The highlight of the Auction was the record R62 000 paid for a single case of 6 x 750 ml bottles of Nederburg Port 1964 (R10 333 per bottle). The special case of Port was bought by Nigerian businessman and importer of wine, Mr Obi Josephat Ndibe - he indicated it is for his uncle's 75th birthday. This is the only port ever made at Nederburg by its legendary wine maker Günter Brözel, who retired in 1989. The previous highest price was the 6 x 375 ml bottles of 1959 Chateau Libertas that sold for R23 000 last year.
According to auction organisers, the healthy increase in overall prices is a correction in the market place after prices dropped over the past two years. MD of Distell Mr Jan Scannell expressed his satisfaction with the results of the auction, highlighting the fact that there is a more positive atmosphere in the retail trade. He expected an improvement, but was surprised by the results that were achieved.
Four South African supermarket groups have dominated the portfolio of buyers across the top 10 category, taking 36% of the sales directly to the consumers. The combined purchases of the SPAR Group place them into the overall first position, like last year, with total purchases of R830 940, followed by Checkers with R556, 210, Makro with R511 880 and Pick n Pay with R160 500. They were joined by Tesco from the UK this year that ended as the third biggest buyer with R522 000.
The other buyers under the Top Ten were Flemingo International from India, Al's Grill and Butcher from Cape Town, Morukuru Lodge from North-West Province, Hotel Pension Palmquell from Namibia and Sun International.
Foreign buyers from 17 countries were responsible for 30% of total sales. Top purchases came from the United Kingdom, India, Denmark, and Nigeria.
Carina Gous, Distell's Business Director of Wines, said that the stringent selection of rare wines, the right buyers, the streamlined business format and the new international wine auctioneer Anthony Barne (MW) collectively contributed to the success of the Auction this year.
Comparing average prices to last year, the nine-litre case price this year increased by 37% to R1 505, compared to R1 099 in 2009.
The average price paid for a dry white wine was R1 100 per nine-litre case, with the top price paid for De Wetshof Chardonnay 2006 magnums (R650 per bottle). Other top prices went to Uva Mira Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2008, another De Wetshof Chardonnay D'Honneur 2003, Mulderbosch Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2005 and new participant Vrede en Lust for their Viognier 2008.
With the average price for red wine at R1 515 per nine-litre case, a heritage item from Groot Constantia with three bottles from 1972 fetched the highest price of R5 200. Other reds that fetched top prices included Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 1970, Zonnebloem Shiraz 1974, Zonnebloem Cabernet 1966 and a heritage item of three reds from Overgaauw.
Other ports that fetched high prices were the Monis Collectors Single Stamp Collection 1948, KWV Limited Release Port 1961 and Boplaas Vintage Reserve Port 2002. The average price for ports was R3 130.
The highest price paid for a Noble Late Harvest wine was R9 500 for 12 x 375ml of Nederburg Edelkeur 1977. Other top prices went to Nederburg Edelkeur 2005 and 1998 vintages and Nederburg Eminence 1988, and Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2003. The average price for noble late harvest wine was R2 710 per nine-litre case.
The average price for fortified wine was R1 923 per nine-litre case, with the highest price for a single bottle of KWV 1930 Muscadel a whopping R5 800. Other fortifieds with high prices included the Vriesenhof Melelo, Rijk Tulbagh Vol Soet Chenin Blanc and Monis Collection Marsala.
Marie Nygren, Vice President and Director of Purchases and Supply Chain Management and Sara Norell, Head of Purchasing in the Supply Chain Management division from Systembolaget AB, the Swedish retail Alcohol Monopoly, were this year's keynote speakers. They attributed the success of South African wine in the Swedish market to the full bodied wines produced here and the customer-driven focus of local producers. South Africa is the biggest category of imported wines in Sweden.
The charity sale on the day raised R169 500 for the beneficiaries, Goedgedacht Trust, the Pebbles project Trust and World Vision SA Mbekweni in Paarl. The highest price paid on the charity auction was for a 5-litre bottle of Chateau La Grange 1986, donated by Mark Norrish and bought by Hanli Rupert-Koegelenberg of La Motte for R60 000. This wine first featured on the Charity Auction in 2000, when it was purchased by Mr Mark Norrish for R10 000.
