Thursday, October 04, 2018

The 2018 Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction at Spier, Stellenbosch

This annual action took place last Saturday at Spier Wine Estate in Stellenbosch. We love going; it is fast and furious and it is so good to see good wines getting great prices. And to see the happy faces of the winemakers. Once we had registered, there was a choice of good Guild members’ bubblies to start the day……
The event is hosted by Spier
Deciding which to have.... The Auction starts at 9,
so you have to arrive early if you want to enjoy the pre-action delights
Guild members John Loubser (Silverthorn),
Niels Verburg (Luddite), Carl van der Merwe (De Morgenzon)
Examining what is on offer at the Silent Auction. We have in the past got some great lots, but sadly not this year. Interest in this side of the auction is growing. Spier cellarmaster Frans Smit, Lynne, Ken Fargher. Proceeds go to the CWG Protégé Programme
This is one lot
Covetable wines
Then you can go into the tasting room and taste the wines coming up for auction before you buy, in case you have forgotten how good they are. Next door there was a breakfast buffet - good smoked salmon bagels and Scotch eggs
And the auction is off at 9am
Abrie Beeslaar kicked the auction off well with his Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2015;
the wine which Tim Atkin awarded 100 points. His 12 lots made a total of R1 029 000. Wow!
The Auctioneer is Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyer Mills Auctioneers
He is absolutely tireless, runs a tight ship and gets it done on time
Gary Jordan looking pensive. His wine did very well
Paul Cluver cellarmaster Andries Burger and his pretty daughter Aninke
CWG members Rianie Strydom of Haskell and Jeff Grier of Villiera
Linda Potgieter and Gudrun Clark running the social media
Rapt attention
Dave Swingler and Graham Blackshaw made some silly low bids. The auctioneer
was rather amusing when he said he didn't know who was more embarrassed, he or they!
With them is Chef Christophe Dehosse
Kevin Grant congratulates Sebastian Beaumont for good prices. They both did well
Auctioneer Henré Hablutzel
Andries Burger and Andrea Mullineux
James Browne, Pieter "Bubbles" Ferreira, Dewaldt & Tania Heyns
Telephone bids. The wires were hot
This group of young men was bidding enthusiastically
Gary Jordan, Jeremy Walker, Niels Verburg - Happy chaps
Lynne sipping Monro Brut and paying attention
Sophia Hawkins of Vilafonte, Mark Norrish of Ultra Liquors
Kevin and Hanli Grant of Ataraxia
Spier was lot 13 (of 52) and at this point the auction reached R4 651 200 and it was about 10h30
John took a break to get something to drink and popped into the silent auction room
Miles Mossop with Judy Brower of Wine.co.za, having fun
Carel Nel of Boplaas and his daughter Rozanne
Not a happy face. Prices were high
Then it was time for the Charity Auction, just after Lot 41
 The 8 lots went for R115 500 in total, all for the CWG Protégé Programme
Here are the results
The wines in this auction were all previous CWG auction wines, donated by the member winemakers
Sold! lot gone to paddle number...
Last lot coming up
The unofficial total at the end was R10 580 800 from fewer lots than last year
and so prices were good. The auction finished just after 2pm
Public Relations consultant Gudrun Clark, auctioneer Henré Hablutzel
and CWG Chairman Boela Gerber at the end of the auction
Time for some lunch. It was a help yourself buffet of quite simple food
There was a great choice of wines to have with lunch
Choices!....
... more choices
The kimchi cabbage was HOT with chilli and very enjoyable. Most of us left the buns behind
Bitterballen and mustard
Dessert was chocolate brownie cheesecakes and tiny melkterts
Most of us sat at tables on the terrace and enjoyed chatting, eating and drinking good wine
The silent auction is open until half an hour after the end of the main auction, then it closes 
This was a great lot and received very good bids for the double magnum
Time to close the Silent Auction
and Henré rings the bell. It was a really good experience. We love being there to see the results 

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