Some top brands stand out more than others at Cape Wine Auction

INTERESTING it was to see the brands involved and what the charitably minded were keen to buy at the 2018 Cape Wine Auction hosted at Rustenberg and Tokara in Stellenbosch. The prime objective of the two-day event is to support children’s education in needy communities of the South African winelands, and to this end the amount raised came to R17.5 million. However, as is the custom at this occasion, while some of the lots included rare bottles from some of the country’s top wine producers, many had more or everything to do with rather special gourmet and/or travel experiences – summarised below in order of how much they went for. The most in-demand South African wines on sale over the weekend this year included those of The Sadie Family, Kanonkop, De Toren, Meerlust, Richard Kershaw and Raats.

 

Sold at The Cape Wine Auction 2018

R2.9-million for The Gift of Giving
Providing needy communities with nutrition, psycho-social support, technology, staff training, mother-tongue instruction, empowering girls through technology, transport, literacy, training for early childhood development practitioners, a pre-school centre.

R750 000 for an Oneiric French Riviera Experience
Four magnums of Oneiric’s First Quantum Grand Reserve (WO Elgin), lunch for eight at Michelin-star restaurant Jan in Nice, four nights at private villa in Cannes on the French Riviera.

R700 000 for an Azura Benguerra Island Experience
Seven nights for four at either of Azura Retreats’ Infinity Beach Villas or Villa Amizade on Benguerra Island of Mozambique, including meals, drinks and helicopter transfers; island drive and sunset cruise; five cases of Chateau Pas de Loup of the Loire Valley, France.

R600 000 to attend the BFI London Film Festival & US Open Tennis
Tickets for two to fly SAA business class, attend gala screening at BFI London Film Fest, stay at London’s Hotel Café Royal for three nights, attend quarter finals of US Open Tennis in New York – courtesy of American Express.

R600 000 for a Morukuru Warwick Wine Weekend
Three-night stay for two couples at Morukuru Beach Lodge in the Cape’s De Hoop Nature Reserve, low-level whale-watching helicopter flight, Warwick food-and-wine experience.

R525 000 for a Picarroque French Villa Experience
A week for 12 at Picarroque, a villa near Toulouse in south-west France, including a lunch at the owner’s château – the villa owned by Mark Borrie and Simon Olding of Hawksmoor House in Stellenbosch.

R525 000 for a Silvan Safari and Conservation Coast Experience
Three nights accommodation at Silvan Safari Lodge, Sabi Sand, including gourmet dinners and game drives, Whalehaven’s Conservation Coast Chardonnay (2012 to 2014) and Conservation Coast Pinot Noir (2012 to 2014)

R500 000 for a De Toren Tintswalo Experience
Magnums of De Toren’s 2013 vintage of Book XVII and Black Lion, a rehoboam (5 litres) of De Toren Fusion V 2000, a salmanazar (9 litres) of De Toren Fusion V 2007 and a rehoboam (3 litres) of De Toren Z 2004 (all WO Stellenbosch), two nights for two guests at Tintswalo Atlantic at the foot of Table Mountain’s Chapman’s Peak, three nights for two at Tintswalo Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park’s Manyeleti Game Reserve.

R500 000 – Dom Pérignon, Ellerman House, Dylan Lewis
Three days for six guests at Ellerman House Hotel in Bantry Bay, Cape Town; journey through Dylan Lewis Sculpture Garden in Stellenbosch, experiencing Dom P and dining under the stars; Dom P and fine dining in the wine gallery at Ellerman House; Dylan Lewis prints, personalised Dom P, collection of Ellerman House books.

