Fierce bidding during the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild 2022 auction in South Africa saw 513 lots sell for a total hammer price of R13,985,500 (almost £695,000, $793,000), according to organisers.
That beats the previous record total of R13.83m set in 2016, said Kate Jonker, general manager for the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG).
The CWG said prices were up by 30% on last year’s auction and that almost every lot sold above its pre-sale high estimate.
Auction house Strauss & Co hosted this year’s sale during 30 September and 1 October, marking the 38th CWG auction and sponsored by Nedbank.
Bidders in the 2022 auction. Photo credit: Cape Winemakers Guild.
Prospective buyers could bid live by phone and online, as well as in person at Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West – as the sale returned to South Africa for the first time since 2019.
Bonhams held the auction in London in 2020 and 2021, due to the difficulties facing the South African wine industry in the wake of the Covid pandemic.
While this year’s sale saw significant interest from domestic buyers, 30% of lots were sold to international bidders.
Top lots at Cape Winemakers Guild 2022 auction: White wines shine
White wines were particularly in-demand.
‘The world clearly sees the value of our incredible white wines, which remarkably outbid long-ageing and prestigious reds,’ said fine wine specialist Roland Peens, who joined Strauss & Co auctioneers Susie Goodman and Bina Genovese on the rostrum for the two-day sale.
Photo credit: Cape Winemakers Guild.
Two white wines, one each from winemakers Samantha O’Keefe and Andrea Mullineux, made up the four top lots.
These were O’Keefe’s Lismore Estate, Valkyrie Chardonnay, Greyton 2021, which averaged R1,743 (£86) per bottle, and Mullineux, Trifecta Chenin Blanc, Swartland 2020, which sold for R1,633 (£81) on average.
‘Guild members and bidders were stunned by the prices of the white wines that have traditionally sold at a big discount to the reds,’ said O’Keefe, Cape Winemakers Guild vice chair.
Reds still dominated the top two spots in this year’s auction. As predicted, the overall top lot was Kanonkop‘s CWG Paul Sauer Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2019, made by Abrie Beeslaar. It averaged R2,457 (£121.7) per bottle.
In second place was Cederberg, Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2020, with an average bottle price of R1,861 (£92).
Organisers also highlighted the success of two reds aged without oak barrels, which they said represented innovation in South Africa’s wine sector.
They were Hartenberg’s CWG Amphora Merlot 2020 and Neil Ellis Wines’ Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon 2018, which fetched R1,323 and R1,242 per bottle on average respectively.
The CWG was founded in 1982, with the first auction in 1985. Membership of the guild is by invitation only, and this year’s 42 winemakers collectively choose the wines for each auction. These exclusive, small-lot wines are only available via the sale.
Protégé charity auction is 100% sold
Strauss & Co also hosted the CWG Protégé charity auction, which closed on 3 October and was 100% sold.
Its 49 lots included rare past auction wines, flagship wines from CWG members and wines made from three of this year’s eight Protégé graduates, as well as bespoke wines and wine-related experiences.
Money raised will go towards education and mentorship to help improve the South African wine industry. A three-year sponsored internship has already produced 30 graduates, 18 of whom are now making wine professionally.
Reporting on auction results by Chris Mercer, updating a pre-auction report by Tina Gellie.
See the CWG website for more details on the 2022 auction and wines.
The Cape Winemakers Guild 2022 auction wines
This list was published prior to the sale, as part of an auction preview by Decanter’s Tina Gellie. Wines are listed in lot order within their style, with the CWG member-winemaker in brackets.
