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Wednesday, October 08, 2014

Veritas Wine Awards dinner at the CTICC

We had to rush home from the CWG Auction and change into our finery for this black tie event which was held on the same day. It was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre and we were all welcomed in the foyer with MCC bubbles and canapés before going upstairs to the Ballroom for the awards and dinner. There were over 760 people at what must be one of the largest Cape Town functions.

This year 1,767 wines and brandies were rated (1,792 in 2013) by an authoritative line-up of international judges joined by local wine specialists. 1345 medals were awarded (1422 in 2013). The awarding of 155 Gold (165 in 2013) and 51 Double Gold medals (68 in 2013) this year were down on the previous year, as judging has got more rigorous we were told.

Four industry people received 2014 Living Legends scrolls of honour: Danie de Wet; Diaan de Villiers; Professor Diko van Zyl and Jeff Wedgwood. You can see all the result by clicking on this link: www.veritas.co.za .The public tastings of some of these wines will be held on 15th October thCape Town and 25^th October in Johannesburg; Durban 5^th November, Port Elizabeth 11th November - see details on http://www.veritas.co.za/public-tasting/

We gather in the vestibule

then take our seats in the vast ballroom

Proceedings are opened by Charles Hopkins of De Grendel who is the current Chairperson of Veritas

We had a jolly table with Erica Obermeyer, cellarmaster of Graham Beck and Niel Germishuys, her partner

The menu for dinner. It was not a great display of culinary arts

A soufflé was prepared for 760 people. It was cold, as was the calamari

and rather hard to cut

Steak and potatoes for 760 people

The band was good and many people stayed to dance after the awards

Shante Hutton from wine.co.za looking extremely glamorous.

Elegant couple Mr and Mrs Johan de Wet of de Wetshof in Robertson. His father Danie de Wet was recognised as a Living Legend for his pioneer work with white wine cultivars in South Africa, particularly Chardonnay, amongst other things.

A delighted Erica with her two double gold medals : One for the 2014 Graham Beck Pheasants Run Sauvignon Blanc

The other for the Graham Beck 2012 Ridge Syrah

Frans Smit of Spier Wines and the Spier table celebrating their six double gold and several other medals. And this was after he had a very good day at the CWG auction. He was walking on air

JC Bekker of Boschendal and his team lso had reasons for celebration

Johan Malan of Simonsig with Simonsig winemaker Debbie Thompson

The cheese platter served with boiled apple and onion ‘relish’

Winnie Bowman juggling some of the winning brandies for her table

Celebration on the dance floor

Dawie Malan of Anthonie Rupert and friends

And finally... your carriage awaits

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Record sales at the 2014 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction

This year was the first year in which we had been able to accept the invitation to attend the CWG auction, as we were always working on Saturdays. It was a really thrilling experience. The lots went for such amazing prices that, even though we had a paddle and had intended to bid on a couple of items, they went way above our estimates and our budget. We tried to bid on the silent auction, but all our bids were topped. Everyone was in a spending mood.

It was really refreshing to see such happy faces on the winemakers in the lounge after their lots had been sold. Etienne le Riche received a record breaking price of R7000 per 6 bottle case on the very first lot of the auction. Not all the potential buyers had such happy faces. And it just continued all day. Lynne was tweeting the average lot prices as they happened and logging the “million” marks as they were reached. Some were achieved in only 20 minutes and the auction made a record total of R11 929 600 (2013 total was R8.4 million)

Breakfast awaited our early arrival at 08h30. Pot breads and bread sticks

Banting, pastry free, bacon, cheese and spinach quiches

A selection of muffins

Slightly singed pecan and apple Danish pastries

Two young wine experts: Tawanda Marume from Wine Concepts and Gregory Mutambe, sommelier at the 12 Apostles Hotel, who bought a few lots at the auction

There were some wines coming up at auction later that could be tasted. Here Sue Proudfoot of Wine Concepts reminds herself of one of them

Francois Rautenbach of Singita and Stephanus Eksteen of Checkers were two buyers seen here celebrating with Gary Jordan, owner/cellarmaster of Jordan Estate in Stellenbosch

Friendly faces at the tasting

The silent auction had some amazing items you could bid for. Over and above the main auction, a record amount of R228 700 was raised on the day in aid of the Cape Winemaker's Guild Protégé Programme, a mentorship initiative for young, upcoming winemakers and viticulturists. This year's special item sold at the Charity Auction, a one-of-a-kind 18-litre 2012 Members' Reserve, comprising a blend of top wines from all 45 members of the Guild, was purchased for yet another record breaking price of R80 000

The silent auction table had a great selection of wines for which one could bid. Sadly, none of our bids succeeded this time

The Auction was opened by CWG’s current Chairman, Andries Burger, cellarmaster at Paul Cluver

Mike Brown, Chief Executive of CWG Auction Sponsor, Nedbank

Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills, Auctioneers for the 17th consecutive year, attracted 156 local and 22 foreign buyers. In total, 2 833 cases (6 x 750ml equivalent) were sold at an average price of R4 210 per case and an average price per bottle of R701.82

The bidding begins

Mark Norrish of Ultra watches the bidding. Is he going to bid on this lot?

Miguel Chan of Tsogo Sun hotels, who were the biggest bidders this year

Neil Proudfoot of Wine Concepts, waiting for an opportunity

Journalist Norman MacFarlane, with his wife Eppie, seem amused at the prices

Shall we bid on this? Philip and Sandra Engelen. Philip is the President of the Cape Town Club

Gavin Ferreira and Greg Mutambe of the 12 Apostles Hotel get a successful bid recognised

David Brice of The Wine Cellar

Tatiana Marcetteau, head sommelier at The Taj Hotel, Cape Town

Louis Strydom telling us about this years Auction Charity item, the 18 Litre Bottle of CWG Members reserve 2012, which sold for a phenomenal R80 000

One of this year’s Protégés, Rudiger van Wyk

The Charity 18 Litre bottle

The two together

He is joined by other Protégés

Adi Badenhorst never fails to amuse and entertain

We take a break for some lunch and enjoy some sun on the terrace

Two smiling faces: Louis Nel of Louis Wines and Nicky Versfeld of Lanner Hill, caught smoking and hiding the cigarettes behind their backs like naughty schoolboys

Neil Pendock takes a rest from the auction

Stephanus in conversation with Johan Joubert, lately cellarmaster at Kleine Zalze, who has moved to Boland Kelder

A lineup of wines for lunch

Back to continue bidding, Stephanus with Francois Naude and Cathy Jordan

The auctioneer accepts that bid

James Brown of Hartenberg

The auction is over, the last bid has been made and the phenomenal total made is R11 929 600. We cannot wait for next year’s auction. Thank you to all concerned, it has been a great experience

The team from Tsogo Sun, the biggest buyers at this and the Nederburg Auction, with CWG Chairman Andries Burger

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