Guild auction raises the bar
RAISED FOR CAPE WINEMAKERS GUILD PROTEGE PROGRAMME Charity item of 44 magnum 1.5-litre bottles of wine was bought for R140 000.
The 33rd Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction pushed the envelope by raising almost R430 000 in aid of the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme during this past weekend. Auction buyers showed great generosity again this year, supporting the charity auction in aid of the Guild’s Protégé Programme for the development of talented young winemakers and viticulturists through the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust.
This year’s charity item, 44 magnum 1.5-litre bottles of wine from all the Guild members who had a wine on auction, was purchased for R140 000 by Ed Zeeman of the Morukuru Family.
In addition, the silent auction raised R282 900 on the day, pushing the total raised on Auction day to almost R48 000 more than the previous year.
Miles Mossop, Chairman of the Cape Winemakers Guild, expressed his appreciation for the goodwill shown by auction buyers in supporting the transformation of the South African wine industry: “We have been able to plough back into the industry by raising over R1.9 million at various events and through our sponsors this year for the development of talented young winemakers and viticulturists through the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust and our Protégé Programme.”
While the bulk of the funds for the Protégé Programme are raised by Guild mem- bers during charity auctions and events throughout the year as well as a substantial sponsorship from Nedbank Eyethu Community Trust, other organisations which support the programme include Amorim Cork, the Cape Cooperage Group, African Cellar Suppliers, Vinpro, Consol Glass, Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers, Francois Naudé, De Trafford Wines, and the Hermanus Music Society.
The Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme was launched in 2006 under the auspices of the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust, with the goal of sustaining the health of the South African wine industry by cultivating, nurturing and empowering promising individuals to become winemakers.