Kevin Rudd blows $23k on ‘boring’ wine

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has stocked up the cellars at The Lodge and Kirribilli House with more than $23,000 worth of of taxpayer-funded bottles of spirits and wine.

While the rest of Australia has moved on to drinking Pinot Noir, Mr Rudd has stuck to the tried-and-tested Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon and Shiraz.

The total value of the liquor at Kirribilli House is estimated at $6000, with the most extravagant bottle being Dom Perignon 1985, worth around $300 on the Australian market.

According to the list tabled in Parliament, the selection at The Lodge is worth about $14,000.

With the wine stock valued at $20,000 as at December 2008, Mr Rudd and his guests have ploughed through an average 20 bottles a week since elected.

Leading wine judge James Halliday was surprised at some of the choices, calling the selection ‘boringly conventional’.

‘There are wines I would be happy to drink and there are wines I would be acutely unhappy to drink.’

‘The members of the committee responsible for the selection are clearly adherents of the ABC (Anything But Chardonnay) Club and fervent lovers of all things Sauvignon Blanc,’ he added.