THE HOUSES OF the Oireachtas Commission is set to splash out €400,000 to keep Leinster House stocked with its own brand of mid-range red and white wine.

The bespoke-labelled booze has proven to be a big hit in the Dáil bar since it was launched at the end of 2013, accounting for 17% of all drinks revenue at the venue last year.

A total of 4,851 glasses and 1,063 bottles were sold in the bar, as well as two whole cases at a cost of €180 each. Employees at Leinster House also availed of a staff discount to purchase 50 bottles at €12 each.

The current Oireachtas-labelled house wine retails at €16, while its brand of Rioja and Pinot Grigio sell for €28.

The Oireachtas authority is now seeking new tenders from wine suppliers to provide bottles of its own-label alcohol over the next four years, and expects to pay €400,000 plus VAT for the products under the contract.

A blind-tasting session is set to take place at the parliamentary procurement unit later this summer, when officials will take part in a rigorous selection process in respect of both red and white wines.

They will score samples on their appearance, nose and palate, and any wines that fail to attain a minimum of 50 points in these categories will be eliminated, according to tender documents.

The officials will be assessing the wines’ clarity, colour, and any evidence of tartrates or other flaws in the drink. In terms of its nose, they will be seeking a fruit-driven aroma and assessing its condition and intensity.

The process will result in two white options and two red options being selected for purchase in the coming years.

The drinks will be available for purchase in the Dáil bar and a number of other locations throughout the parliamentary complex.

They will also be served in the Members’ Restaurant, which is a table-service venue exclusively for current and former TDs and senators, as well as their guests.

Bottles will also be stocked in the self-service restaurant and coffee dock.

The Dáil bar is divided into separate venues: a visitors’ bar in which staff, journalists and guests are permitted, and the members’ bar, which can only be accessed by sitting and former Oireachtas members.

Prospective suppliers have until 12pm on 27 July to submit tenders and wine samples for consideration, and a contract will be awarded in due course.