Nederburg wine auction to showcase 10 newcomers

This prestigious two-day event offers a selection of 5,575 cases of 173 fine wines from nearly 80 participants, who represent all walks of the South African wine world, from negociants, boutique wineries, family farms and wine estates to co-operatives and conglomerates such as Distell, Omnia and Winecorp.

The newcomers include several wineries linked to high-profile personalities, like French winemaker of Chablis fame, Michel Laroche, who owns L'Avenir; merchant banker GT Ferreira and owner of Tokara; politician and entrepreneur Tokyo Sexwale, who is also the new owner of Durbanville property Bloemendal, and Jean Daneel, winner of the 2008 Chenin Blanc Challenge. Other new participants are Constantia Glen, De Grendel, Heron Ridge, Seidelberg, The Mason Winery and Tierhoek.

The Famous Five

This year's auction line-up also comprises the 'famous five' - those participants who have been part of the auction since its inception in 1975; Delheim, Groot Constantia, Nederburg, Overgaauw and Simonsig, as well as two wineries which have returned after several years' absence: Philip Jordaan and Rooiberg.

A premier event on Cape Town's wine calendar, the Nederburg Auction serves to showcase the spectrum of award-winning wines and rare Cape finds created by the country's most talented winemakers - and those that have passed the stringent criteria of the selection panel comprising 60 experts, judges and Cape Wine Masters.

Auction Manager Christine Joubert says, "As is often the case, the Nederburg Auction acts as a launch pad for new and unusual wines. This year features some interesting varietals, including Barbara from Altydgedacht, Mourvedre from Beaumont, Verdelho in a Kumkani blend that includes Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a wonderfully rich and generous straw wine made from Chenin Blanc, from Tierhoek.

"The oldest wines on auction will be a 1948 Monis Port, a 1964 Nederburg Port, as well as a 1975 Nederburg Vintage Cabernet Sauvignon and the 1977 Nederburg Edelkeur, which was chosen last year as one of the top ten wines on the International Botrytis Type and Sweet Wine Competition in Budapest."

On the block

The complete line-up this year comprises 98 red, 29 white, six natural sweet, 16 Noble Late Harvest, 12 ports and three muscadel wines.

The red wines include 33 red blends, 20 Cabernet Sauvignons, nine Pinotages, six Merlots, 18 Shiraz/Syrahs and nine other reds.

The 29 white wines include one MCC, five Sauvignon Blancs, 12 Chardonnays, six Chenin Blancs and five white blends.

Leading oenologist and technical consultant Duimpie Bayly, who serves on several key wine industry bodies and was one of the three panel leaders during the selection process, believes that the wines selected reflect excellent vineyard sites and cellar skills.

"I'm particularly impressed by the Cabernet Sauvignons and Pinotages, as well as the noble late harvest wines, and in my opinion the reds seem to be the result of an expression of good growing sites, appropriate clones and a greater sophistication in winemaking with a subtler hand in the cellar," comments Bayly. "Many of our winemakers have moved away from the desire to make big, bold, stand out wines and have sought finesse, elegance and refinement instead."

Joubert concludes, "The theme of this year's auction - South African Quality - will be reflected in all aspects of the two-day event, from the business focus on the Friday to the more leisurely pace that characterises the Saturday programme. We look forward to once again hosting an event that has become synonymous with quality, both from a wine and overall experience perspective."