The Nederburg Auction: no frills but still as decadent
The annual Nederburg Auction ended on a positive note this year, with total sales just short of the R6 million mark. A highlight on the yearly wine calendar, this two-day event saw auction organisers Distell sticking to the heart of the matter – quality wine being sold to the highest bidder - in a no-frills “back to basics” format.
“We felt that in the past things like the fashion show detracted from what was happening in the auction hall,” said Carina Gous, Distell’s Business Director of Wines. This year the Johann Graue Hall was where the action was happening; bidders applauded Nigerian Obi Josephat Ndibe for securing six bottles of Nederburg Port 1964 with his bid of R62 000 (the wines will apparently be served at his uncle’s 75th birthday). Other highlights included R5 800 for a bottle of KWV Muscadel 1930 and a bid of R9 500 for 12 bottles of Nederburg Edelkeur 1977.
The event generally reflected a buyers’ preference for red wine, a trend auctioneer Anthony Barne (MW), of British auction house Bonhams commented on. “I am prone to make flippant remarks, but it was obvious that buyers preferred red wine – which I don’t understand seeing that some brilliant white wines come from South Africa.”
Some of the unsold lots included cases of Rijk’s Semillon 2001, a delicious wine that’s ripe to drink now, but which wouldn't be able to withstand a couple of months on shelf. Some people suggested that selling wines in smaller lots would’ve solved the problem.
Of course I did my share to support white wines at the auction by getting my dad to bid on the stunning Stellenrust Chenin Blanc 2007, made from 32-year-old bushvine vineyards. While it should be able to mature for some years still, I expect that the two cases of wine bought at the auction will be emptied over Christmas this year. I wasn’t as successful in my bidding for the J.C Le Roux Pinot Noir MCC 1989, a wine that unfortunately enjoyed more demand than I was willing to pay.
