The auction took place online and in-person at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West on Friday, 3rd and Saturday, 4th October 2025
The Auction was held at the Conference Centre
Breakfast on arrival. We had to be there just before 9am and this was very welcome after an early start
Fresh fruit kebabs with a dip
and great lamb sausages on a stick
The ladies who make the Guild work, Logistics Coordinator, Martie Nauschutz and GM Kate Jonker
In an adjoining room, Auction wines for tasting, helped by Elsenburg students
We managed a very quick tasting before joining the auction
We so love meeting the students and there were three Protégé students about to join their farms
The students had been well briefed and could ably describe each wine they poured
The wines were, as expected, very impressive
The Elsenburg students
An adoring wife
JD Pretorius and David Sadie chat over breakfast
Then into the auction where lots were moving fast
Peter Ferreira and Andrea Mullineux discuss, David Trafford and Miles Mossop's minds are elsewhere
Guild members Abrie Beeslaar, Kanonkop, Pierre Wahl, Survivor, and Dewaldt Heyns, Dewaldt Heyns Family Wines
Bidding kicks off
John Loubser, Silverthorn, and Kevin Grant, Ataraxia
Auctioneer Roland Peens encouraging bidders
Winemakers and their families sitting in the back row, watching with interest
Nearest the camera, L to R: Pieter Ferreira, Andrea Mullineux and son, Zani and Duncan Savage, John Loubser, Kevin Grant
"Shall we bid?"
Watching the prices ...
And they were good
Adi Badenhorst and family. Adi surprised everyone by entering a vino style wine with flor, crisp, complex and exciting
It sold very well. We hope this will start a trend to reintroduce sherry style wines here. We have missed them
Serious faces: Zani and Duncan Savage next to Samantha O'Keefe
Happy Chris and Andrea Mullineux had a very successful day
Watching Strauss CEO and Head Auctioneer Susie Goodman in action
Always an education in how to do this complex job
Emul Ross, Hamilton Russell, and JD Pretorius, Warwick with Destinate CEO Mariette Du Toit-Helmbold
Auctioneer Dr Alastair Meredith was new to us, very calm, persuasive and together
This year, three graduating protégés had wines for tasting at the auction,
which were offered as separate lots in the Protégé Auction
Protégé Karabelo Masoleng showed her Serendipity Pinot Noir 2024
made under the mentorship of Charles Hopkins whilst she was at De Grendel wine estate
during her second year as a protégé
“The name Serendipity holds a very special meaning for me,” explained Karabelo, “I made a big leap from a career in modelling to winemaking — an unexpected shift where passion and purpose perfectly aligned. This wine is my way of celebrating those surprising moments in life that guide us towards what we’re truly meant to do. It’s a tribute to dreams, storytelling, and the courage to follow your heart”
She is now working with Emul Ross at Hamilton Russell
Bidders in the room and on line too
Lynne trying to get onto the Internet to send out information on Facebook
Chris Mullineux and his son watch the bidding go up
as bidding continues on a a 36 bottle lot of Mullineux Semillon Gris
and Andrea Mullineux looks happy as...
Lot 368 goes for R115000
Andrea Mullineux and her children
Bruwer Raats, Raats Family Wines, and independent winemaker Carl Schultz
Duncan Savage and Miles Mossop having fun together
They were very successful at Cape Wine on the amusing Zoo stand
Relaxing - Zani Savage, Suné and Bartho Eksteen
Roland Peens confirms a bid
Cape Wine Masters Conrad Louw and Christine Rudman
Strauss CEO and Head Auctioneer Susie Goodman, always expressive. And the total keeps climbing
Adi Badenhorst, AA Badenhorst Family Wines with Southern Sun sommelier Miguel Chan who was buying
Wines with lunch. The selection could be tasted all day and the wines are impressive
The Le Riche Cabernet was our choice for lunch and it was superb
Oysters
Chicken brochettes
Tacos
Caprese salad
The dish of the day. Tender, juicy Lamb fillet
Another vegetarian option and one Lynne tried, a crisp deep fried polenta ball with a good miso dressing
Braised beef, onion ring doughnut, butternut, potato and good gravy
Wicked hamburger buns which were so popular they disappeared as soon as they were served
Yellowtail with Malay spice, mayo, cucumber and apple salad
Rita and David Trafford
Getting towards the end of the afternoon's action at 2.15
Chocolate coated profiteroles filled with coffee cream were a dessert option
Crème Brulée
Black Forest Chocolate sponge with cherry cream filling
A triumphant Roland Peens as the last bid of R40 000 is accepted to loud applause
bringing the auction to an end with a record turnover
Former Old Mutual CEO Peter Moyo, one of the more serious bidders,
in conversation with outgoing chair Samantha O'Keefe and Miles Mossop
The Auctioneers and winemakers celebrating a successful auction
- impossible to miss the piece of electronic equipment which records all the bids
Samantha O'Keefe, happy at the record turnover. The final total added another 15 000
The auction drew 258 registered bidders from 13 countries, raising a sum of R17 215 000.
A total of 1 912 cases (6 x 750ml) were sold,
with an average price of R1 501 per bottle, R1 419 for white wines and R1 550 for red wines
Samantha O’Keefe, Chair of the Cape Winemakers Guild said, "We are exceedingly proud of the way in which our members' pursuit of excellence continues to shape the South African winemaking landscape. I believe that the Cape Winemakers Guild founding members - including legendary Oom Jan Boland Coetzee, who passed away earlier this year - would be amazed by this incredible two-day event, which is even being streamed to wine-lovers across the globe in real time.”
Apart from these excellent results of the 41st Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, Cape Winemakers Guild members and member properties also raised R671 400 for the Protégé Programme this year, through the auctioning of their wine donations and wine-related experiences in the annual Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Auction, which took place virtually on the Strauss & Co website between 21st August and 6th October 2025
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