Influx of new buyers at winemakers guild auction

Erik Ahlmann (left) of Tedeum Vin in Denmark and Willy Rouseu of Rouseu Wijnen in Belgium.

New buyers this year include James Molesworth of Wine Spectator, the definitive wine guide in the USA, which rated 25 of the 2007 auction wines 90 points and more after a blind tasting, pronouncing the overall quality of the auction wines as excellent. The 2007 auction lineup also stood up to international scrutiny at tastings in Germany, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Belgium, Holland and Hong Kong.

Last year, the auction attained a record turnover of R3,62 million with foreign buyers making 24% of the total wine purchases. One of the regular overseas buyers is Erik Ahlmann of Tedeum Vin in Denmark, who for the past 10 years has bought a large number of CWG auction wines on behalf of Danish connoisseurs.

“We have found the wines to be of exceptional high quality by international standards and the very best available in South Africa,” said Ahlmann, who considers the wines as a guideline to track the development within the South African wine industry.

“The annual tasting of the auction wines is always a big event in Denmark and they are getting better year by year showing the big effort from the winemakers within the Guild,” he said.

Willy Rouseu of Rouseu Wijnen in Belgium is another regular at the CWG auction.

Since its inception in 1985, the auction has become a quality benchmark. The bulk of the wines are available in lots ranging in size from 12 to 48 bottles, whilst the smaller mixed lots comprise eight special collections. Distinctly different from wines bottled under the members' own labels, the CWG Auction wines and only the very best are selected at a blind tasting. This thorough process involving all 36 members of the Guild ensures that every wine boasting the auction label is a wine of exceptional quality.

The auction is open to the public and will be held at NH The Lord Charles in Somerset West on Saturday, 6 October 2007. Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction on the day, can register in advance with the CWG and take advantage of their telephonic and proxy bidding facilities. For further details and to attend the Auction, visit http://www.capewinemakersguild.com or contact the Guild Office on Phone: 021 852 0408 or .