More realistic wine prices
2006-04-12
WITH sales of R6,96-million, the fourth highest ever, prices at the 32nd Nederburg Auction on Saturday were 25% down on the 2005 Auction prices. The lower prices are attributed to a correction in the market after prices shot up 90% last year.
In comparison with two years ago, a solid increase of 42% shows a healthy trend in the overall prices over this period.
At the highly successful two-day event of rare and special South African wines the rare collection of six bottles of Monis Collectors Port 1948 sold for R19 000 - at R3 166 a bottle, the highest price ever paid for a Port wine at the Auction. The average price of port (per 9-litre case) was R1 763.
After steady buying over the two days Pick ‘n Pay topped the list while the top ten buyers accounted for 67,3% and included three overseas buyers from Russia/Slovakia, Japan and Belgium, as well as Cybercellar with most of its sales also bound for overseas.
The Cape Town Fish Market restaurant group was the second biggest buyer, followed by Checkers and Makro. Spar Western Cape and Ultra Liquors completed the top ten.
South African buyers accounted for 83,5% of the sales with 16,5 % going to international buyers which includes Namibia.
The average price paid for red wine was R1 817 (per 9-litre case) with the highest bid going for R8 500 for six rare bottles of Zonnebloem Cabernet Sauvignon 1966 - R1 416 per bottle.
The Absa Top Ten Pinotage collection from 2001 fetched R750 per bottle, Rustenburg Peter Barlow 2001 was sold for R666 per bottle and Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1998 fetched R633 per bottle.
The average price paid for dry white wine was R1 070 (per 9-litre case) with Mulderbosch Chardonnay Barrel Fermented 2002 fetching the highest price of R233 per bottle, Jordan Nine Yards Chardonnay 2003 was sold for R216 and Iona Sauvignon Blanc 2004 at R166 per bottle.
The highest price paid for noble late harvest wine was R1 775 (per 9-litre case) for Nederburg’s Edelkeur 2003 - R141 per 375 ml bottle, followed by Asara Noble Late Harvest 2001 at R125 per 375 ml bottle.
The average price paid for Methodé Cap Classique wine was R1 372 (per 9-litre case) with Graham Beck Brut MCC 1994 fetching the highest price of R425 per magnum bottle and Pongrácz in a 3-litre bottle went for R600 per bottle followed by Nederburg Cap Classique 1995 for R150 per bottle.
The average price paid for fortified wines was R569 per 9-litre case - the highest price for Nuy Red Muscadel 2000 at R63 a bottle.
For the first time a consumer-oriented group from Boston, USA, was invited to share their passion and knowledge at the auction.
Four of the founder members of Divas Uncorked Stephanie Browne, Carolyn Golden Hebsgaard, Karen Holmes Ward and Paula Wright - presented a unique message of a more inclusive strategy for increasing ethnic wine market share.
They focused on the importance of the US consumer market to the wine industry, where women account for 55% of the wine purchases.
They urged the South African wine fraternity to try their model of promoting wine with food to enhance wine sales, supporting wine education events, employing more women and people of colour in the wine industry, while still keeping the wine message simple and fun.
The charity sale on the day raised R213 800 for the beneficiaries, the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, the Mothers’ Programmes, and the Organ Donor Foundation of South Africa.
The highest price paid for a charity item was R32 000 for a Balthazar (12-litre bottle) of 1997 Rust en Vrede estate wine donated by rugby legend Jannie Engelbrecht and bought by Gregg Bayly on behalf of Igor Ledecky of Slovakia.
Well-known South African auctioneer Stephan Welz succeeded Patrick Grubb.
More
News
|
