. They use this bank account to buy a part of companies in their own countries as well as in other countries. They also use the money to build office building, malls, residential buildings in their own country as well as other countries. They can use it to buy government bonds of other countries (basically give loans to governments). They can use the whole bank account to make whatever investments they think is good basically. Now once a company gives back a profit, the profit goes into the bank account. Or if somebody leases an space in the mall, or an office, or a house. The profit goes back into the account. When the government pays the interest in the loan, the money goes back into the account. And the Country can use that extra money to invest in more opportunities, or they can use it to pay for the police, firefighters, road maintenance, etc. and that can help reduce the amount of taxes you pay. It’s normally used by eastern countries and Norway. That’s why they normally have like 20% tax at the maximum while in the UK you could pay I think 57% now because of the new National Income Contribution rate. UK could’ve started a SWF before the 1970s and it would’ve been the wealthiest in the world back then, but Margaret Thatcher sold everything the Government owned to make her rich friends richer.

[@Hazzy113]

@@goldenfiberwheat238a pot of money the state invests

[@goldenfiberwheat238]

@ so like the treasury?

[@tconroy1000]

Loved the tongue in cheek humour in this TLDR video

[@thuynder]

Yeah. TLDR had fun with this one :)

[@fabiopaolobarbieri2286]

Nice to see ONE British government agency that works.

[@saphna2095]

uuh they did well and will make good money given the horrendous weather conditions the french vineyards had this year

[@alphamikeomega5728]

Makes sense if you're going to subsidise the drinks in the Commons, right?

[@reviewlush]

really great video guys!!! More topics like this 🙂

[@alexpotts6520]

Public investment: ✅ International diplomacy: ✅ Just, y'know, wine: ✅ I see no downside

[@Trecesolotienesdos]

Wouldn't it be easier to just have an approved seller for state functions, and then bottles can be bought in bulk? What about if the king has a state banquet? Does that come from his Sovereign Grant or from this same cellar? £40k is a very small proportion of overall UK state income, which is roughly £1.5trn. That's barely the salary of a teacher for the average state school. Wheether this is value for money is moot given the very small scale of the revenues it produces.

[@JamDCrazy]

I love these quirky fun fact videos. Lovely palette cleanser

[@colloquialsoliloquy6391]

More importantly, when did James Maddison join the channel?

[@therealdualipa]

you know nothings happened in the uk when tldr are bringing out the wine news

[@azora52]

Same reason the royal family own so much art, it doesn't depreciate in value

[@chench1lla]

The temperature controlled space definitely cost money

[@DylanSargesson]

Seems about right that one of the only Agencies to improve their performance under the Tories was the one in charge of buying fancy wines

[@BigBoiiLeem]

What a fun video. I reckon they should do an annual lottery, one pound per entry, to give away a bottle of wine at Christmas or something.

[@dumbledan4016]

Should be stocked with Commonwealth wines. Auction the foreign wines would use for the wines or share with the poor Brits. The Russian vodka is cleaning fluid!

[@d_dave7200]

If you're trying to make a lot of money from wine value appreciation, it's necessarily going to include a lot of French wine, since that's the most expensive and sought-after. If they stocked only commonwealth wines, they'd likely not be a self-funding department the way they are now.

[@matthewtalbot-paine7977]

If I was in office the government wine committee would be fired day 1 and replaced with a bloke to run to tesco. I don't need the government investing in anything except the country. Don't even care that they aren't paid.

[@JoshuaJohnson7334g]

Cellar i hardly know her

[@matthewtalbot-paine7977]

"A good example of this is building and maintaining roads" the government owns like 99% of the roads and yet they hire private companies to do this and let's be honest they aren't great at getting them repaired so let's not pretend that a private company couldn't do this as good or better.

[@ricequackers]

Thankfully, Gordon Brown never managed to sell off this strategic reserve at rock-bottom prices...

[@Hollows1997]

I don’t know whether to laugh and appreciate this light hearted nature of this, or be disgruntled at the fact that the government are only capable of running something profitable when it involves them getting pissed at the taxpayers expense.

[@Dorgpoop]

Get some buckfast in there. It costs pennies, gets you hammered better than rocketfuel and is made by monks in Devonshire.

