The Brexit Fight Is Now Getting Dirty. They Are Fighting Over The Wine Cellar

Financial Times: Brexit divorce lawyers eye up EU’s wine list

UK to lay claim to array of Brussels cellars, art and property as part of split.

Britain is planning to claim a share of the EU’s 42,000-bottle cellar of wine, cognac and other spirits, its art collection and its €8.7bn property portfolio as the government gears up to haggle over Brexit with Brussels.

As in any divorce, untangling EU-UK financial affairs is expected to be one of the most difficult part of the negotiations. Any exit deal must settle complex liabilities including the UK share of guarantees on €60bn of Eurocrat pensions and almost €20bn of European Investment Bank loans.

As it seeks to minimise any financial hit, Britain is eyeing the other side of the EU’s balance sheet, which includes assets ranging from land and office space to dozens of space satellites, the European Parliament’s art collection, the wine and spirits stock — and Margaret Thatcher’s old Conservative party citadel in Westminster.

“Of course we will go for the assets,” said one British official involved in preparations.

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WNU Editor: This fight over the wine .... and I can assure you it is the very good stuff .... is causing more of a stir among these diplomats than the breakup itself. On a personal note, this is what I miss about being a "small time diplomat" .... not paying taxes on smokes and booze. When I was at ICAO (Montreal) in the early 1990s .... Malboro was $6 or $7 a carton (yes .... a carton), and the hard booze (all name brands) were around $5 or $6 dollars (40 ounces). My favorite was Couvoisier VSOP ($16 a bottle). Sighhh .... I miss those days.

Ukrained Outraged That Putin And Berlusconi Opened A 240 Year-Old Crimean Bottle Of Wine

BBC: Putin and Berlusconi in Crimea wine row

Ukrainian prosecutors say they are preparing charges against the head of a Crimean winery for allegedly opening a 240-year-old bottle for Vladimir Putin and Silvio Berlusconi.

The Russian president and former Italian premier spent last weekend in Crimea touring ancient ruins.

Prosecutors say they drank at Crimea's renowned Massandra winery.

Massandra was Ukrainian government property before Russia's annexation of Crimea in March 2014.

Any charges could not currently be pursued in Crimea, where Russia has full control.

Russian media cited by Radio Free Europe reported that Berlusconi asked if he could sample the wine during a tour of Massandra.

Update #1: Ukraine Outraged after Putin Allegedly Drank 240-Year-Old Crimean Wine -- AP
Update #2: Putin, Berlusconi and the 240-year-old bottle of wine -- Politico

WNU Editor: I have been to the Massandra winery (about 15 years ago) .... and I have seen its wine cellar (there are about one million bottles). As a wine drinker/collector/and wine maker .... words cannot describe how I felt when I was there for a wine testing event. It is impressive, and some of the vintages go back to the late 1700s. As to the wine itself .... if you like dessert or fortified wines, this place is for you. On a side note .... I am green with envy. Drinking a bottle of wine that was corked before the U.S. gained its independence .... priceless.