Superb
wines get great prices at the Cape Winemakers Guild Auction
We
did have a paddle again this year, but didn't manage to get any wines as the prices
achieved were way above what anyone expected. The auction made R11 815 800
this year, slightly less than last year's total of R11 9 million, but with a smaller
volume as there were 264 fewer cases this year. This means that the average
price per case has increased by 10%, a phenomenal result. It was a great event
and it was quite exciting at times, with records broken on both the white and
red wine prices
CWG
Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2012 fetched the highest price ever paid for a red wine at
the auction with a top bid of R12 200 for a six bottle case. AA Badenhorst
Family Wines Graniet-Berg 2013 set a new auction record for a white wine with R7 000 for a case of six
One needs to arrive early to register, so we skipped breakfast and arrived at 8am, in time for coffee and Danish
pastries in the VIP lounge
There was quite a lot of other food on
offer
Muesli, fruit kebabs and eggs &
bacon en cocotte
Croissants stuffed with ham, but all
had huge amounts of hot English mustard, which neither of us likes
Wines to sup with breakfast (and
lunch)
or a glass of bubbly
All the wines on auction could be
tasted again in the tasting room. The line up of 55 wines included 34 red
wines, 17 white wines, 3 Méthode Cap Classique and a dessert wine
Robert Hatton Jones, Executive Manager - Food & Beverage and Luvo Ntezo, Head Sommelier, both of The One&Only Cape Town
Andries Burger (of Paul Cluver wines),
the current President of the Cape Winemakers Guild, made the opening speech
The hall, almost full for the opening
of the auction
And we are OFF. The auction was
conducted by Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers for the 18th
consecutive year
It attracted a total of 153 buyers
comprising 131 local and 22 foreign buyers. In total 2 569 cases (6 x 750ml
equivalent) were sold at an average price of R4 599 per case and an average
price per bottle of R767
Over and above the main auction, a
record amount of R231 500 was raised on the day in the Silent Auction in aid of
the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Protégé Programme, a mentorship initiative for
young, upcoming winemakers and viticulturists. Here Louis Strydom tells us how
important and successful the project is and how the protégés are progressing in
their careers
This year’s special item sold at the
Charity Auction, a one-of-a-kind 18-litre 2013 Members’ Reserve comprising a
blend of top wines from all 46 members of the Guild
This is the 18 litre bottle being
carried by two of the past protégés having been auctioned, with the anonymous buyer who
bid R40 000 for it; he bought a similar bottle last year
It was purchased for R40 000
The auction continued but we did take
some time for lunch. Chorizo and squid salad
Small meat pies. Lynne also had a
plate of sushi
There were some very happy Guild
winemakers walking around. This year no less than six red wines fetched higher
prices than last year’s record of R8 600 per case. Hartenberg CWG Auction
Shiraz 2013 peaked at R11 000, Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2013 sold
for R10 000, Etienne Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2011 for R9
600, and Beyerskloof Trail dust Pinotage 2013 and Rust en Vrede CWG Estate 2012
both on R9 200. Amongst the whites, four beat last year’s record high,
including Ataraxia Under the Gavel
Chardonnay 2014 at R6 400, the AA Badenhorst Family Wines “Geel-Kapel” Muscat
de Frontignan 2013 at R6 000, and Jordan Chardonnay Auction Selection 2014 at
R5 800
This is one of the tables of items in the silent auction. We tried
to place some bids, but were topped on all of them at the close. We do like to
try to put something back into the industry and this is a good way to do it
© John & Lynne Ford, Adamastor & Bacchus 2015
