CWG Auction lineup, tastings this month

Variety, great diversity of styles and unusual cultivars are the signature of the 29th auction with 59 singularly crafted wines - the biggest selection ever - to go under the hammer at Spier in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday 5 October 2013.

This year's auction wines, all poised to become rare collector's pieces, include 36 red wines, 18 white wines, 2 Méthode Cap Classiques, one dessert wine, a Port and a potstill brandy.

"There is definitely a more creative edge to the 2013 auction lineup, showing us that our decision three years ago to revise our selection process for the auction is starting to bear fruit. The substantial increase in white wines offers more choice and we certainly anticipate keen bidding especially from white wine enthusiasts," says Guild chairman, Jeff Grier, whose Villiera Meteor Cap Classique 2008 is one of two MCCs on offer this year.

Whites lead

Innovation and experimentation is most evident on the white wine front where Chardonnay takes the lead again this year with six wines on auction including Kevin Arnold's first ever auction white wine, Waterford Estate Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2011. Chardonnay enthusiasts have new vintages of top selling wines from previous auctions to look forward to such as Jordan Chardonnay Auction Reserve 2012, Paul Cluver The Wagon Trail Chardonnay 2012 and Ataraxia Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2012.

Making his auction debut is Bartho Eksteen with Hermanuspietersfontein Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2012, one of three Sauvignon Blancs to go under the hammer this year.

Other auction newcomers include two unusual white cultivars: AA Badenhorst Family Wines Grenache Gris Vuilgoed 3 2012 from Adi Badenhorst and Johan Malan's Simonsig "The Russety One" Roussanne 2012.

White blends also feature prominently this year with four wines including the new 2012 vintage of Duncan Savage's Cape Point Vineyards Auction Reserve White and the return of Bruce Jack's Happy Hour 2009. Pierre Wahl is back with a new vintage Rijk's CWG Chenin Blanc 2012, the only Chenin Blanc on offer this year. Nicky Versfeld's Lanner Hill Double Barrel White 2012 is the only Semillon whilst the Saronsberg CWG Viognier 2011 of Dewald Heyns is the only Viognier.

Teddy Hall Eva (Krotoa) Chenin Blanc Noble Late Harvest 2012 is the sole dessert wine in the auction lineup.

Red stars

Amongst the reds, Shiraz with 13 wines and blends with 12 are the biggest categories again this year, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon with five and Pinot Noir with three. Neil Ellis makes his Pinotage auction debut with his Auction Reserve Pinotage 2011 one of two Pinotages on offer this year.

New vintages of top selling auction stalwarts such as Hartenberg Auction Reserve Shiraz 2010, Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2011, Etienne Le Riche Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2010, Jordan Sophia 2010, Edgebaston Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve 2011, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2010 should all make for competitive bidding.

The only Port-style wine and brandy on auction are both by Carel Nel: Boplaas Cape Vintage Auction Reserve 2009 and Boplaas Ox Wagon 1880 Auction Reserve Potstill Brandy.

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. Live bidding will also be available online through www.the-saleroom.com.

Tickets to the tastings cost R170 and are available from www.WebTickets.co.za

Auction wine list in alphabetical order