MD of Distell, Jan Scannell, expressed his satisfaction with the results of the auction, stressing the fact that the Nederburg Auction is a showcase of South Africa's finest rare wines and shows the trust that buyers have in the selection of wines presented.
Overall, a slight downward trend on average prices was evident across all categories, although results fetched in the fortified wine and port categories showed some growth.
Three supermarket groups have dominated the portfolio of buyers across the top 15 category, taking 38% of the sales directly to the consumers. The combined purchases of the Spar Group place them into the overall first position with total purchases of R573 770, closely followed by Makro with R544 880 and Checkers with R410 850.
Five international buyers were responsible for 25% of total sales. This included C.A. 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 groups were next in line taking more than R270 000 of wine into the hospitality business. They were Sun International, the new Taj Hotel in Cape Town and Singita Game Reserve.
Comparing average prices to last year, the nine-litre case price this year was R1 099, compared to R1 270 in 2008.
With the average price for red wine at R1 136 per nine-litre case, a single case of 6 x 375ml bottles of Chateau Libertas 1959 fetched the highest price of R23 000 (R3 833 per half bottle), the highest ever 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 per 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 Collectors 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. All the port wines are packed in 6 x 750ml cases. The average price of port per nine-litre case was R1, 890.
The highest price paid for a Noble Late Harvest wine was R3 500 for 12 x 375ml of Nederburg Edelkeur 1979. Other top prices went to Nederburg Eminence 1991 and Lord Neethling Weisser Riesling Noble Late Harvest 2004. The average price for noble late harvest wine was R1, 694 per nine-litre case.
The average price for fortified wine was R833 per nine-litre case, with the highest price for Weltevrede Rooi Muskadel 1993 at R110 a bottle.
The charity sale on the day raised R208 300 for the beneficiaries, the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, Mothers2Mothers, and the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa. The highest price paid on the charity auction was for a set of Nederburg Tribute Shiraz 2007, bottled in eight different sized bottles, which fetched R25 000 and was bought by Jagdish Shah from C.A. Sales & Distribution from Botswana.
