Anthony Barne of Bonhams, the London-based British auction house that is one of the world's oldest and largest auctioneers of fine art, wine and antiques, with a footprint extending across 25 countries, takes up the hammer for the first time at the 36th Nederburg Auction.
As their UK Head of Wine, Anthony's expertise in auctioning fine and rare collectable wines perfectly compliments the Nederburg Auction's core function as a platform for selling rare Cape wines. "South African wines have always been a part of my life"; he says. "I'm thrilled to be involved this year and through my association with the Nederburg Auction, hope to have the opportunity of getting to know them in much greater detail".
This year's auction on September 3 and 4 is offering 5 720 cases of 164 wines, including some rare heritage vintages from the 1970s, in commemoration of the auction's beginnings in 1975. Buyers ranging from liquor licensees, restaurant owners, food and beverage buyers for hotels, guesthouses, game lodges and the supermarket retailers, will bid on a range of wines from 80 participants across various brands, estates and wineries.
Carina Gous, director of Distell's wine division, says; "We are very pleased to have someone of Anthony's calibre on board. His involvement is in line with our objective to continue to stimulate interest for South African wines among connoisseurs and the wine-loving public, particularly from an international perspective".
Anthony made the small step from the Army to the wine trade in 1978, having developed the interest while serving on the Governor of Gibraltar's staff. His wine trade career started in a wine shop, followed by a brief spell working at Domaine Thenard in Burgundy and Seppelts in South Australia. His career until 1992 was in mail order and wine buying, first with Hicks & Don, for whom he still acts as buying consultant, and then Harveys of Bristol.
Since then he has been a wine auctioneer, where his main pre-occupation is with the classic wine regions of France and also Vintage Port and Madeira, although he has many other interests, which include Austria, for which he is a judge at the Decanter Wine Awards, Germany, Tokaji and Australia.
Full details of all the wines on auction will appear in the catalogue, available shortly.