Alan Pick | WhaleTales Blog by Chris von Ulmenstein

Yesterday’s 30th Winemakers Guild Auction held at Spier set a new record, reaching close to R12 million in sales, compared to R8,4 million in 2013. Three wines reached record prices of R8600 per case of six. The average price per bottle was R702. A silent auction raised more than R200000 for the Guild’s Protégé mentorship programme.

The Tsogo Sun hotel group outbid the 177 other registered buyers, buying wines to the value of R2,5 million, followed by Alan Pick of the Butcher Shop and Grill at R1,9 million, Singita at R469000, Tedeum Vin Denmark at R450000, and Restaurant Mosaic at R330000. The bulk of the buyers were local, despite the favourable exchange rate.

The top three red wines in terms of price, achieving a record price of R8600 each for a case of six bottles, were Boekenhoutskloof Syrah Auction Reserve 2012, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2011, and Etienne le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2004. The top white wine Continue reading →

The 29th Auction of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild, the who’s who of the wine industry, held at Spier yesterday, was a huge success, with a number of Auction records broken. Generally buyers said the prices paid were very high. Total sales were R 8,4 million, up 47% compared to 2012.

A number of new records were set this year:

* record of 163 buyers

* R6200 was the record price paid for a case of six Hartenberg Auction Reserve Shiraz 2010, made by winemaker Carl Schultz.

* The average price paid per bottle increased by 14,5%. I spoke to the beaming Cape Winemakers’ Guild Chairman Jeff Grier of Villiera at midday, when the 2012 total had already been surpassed and was at R6 million at that stage. He said: ‘The Guild has become a reputable brand in the South African wine industry and our contribution to the industry Continue reading →