Inaugural wine auction raises over R7m for education

The auctioneers Iain Banner and Paul Myson hosted the showcase of South African wines and other items together with auction ambassadors, a select group of high-profile wine industry personalities headed up by honorary chairwoman Madame May de Lencquesaing of Glenelly Estate.

250 local and international wine aficionados and online bidders could bid on 40 once-in-a-lifetime auction lots. This included rare wine collections and local and international wine, gourmet and travel experiences. Highlight of the day included an art cameo by talented artist John Adams whose live 8-minute surprise portrait of Nelson Mandela fetched R460,000. Other lots fetching high prices were The Mulderbosch & Fable Mountain Vineyards American Dream Lot: R700,000, The Glenelly Estate Lot: R450,000 and The DeMorgenzon & Royal Portfolio Lot: R400,000.

The auction beneficiaries, the Pebbles Project, the MAD Charity and the Click Foundation, together with The Cape Wine Auction trustees Michael Jordaan, Ken Kinsey-Quick, Wendy Appelbaum, Siobhan Thompson and Michael Ratcliffe, will now have the resources to take the first steps towards changing people's lives through the powerful tool of education.

On behalf of his fellow trustees and ambassadors, Ratcliffe said, "We are overwhelmed by the generosity and success of this inaugural event. Today has been an extraordinary day and we look forward to returning annually to continue to realise our dream."

For more information, go to www.thecapewineauction.com?.