O’Keefe, Mullineux the leading ladies at wine sale
Two of the top four wines at this year’s Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) auction were whites produced by women, Samantha O’Keefe of Lismore Estate Vineyards and Andrea Mullineux.
The Lismore Valkyrie Chardonnay 2021 from Greyton reached an average of R1 743 per bottle, while the Mullineux Trifecta Chenin Blanc 2020 from the Swartland sold at R1 633.
Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2019 reached the highest average price of R2 457 per bottle, with Cederberg Teen die Hoog Shiraz 2020 selling at R1 861.
Records tumbled as new partners Strauss & Co auctioned 513 lots at a hammer price of R13.99 million, resulting in an average bottle price of R1 227.
Prices were up a whopping 30% on 2021, as 30% of the lots were sold to international bidders. All prices quoted are exclusive of VAT.
Strauss & Co directors and seasoned auctioneers Susie Goodman and Bina Genovese were joined on the rostrum for the two-day sale by Roland Peens, a fine wine specialist.
The trio sold almost every lot above high estimate, as hugely competitive bidding from 230 bidders from 14 countries.
The hybrid live-online auction at the Lord Charles in Somerset West was the best attended Strauss & Co auction since the Covid pandemic started.
Peens said: “There seems to be a changing of the guard, as traditional, big-name producers were outsold by new wave stars.
“The world clearly sees the value of our incredible white wines, which remarkably outbid long-aging and prestigious reds.”
Lismore The Sheltering Sky Syrah 2020 and Mullineux The Gris Sémillon 2021 were also in the top 10 on the list of highest prices, while newcomers Duncan Savage and David & Nadia also sold well, with their Savage Wines Auction Syrah 2020 and David & Nadia Veiling Grenache 2021 respectively.
Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions is a joint venture with retailer Winecellar.co.za and sommelier Higgo Jacobs.
Jacobs said: “We are extremely proud of a very successful auction in an era marked by growth and innovation at the CWG.
“The cutting-edge platform allowed frenetic, seamless bidding online, live and telephone bids, as energy levels were kept high throughout.”
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