R500 000 for a New World meets Old World Experience
Creation wines, tasting and food-and-wine pairing with cellarmaster Jean-Claude Martin at cellar on Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge; Riedel glasses; two nights for eight in villa at Grootbos Private Nature Reserve near Gansbaai; Big 5 boat trip for eight; jeroboam (3 litres) of Chevalier Montrachet Grand Cru made by Phillipe Colin of Chassagne-Montrachet in Burgundy and Topiary Wines in Franschhoek; night for two including dinner at Michelin three star restaurant at Maison Lameloise in Chagny, Burgundy; tasting for two with Jean-Claude Ramonet in Chassagne-Montrachet; tasting for two with Aubert de Villaine at Domaine de la Romanée-Conti in Vosne-Romanée; hot-air balloon ride over vineyards of Burgundy.

R500 000 for a Paul Cluver and Iona Burgundy Experience
Selection of Paul Cluver and Iona Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vintages from Elgin, selection of red and white Burgundies, guided tour of Burgundy with Remington Norman MW including visits to four top Côte d’Or producers and the cooper Francois Frere, accommodation in France for three nights, tour-planning lunch at SALT restaurant of Paul Cluver.

R500 000 for a Rickety Bridge Paris and St Tropez Experience
Six-year vertical collection of Rickety Bridge Paulina’s Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon WO Franschhoek, seven nights for two couples at a luxury apartment in Paris, seven nights for seven couples at Les Louves Private Mansion outside St Tropez, La Garde-Freinet, Provence, France.

R450 000 for an Ad Vini and Ken Forrester Experience
Accommodation for six on Advini vineyards with cellar tours plus food and wine experiences across six wineries in France and South Africa – including all meals, wine, a four-night stay in France and a two-night stay in Stellenbosch.

R450 000 for an Anton Smit Sculpture and Idiom Collection
Two-meter-high ‘Facets II – Youth’ work in bronze by sculptor Anton Smit, 12-bottle collection of Idiom 900 Series, six-course degustation lunch for six at Idiom Tasting Centre near Sir Lowry’s Pass outside Somerset West.

R400 000 for a Marovasa Be Experience, Madagascar
Seven nights accommodation for a group of up to 12 at Madagasgar’s Marovasa Be, a boutique guesthouse located on a private, baobab-dotted coastline of Moramba Bay where guests dine on fish, lobster and crab while sipping fine wines and cocktails in an open-air restaurant.

R400 000 for a Meerlust Rovos Rail Experience
Twenty bottle vertical collection – 1996 to 2015 – of Meerlust Rubicon, Rovos Rail trip for two from Pretoria to Cape Town inclusive of meals, drinks and off-train excursions, lunch for eight at Meerlust homestead with proprietor Hannes Myburgh, weekend for two couples at Quarters on the Meerlust Estate in Stellenbosch.

R375 000 – Klein Constantia, Château Angéelus, Richard Scott
One imperial (6 litres) of Château Angelus 2011, accommodation for two at La Logis de la Cadéne in St Emilion including a wine-pairing dinner at their Michelin star restaurant, wine tasting at Château Angélus with member of de Boüard family, the Richard Scott painting ‘Gold Money Tree’, a double magnum of Klein Constantia Vin de Constance 2014, a winemaker-hosted lunch for eight at Klein Constantia homestead.

R375 000 for a Life Membership to Opera House
Life Membership to Opera House in Sandton, Johannesburg, with unlimited access to the club’s sculptured gardens, three restaurants, live music venue and cocktail bar, private dining rooms, lounges, swimming pool and games room, private cinema and more, annual dividend, R10 000 food and beverage spend for first 10 years of membership, dinner for six to eight people at private residence in Johannesburg or Cape Town with wines from Vilafonté and the meal cooked by Angelo Scirocco, 2015 San Pellegrino Young Chef of the Year for Africa and the Middle East.

R375 000 for a Nederburg Tour de France Experience
Five-day experience for two at the 2018 Tour de France including business class flights as well as accommodation and meals, S5 road bicycle used by Mark Renshaw (valued at R65 000), collection comprising six bottles of Nederburg Private Bin R163 Cabernet Sauvignon 2013 from the cellar in Paarl.