[@AKK5I]

For the same reason why the Challenger 2 Main Battle Tank has a Tea making boiling vessel. In wartimes, it adds dignity to what would otherwise be an ugly brawl...

[@lh4394]

They need to do the same for whisky

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

While I am not aware of any government that does this, I do know quite a few livers.

[@mishapurser4439]

"BECAUSE IT'S SO MUCH FUN JAN, GET IT!"

[@zacharyrichard2764]

We make a wine reserve with all seized alcoholic assets in the us would still be more valuable than crypto

[@vincilo8835]

LIst them a budget and we wouldnt have deficit anymore

[@frankhaugen]

"blody hell, the gov'ment have a whine cellar??", "We give the royals how blody much???"... Then you get the economists to crunch the numbers: it's all very financially sound and profitable 😂 It's interesting how the stupid sounding things a government does, often are the smarter things they do

[@anjelkanja8032]

Its almost like despite petty party politics, at a fundamental level on fundamental issues they are infact competent. But id put that much more down to the state than any specific government

[@tobos8909]

The royals aren't financially worth it though

[@frankhaugen]

@@tobos8909 oh? So the Windsor family should get the income of all the royal lands and not the exchequer? Tourism alone sustains the Royals. Which is why there's no real republican fraction in British politics. Yes, in the mind of democracy-absolutists, the money be damned, but in reality, that's not how a feasible platform for actual politicians

[@teddypicker8799]

​@tobos8909 they're a financial boost lol the crown estates generate about £500m a year and 88% of that goes to the treasury. Instead of whining about the royals who pay 88% tax let's go after the billionaires that pay 0% income tax

[@weird_autumn42]

​@@frankhaugen so maybe a single family shouldn't own that much land and nope, tourism caused by the continued existance of the royals doesn't pay for them.

[@andrijapfc]

Because it would be most inappropriate for the peerage to go without in difficult times

[@indybruining]

This episode was especially fun! And an interesting topic too :)

[@Fab666.]

I’ve seen many master of wine 🍷 hanging around doorways at night, they are very dedicated to their craft

[@theconqueringram5295]

Good to know the British are doing something right!

[@traviswebb3532]

Very interesting video

[@bernardkealey6449]

Smirnoff turns out to be cheaper than isopropyl wipes

[@rufioh]

The Royal College of Physicians (London) has a multi million pound wine cellar. It’s so dumb

[@SquallLeonhartlo]

A lot of things we might consider strange for the government to be doing actually do benefit people, like this wine cellar. Other examples include the US government funding studies on the mating behavior of beetles (apparently resulting in benefits to pharmaceuticals, among other things) and the British royal family (they are a net profit to the UK, as their tourist attractions constitute a huge draw to the country)

[@zakariaali8864]

Or the US government storing tonnes of cheese in a mountain

[@Swedishpolymath]

I feel that in Europe we have abandoned our culture because we have forgotten this little details. Mostly, due to American influence.

[@matthewbazeley2984]

The royals are only a net profit when monarchists invent new accounting standards. They claim they contribute as much £500 million a year I think. But this figure includes general tourism receipts, many of which are unrelated to the monarchy. Even when it comes to royal sites like Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle , they would likely remain tourist attractions even without a royal family , as seen in countries like France. Another "creative" accounting approach they use is to include the revenues of the Crown Estate as a contribution by the Royals. This is especially absurd, given the profits of the Crown Estate have belonged to the tax payer since 1760. King George III put himself and the country into massive debt. Parliament generously agreed for the tax payer to bail him out in return for control of future profits of the Crown Estate. A rare piece of good business by politicians we might say. If we apply recognised standards of accounting to the Royals, they are very obviously a net loss.

[@regarded9702]

​@@matthewbazeley2984 I really don't care how much they cost, their diplomatic value is just about priceless. It's not fair and maybe not moral but by maintaining the myth of a family of people more important than everyone else, we gain an incredibly useful tool.

[@matthewbazeley2984]

@@regarded9702 I'm sure you would agree that being born into royalty does not bestow any special diplomatic skills, so I struggle to see how they are they going to be better at negotiating than professional diplomats. I thought they played a ceremonial role and the real discussions were handled by politicians and civil service types. Perhaps you can point me to a meaningful act of diplomacy by the royals that couldn't of been achieved by an elected official?

