Between £1,000 and £2,000 worth of burgundy and Pouilly-Fuissé wine has mysteriously gone missing from the extensive collection in Christ Church’s wine cellar, The Times reported today.
The college has launched an investigation led by a lawyer after noticing a discrepancy in stocks in its internal records. Wine is available to be paid for by staff for personal use, or by the college for official functions, such as for the many conferences it hosts during the vacations. However, over a thousand pounds more was charged to the college than anticipated.
According to a freedom of information request made by The Sunday Times in 2010, Christ Church’s collection was worth around £175,000, including its own brand of wine, port, and beer. Wadham boasted the highest worth wine cellar of £425,000, with some bottles having quadrupled in value since purchasing them decades ago. Somerville’s wine cellar was worth just £186. Cambridge’s Trinity College had a wine cellar worth a staggering £1.7m.
Although it is apparently a well known mystery among Christ Church staff, the college management only found out around a month ago.
One staff member revealed that the bottles have been vanishing over several years. Another said “If there has been action, it is a well-guarded secret”.
A spokesperson for Christ Church has said “While this process is ongoing, we cannot comment on the allegations, or provide any further details.”