R350 000 for ‘555 Platter’s Stars’
An ‘instant vinoteque’ of Platter’s 2018 5 Star wines, over 100 wines scored 95-plus in the book and tastings with all of the category ‘winners’, five signed copies of the Platter’s South African Wine Guide 2018, invitation for two to attend launch of 2019 edition of the publication.

R350 000 for a Deetlefs Experience
Bottle of 1974 Philippus Petrus Deetlefs Muscat d’Alexandrie from Deetlefs Estate of Rawsonville in the Breedekloof, two-night stay for two including all meals and game drives at Thornybush River Lodge in Limpopo, soccer ball signed by Mandela during 2010 World Cup, two subscriptions to Prestige magazine (French), ‘The Release Pendant’ of the Legacy Collection by Charmaine Taylor.

R325 000 for an Epicurean and Saxon/Shambala Experience
10-year vertical of Epicurean wines in magnum, four nights accommodation at either The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg or Shambala Private Game Reserve in Limpopo, with dinners at The Saxon including an eight-course tasting menu by celebrity chef Luke Dale Roberts.

R325 000 for a Kanonkop and Swiss Chalet Ayoba Experience
A ‘Pinotage Family’ from Kanonkop Wine Estate in Stellenbosch comprising 750ml, magnum, 3 litre, 5 litre, 9 litre and 12 litre bottles, a seven-night stay for 12 guests at self-catering chalet Ayoba in the Swiss Alps village Lauchernalp.

R300 000 for a Vilafonté and Sunset Villa Wine Weekend
Three nights for three couples at 26 Sunset Villa in Llandudno, Cape Town – private chef and butler, with a dinner at the villa to be hosted by Mike Ratcliffe of Vilafonté who will present a ten-vintage vertical tasting of wines from this Stellenbosch cellar.

R275 000 for a Jan Harmsgat Guest Farm Experience
Long weekend for 10 couples at Jan Harmsgat Country Guest Farm outside Bonnievale: three-night stay for 20 guests, farm tour with wine tasting, dinner party, a case of Jan Harmsgat wine for each couple.

R275 000 for a Manchester United Experience
Two VIP tickets including hospitality to a match at the Old Trafford grounds, two SAA business class return tickets to the UK, a training top signed by Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba.

R250 000 for a Bisquit Cognac Experience
Unique crystal decanter of rare Cognac, two-day visit to Cognac including private tour of distillery, cellars and brand home, gala dinner with master distiller Denis Lohouratate and president of Bisquit Vincent Chappe at Chateau Bisquit, business-class travel for two, luxury accommodation in Paris (one night) and Cognac (two nights).

R225 000 for a Glen Carlou Experience
A five-course celebration lunch or dinner for 20 guests at Glen Carlou in the foothills of the Simonsberg, Paarl, six British Airways domestic business class tickets, two-night stay for three couples at Beverley Hills Hotel in Durban including five-course dinner with Tsogo Sun Sommelier Miguel Chan, two-night stay for three couples at Springbok Lodge in Nambiti Private Game Reserve, six-bottle vertical of Glen Carlou Quartz Stone Chardonnay.

R225 000 for a Glenelly Christophe Dehosse Experience
A French Affair for Twelve at Glenelly Estate in Stellenbosch: classic French bistro luncheon and truffle dinner with chef Christophe Dehosse (Glenelly wines served at lunch, vintages of Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande and Glenelly Lady May served at dinner), a blending experience with cellarmaster Luke O’Cuinneagain.

R225 000 for Sadie Family’s Mev Kirsten Historic Line
Complete vertical collection comprising every vintage – 2006 to 2017 – of Sadie Mev Kirsten, a Chenin Blanc originating in a vineyard dating back to before 1920, with the wine completed at Eben Sadie’s cellar on the Paardeberg outside Malmesbury in the Swartland.

R200 000 for a Weekend Celebration at Boschendal
A weekend of celebration for eight at Boschendal on the outskirts of Franschhoek – a two-night stay at historic Rhodes Cottage, private Farm Feast dinner, a Farm to Table lunch or dinner hosted at Boschendal’s Werf Restaurant by chef Christiaan Campbell and winemaker JC Bekker, morning horse ride or mountain bike ride and outdoor breakfast, wine food tasting in Boschendal manor house.

