Over 150 rare Cape wines on auction

The participants making their debut at the auction this year are Bellevue, Joubert-Tradauw, Lomond, Remhoogte, Lindhorst, Schalk Burger & Sons, and Stellenrust.

A premier event on Cape Town's wine calendar, the two-day event serves to showcase the spectrum of stringently selected award-winning wines and rare Cape finds created by the country's most talented winemakers. The participants represent all walks of SA's wine world, including negociants, boutique wineries, family farms, wine estates and conglomerates. Participants who were on the first auction in 1975 are again represented: Delheim, Groot Constantia, Overgaauw, Simonsig and, of course, Nederburg.

Distell director Duimpie Bayly, who is also a leading oenologist and technical consultant, says: “Over the last 35 years the Nederburg Auction has strived to be an incentive to greater wine standards, acting as a showcase for the best that South African winemakers can produce. This year's selection of wine is a testament to the high standards of our local cellar masters and viticulturists and is a true reflection of the theme for 2009 - 'A Celebration of Quality'.”

On the block

This year's pre-release wine - a category introduced at the 2002 auction - is the Zonneweelde Viognier 2008 from Slanghoek Estate. Included in the auction are the winners of the Pinotage Association's ABSA Top 10 Pinotage competition, which have become a regular item on the auction since 2002.

The complete line-up for 2009 comprises 99 red, 32 white, nine natural sweet, five Noble Late Harvest, six ports and five muscadel wines.

The red wines include 40 red blends, 18 Cabernet Sauvignons, 13 Pinotages, nine Merlots, 12 Shiraz/Syrahs and seven other reds.

The white wines include one MCC, seven Sauvignon Blancs, 10 Chardonnays, eight Chenin Blancs and six white blends.

'Outstanding' offering

Respected international wine expert Dave Hughes, one of the panel leaders during this year's selection process, says that the overall offering for 2009 is one of the best that the Auction has ever had. “I think this is due to stricter selection criteria than we've perhaps had in previous years, resulting in an offering that is really outstanding.”

For Bayly, the red blends are a highlight this year: “Being a red blend man myself, I think the selection is wide, the grape varieties varied and the range of vintages interesting. A red blend produced in 2004 can offer a completely different aroma and flavour characteristic to one bottled in 1994, which makes for an appealing yet uncomplicated wine experience.”

According to Nederburg cellar master and Auction panel member, Razvan Macici, this year presents a solid line-up of wines, with strong entries from the 2001 and 2003 vintages. He adds, “For me 2007 was one of the best vintage years in terms of Sauvignon Blancs and I think those from this particular vintage that are on auction this year will do very well - the wines are so interesting and full of flavour.”

This year's Auction aims to highlight the historical significance of 350 years of Cape Winemaking through a celebration of quality. This theme will be carried throughout the two-day event, including the wine, food and fashion that underpin the Saturday programme - these core pillars will once again be in place for guests to indulge their senses.

Full details of all the wines on auction will appear in the catalogue, which will be available shortly.