Used to provide refreshments at official receptions and events, the government wine cellar holds about 40,000 bottle of vintage wines -- including the 2,500 pound ($4,000) per bottle Chateau Petrus 1978, and the 1,000 pound ($1,625) per bottle Chateau Latour 1955.
Foreign office minister Henry Bellingham said he had considered selling off the entire 100-year-old cellar under the country's plans to make 81 billion pounds ($128 billion) of spending cuts through 2015, but instead believed clever sales of prized bottles could fund the entire system.
"All the evidence shows that we will save the taxpayer money by keeping the cellar and reforming it so that wine purchases are self-funded through sales," Bellingham said.
A list disclosed last year following a series of freedom of information requests showed that Britain keeps stocks of popular styles from around the world -- including France, Italy, Spain and California's Napa Valley.
Bellingham said that during a trip to Britain later this month, U.S. President Barack Obama would be toasted with an English sparkling wine.
He said officials will seek to raise about 50,000 pounds ($81,000) per year by selling off high-value vintages, and spend the proceeds on both everyday stock to serve at banquets and bottles which could soar in value in decades to come.
