SA’s rarest and most exclusive wines will go under the hammer at next weekend’s annual Nederburg Auction.
The auction at the historic Nederburg homestead in Paarl draws buyers from around the world and Eastern Cape bidders are again expected to make their presence felt.
The likes of Port Elizabeth’s Pitsiladi family from Prestons, as well as restaurateurs, venue and tavern owners from the Eastern Cape and beyond will be buying for their customers. There will be 107 wines from 63 producers on offer at the two-day event, now in its 44th year and considered the oldest “New World” wine auction in the world. New participants include Sijnn, Le Lude, Bartinney and Beau Constantia.
This year’s wines were selected by a panel of specialists including local Master of Wine (MW) Cathy van Zyl, British MW Tim Atkin, Richard Kershaw MW, Greg Sherwood MW, Michael Fridjhon, Roland Peens, William Wouters and Francois Rautenbach, joined by Wikus Human, title holder of Best Young Sommelier in SA. The selection process was overseen by Higgo Jacobs of the SA Sommeliers Association. Friday’s pre-auction tasting is a chance for buyers to meet the winemakers and taste all but the very rarest wines to go under the hammer. The tasting will be followed by a charity auction with auctioneer and wine industry personality Roland Peens, with proceeds to benefit disadvantaged communities in the Cape Winelands. The lots, all donated, include an extremely rare bottle of 1959 Chateau Margaux from the renowned wine estate in France. “Donors have been exceptionally generous with items for the charity auction this year. I’ve never seen such a line-up during my last nine years with the auction,” auction manager Dalene Steyn said.
The charity auction will be followed by a gourmet braai served in the marquee and on the lawns in front of the Nederburg manor house.
Saturday’s programme is more business orientated with the auction proper preceded by a keynote address by former FNB CEO Michael Jordaan, now owner of Bartinney wine farm, on “innovation around the business model of wine”.
“I’m really looking forward to Jordaan’s keynote address. I follow him on Twitter and, if his keynote address is going to be anything like his social media stance, it can only be thought-provoking,” Steyn said.
Saturday’s lots will again be knocked down by David Elswood, renowned international head of wine for Christie’s. An intense morning of bidding will be followed by an afternoon of entertainment and fine food from some of SA’s most talented chefs. Steyn said she was excited to see how the change in programme would be received.
“Moving the charity auction to the Friday evening resulted in the additional dinner which adds another layer of fun and business opportunities for all. “[The auction] gives the SA wine industry an opportunity to network with the rest of the wine world while showcasing some of our older wine treasures which are often available only in very small quantities.”
Steyn said it was fun working on this year’s theme, Evolve.
“It’s super exciting to be part of the SA wine industry as it stands today; to see how international wine critics rate not only much older wines like GS [George Spies] Cabernet, but get super-excited about the creations of the younger winemakers.”