[@stormyprawn]

Sounds like one of the most efficient government departments. Is it time to put the wine commissioners in charge of the NHS?

[@fiddley]

Can you imagine the extra wealth that would be sloshing around if only Thatcher had treated our North Sea Oil as well as she did our Beaujolais....

[@SamuriLemonX18]

Registering to vote should allow you to opt in to a lottery to win a random bottle from the reserve each election cycle.

[@scottyc6341]

You mean to say they dont stock Devonshire's finest, Buckfast Tonic Wine? 😲

[@matejsevcik428]

now i just need to know if the Dutch government has a strategic cheese reserve

[@mootagen1]

I wonder if Evgeny Chichvarkin is one of the acclaimed 'wine masters'

[@jameselton3960]

The rent CANT be this high.

[@sammni]

Serve them all a bottle of Buckfast each!

[@matthewtalbot-paine7977]

So the government is investing tax payer money not into the community but into of all things wine.

[@logy7]

What?! I need to know about this bottle of vodka now!

[@jamiearnott9669]

Interesting video, since the UK needs a strategic reserve, or something akin to barter replaces the constant depreciation of the Pound Sterling for the highest inflation and debt for decades ? Perhaps a strategic reserve from the world's largest offshore energy infrastructure to store as hydrogen and lowered costs on living, working together for our energy security makes more sense? What credibility is left for a government to resort to a broken flesh market of capitalism to vintage wines, not least any viability of a functional liberal democracy either?🎉😂

[@Абдулло-щ3е9э]

I feel like a tea or biscuit reserve would be more helpful. Sure could have used it back in 2016.

[@TheBooban]

I feel sorry for the masters of wines that don’t get paid. I hope they can enjoy a wine party when they meet at least.

[@zax1998LU]

Would love behind the scenes footage of the thumbnail image being taken

[@prestonlanglais8271]

I'm assuming the wine reserve would have a major role in times of war 🍷

[@tsibris]

I never get how store bought wine can be spoiled in three years but expensive wine can be better over decades

[@tulliusexmisc2191]

The majority of wines mature fairly quickly and then deteriorate, but a few benefit from extended ageing. Your average supermarket - and even your average off-licence - will stock wines when they are at their best and therefore at their most expensive. They are not in the busioness of selling investments.

[@tsibris]

@ but what makes the difference? They are both fermented grapes.

[@TSFA2021]

I know this is a first for me here so Hello Pals. OK first of From my own understanding this is a Wine Cellar which can keep and sell wine. If correct to what I heard that's the best thing anyone can have. If anyone knows the Meme of US Government Cheese well imagine that but if it were extremely useful and profitable in any scenario as ling as demand is met. Ironically so this might in theory help in earning some fund that may as well be required for such occasions. If I can think of it it is in some ways if you had some wines that is actually desired by Others in the Market and Government doesn't need it they might gain a profit from it alone and assuming they can get the funds to be spred elsewhere. It would actually be a positive result at that current standing meaning such a collection if it were needed to be sold could help in some capacity and hoping it can help lessen Government spending it be a pleasant dream. For now honestly this is the better one to have than US Government Cheese.

[@joshjacob1530]

It’s cause spirits are needed and everyone who is anyone needs it, the gods envy you.

[@martinwyke]

I understand the reasoning, but surely we should be promoting our own beers and wines. There is no reason why these are not as good.

[@TimesFM4532]

Tbf thank god Boris and crew never found out about this

[@theowlman5239]

Why not

[@rogink]

Well of course it costs nothing to store the wine in cellars at the right temperature and humidity, never mind the buying and selling, doesn't it? Someone buying and flogging stuff on ebay might look at the margin on what they make as pure profit, so they probably don't worry about overheads. I'd hope a 'non' government department would.

[@Zendalll]

When are you going to do another race? I bought nebular for a month just to get the episodes quicker haha

[@xizuq6416]

Ben's expression on the thumbnail is 😅

[@mapadael7229]

thumbs up for yellow tail 😀

[@PoliticalEconomyPAK]

Cool story bro 👍🏼