Sparkling
- Simonsig, Kaapse Vonkel Decade Pinot Meunier, Stellenbosch 2011 (Johan Malan)
- Silverthorn, Big Dog VIII Méthode Cap Classique, Robertson 2017 (John Loubser)
White
- David & Nadia, Velling Chenin Blanc, Swartland 2021 (David Sadie)
- Paul Cluver, The Wagon Trail Chardonnay, Elgin 2021 (Andries Burger)
- Mullineux, The Gris Sémillon, Swartland 2021 (Andrea Mullineux)
- Raats, The Fountain Terroir Specific Chenin Blanc, Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch 2021 (Bruwer Raats)
- Beaumont, Hope Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc, Bot River 2020 (Sebastian Beaumont)
- Warwick, The White Lady Auction Chardonnay, Stellenbosch 2020 (JD Pretorius)
- Bartho Eksteen, Vloekskoot Wooded Sauvignon Blanc, Cape Coast 2021 (Bartho Eksteen)
- Gottfried Mocke, Chardonnay Cape South Coast 2021 (Gottfried Mocke)
- De Grendel, Wooded Sauvignon Blanc, Darling 2021 (Charles Hopkins)
- Ataraxia, Under the Gavel Chardonnay, Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge 2021 (Kevin Grant)
- Mullineux, Trifecta Chenin Blanc, Swartland 2020 (Andrea Mullineux)
- Lismore Estate, Valkyrie Chardonnay, Greyton 2021 (Samantha O’Keefe)
- De Trafford, Ou Kopland Chenin Blanc, Stellenbosch 2021 (David Trafford)
- Newton Johnson, Sandford Chardonnay, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2020 (Gordon Newton Johnson)
Red
- Cederberg, Teen Die Hoog Shiraz, Cederberg 2020 (David Nieuwoudt)
- Kanonkop, CWG Paul Sauer Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Simonsig-Stellenbosch 2019 (Abrie Beeslaar)
- Boekenhoutskloof, Syrah Auction Reserve, Coastal Region 2020 (Marc Kent)
- Spier, Frans K Smit CWG Special Edition Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Stellenbosch 2018 (Frans Smit)
- Delaire Graff, Banghoek Cabernet Sauvignon, Banghoek-Stellenbosch 2018 (Morné Vrey)
- Saronsberg, Inner Circle Shiraz Blend, Tulbagh 2019 (Dewaldt Heyns)
- Neil Ellis, Jonkershoek Cabernet Sauvignon, Jonkershoek 2018 (Warren Ellis)
- Boplass, CWG Daniel’s Legacy Touriga Nacional Blend, Western Cape 2020 (Carel Nel)
- Ernie Els, CWG Cabernet Sauvignon Blend, Stellenbosch 2019 (Louis Strydom)
- Luddite, Oupa Mourvèdre, Bot River 2019 (Niels Verburg)
- David Finlayson, Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve, Stellenbosch 2017 (David Finlayson)
- Miles Mossop, Maximilian Cabernet Sauvignon, Stellenbosch 2019 (Miles Mossop)
- Hartenberg, CWG Amphora Merlot, Stellenbosch 2020 (Carl Schulz)
- De Trafford, Perspective Cabernet Franc Blend, Stellenbosch 2020 (David Trafford)
- Bouchard Finlayson, Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2019 (Peter Finlayson)
- Strydom Family, The Game Changer Cabernet Franc-Merlot, Stellenbosch 2017 (Rianie Strydom)
- Newton Johnson, Windansea Pinot Noir, Upper Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2020 (Gordon Newton Johnson)
- Lismore Estate, The Sheltering Sky Syrah, Elgin 2020 (Samantha O’Keefe)
- Savage Wines, Auction Syrah, Coastal Region 2020 (Duncan Savage)
- De Grendel, Op Die Berg Pinot Noir, Ceres Plateau 2020 (Charles Hopkins)
- Bartho Eksteen, Fluister Pinot Noir, Hemel-en-Aarde Valley 2021 (Bartho Eksteen)
- Simonsig, Heirloom Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2020 (Johan Malan)
- David & Nadia, Velling Grenache Noir, Swartland 2021 (David Sadie)
- Kanonkop, CWG Pinotage, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch 2019 (Abrie Beeslaar)
- Hartenberg, CWG Auction Shiraz, Stellenbosch 2020 (Carl Schulz)
- Raats, Stella Nova Cabernet Franc, Stellenbosch 2018 (Bruwer Raats)
Fortified
- Boplass, Cape Tawny Reserve Tinta Barocca, Western Cape 2005 (Carel Nel)
