The membership of the Committee remains unchanged:
- PM Allan Cheesman Chair
- PM Terry Barr
- Assistant Alan Montague Dennis
- Liveryman Laura Jewell MW
- Honorary Steward David Hunter Secretary
The committee meets formally once per year in October to taste all wine stocks held in Davy’s warehouse. The incoming Master is invited to attend in an ex officio capacity.
The Committee also meets on an ad-hoc basis to taste and review requirements and this year there have been 2 such occasions which included the chance to introduce our new Clerk and Assistant Clerk to the Committee and Davy’s.
Stocks for the company remain healthy with cover across all sectors for upcoming years. The set budget is currently sufficient but if planned extensions to livery functions and events occur, with the addition of more ad-hoc events, the budget may need to be revised. We are also facing an increase in storage and service charges from Davy’s in 2025.
The industry is not in a happy place with pressure on costs, duty increases, and a decline in demand. In August 2023 we saw the largest duty hike on wine for 25 years whilst demand has reduced by 4%.
The Committee, however, remain committed to providing value and quality to the Company which will include seeking value and quality wines from across the globe, recognizing, of course, that there is still a demand for wines from classic regions.
Our supply base remains strong with good support from them for the Livery. Davy’s remain our distribution and storage hub offering exemplary service and they also act as a good top up supplier from their own extensive list.
All-in-all, the Committee remains in good heart and spirit.
Allan Cheesman
Chairman, Spirit & Wine Committee