R175 000 for The Ultimate Franschhoek Experience
Accommodation and spa treatments for four at Leeu Estates, private tasting with Chris and Andrea Mullineux, tasting of La Motte collection with cellarmaster Edmund Terblanche, Tuk Tuk beer tasting with brewer Dewald Goosen, dining experiences at Pierneef à La Motte, La Petit Colombe, Marigold Indian Restaurant and The South African Table at Leopard’ Leap Family Vineyards.

R150 000 for a Lothian Experience
Six bottles of Lothian’s Mithrell Chardonnay Reserve 2016 and Mithrell Pinot Noir Reserve 2016 (maiden vintages with Richard Kershaw the winemaker), two-night stay for four couples at Lothian House in Elgin.

R125 000 for a Hartenberg Pieter Ferreira Experience
Lunch for three couples at Hartenberg in Stellenbosch, with fine wines from Hartenberg, the debut of Pieter Ferreira Blanc de Blancs 2012 and the meal prepared by chef Peter Tempelhoff, Pieter Ferreira MCC and Hartenberg wine packs for each couple including Gravel Hill Shiraz and Stork Shiraz (three bottles of each).

R125 000 for a Haute Cabrière Experience
Sabrage lesson by proprietor of the Franschhoek outfit, Takuan von Arnim, cellar tour and tasting in underground vinoteque, six-course menu for 12 people with paired wines, 6 litre imperial bottle of Pierre Jourdan Brut 2003.

R125 000 for a Vineyard Hotel Wine Partners Experience
Week for two couples or three-day long-weekend for six couples in Vineyard Apartments (including spa treatments), five-course pairing menus, bottle from each of the six vintages from the Vineyard Hotel’s vineyard alongside the Liesbeek River, copy of the book ‘Liesbeek, Cradle of Wine’ by Joanne Gibson, magnum from each wine partner (Meerlust Rubicon, Klein Constantia Metis, Waterford The Jem, Simonsig, Warwick Trilogy), VIP tastings hosted by partner estates.

R100 000 for a Morgenster Experience
Melchior (18 litre bottle) of Morgenster Reserve 2011, a six-year vertical collection of Morgenster Nabucco Nebbiolo, 24 bottles of Morgenster Extra Virgin Olive Oil, a four-day stay for four at Jonkershuis on Morgenster, private dinner with proprietor Giulio Bertrand at his manor house on Morgenster, lunch at the restaurant 95 at Morgenster, domestic economy class airfares.

R75 000 for a Winter Weekend Robertson Experience
Two-night stay plus cellar tour and tasting for 10 people at Excelsior Estate, tasting and lunch at Springfield with Bruwer family, tasting and lunch at De Wetshof with De Wet family, trio of De Wetshof Bateleur Chardonnay (1.5 litre, 3 litre and 5 litre bottles).

R50 000 for Oldenburg’s Chasing the Wind Experience
Flights for eight from Stellenbosch airfield, tours of Old Nectar homestead and gardens with proprietor Peter Vanderspuy, wine tasting and six-course dinner for eight by chef Craig Cormack at Oldenburg in the Banghoek valley, four magnums of Oldenburg Rhodium 2000 (maiden vintage).

R45 000 for a Mvemve Raats de Compostella Experience
Eight bottles of four vintages of Mvemve Raats de Compostella 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (two bottles of each vintage) from Bruwer Raats and his team in Stellenbosch.

R11 000 for a KWV Port Experience
One 750ml bottle of 1929 KWV Port.

 

• The MV de Compostella and 1929 KWV Port were two of the 22 items sold at the ‘barrel auction’ on the day before the main event. According to the organisers, the prices fetched for the various lots in respect of the other 20 items that came under the hammer are “not for publication”.

 

 

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