The prestigious Nederburg auction of fine wines at the weekend attracted international as well as local buyers, but the total raised was slightly below the R4.79 million that was raised last year.

However, the organisers said that, in view of the present economic conditions and the highly competitive trading environment in the wine market, the overall result exceeded expectations, despite being about 16 percent less than last year’s sales total.

Three supermarket groups dominated the bidding, buying 38 percent of the wines on offer.

The Spar group spent R573 770 on a selection expected to appeal to its customers, closely followed by Makro with R544 880 and Checkers with R410 850.

Five international buyers were responsible for 25 percent of total sales. They included CA Sales & Distribution from Botswana, the Tesco Wine Club from the UK, Amka Vinimport from Denmark, Woermann Brock from Namibia and Juric Imports from Zambia.

Three hotel buyers spent a total of R270 000.

They were Sun International, the new Taj Hotel due to open in Cape Town in November and Singita Game Reserve.

Comparing average prices to last year, the nine-litre case price this year was R1 099, compared with R1 270 last year.

With the average price for red wine at R1 136 a nine-litre case, a single case of six 375ml bottles of Chateau Libertas 1959 fetched the highest price of R23 000 (R3 833 a half bottle), the highest in the history of the auction. Other reds that fetched top prices included Chateau Libertas 1962, Zonnebloem Cabernet 1965 and 1967, Rustenberg John X Merriman 2001 and Kanonkop 1994.

The average price paid for a dry white wine was R842 a nine-litre case, with the top price paid for two wines – Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2006 and Vergelegen White 2005 – at R250 a bottle. Other top prices went to Uva Mira Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2007, Mulderbosch Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2005 and Cape Point Vineyards Semillon 2001.

The highest price for the rare Monis Collector’s Port Stamp Collection 1948 was R11 000. The second highest price for port was R5 500 for the rare Nederburg Reserve Port 1964 and the KWV 1949 Port fetched R3 600.

The average price of port a nine-litre case was R1 890.

The average price for noble late harvest wine was R1 694 a nine-litre case.

Source: busrep.co.za