Auction date changed
2006-08-03
THE date for the 33rd annual Nederburg Auction has been moved to Spring 2007 and will take place on Friday and Saturday, September 28 and 29.
Traditionally held towards the end of the harvest period in April, the decision to postpone the event to later in the year is being made principally to accommodate new vintage specialist white wines, says auction manager Christine Joubert.
“The significant increase in the number of serious white varietal and blended wines made by top-level South African producers calls for an appropriate showcase.
Historically, the emphasis of the auction has been on vintage reds and dessert wines but the South African repertoire is extending and the auction needs to reflect this.
September gives vintners the opportunity to present their current vintage whites for consideration. Many producers are already geared for the young wine and market-ready shows and this is thus better aligned with their existing schedules.”
The change in timing has also been prompted by the desire to better accommodate the international trade, who at this year’s auction were far better represented amongst the top ten buyers than in recent years.
“The international wine calendar is particularly congested during April. September is a time when more northern hemisphere buyers, in particular, can visit South Africa.”
The change will also alleviate the harvest pressures at Nederburg.
“As the cellar activity steps up to meet increased global demand, the winemaking team needs to focus all its resources on production in April. This has become an issue in recent years with the substantial growth in Nederburg’s output, given the additional markets in which the brand sells.”
She says the auction organisers are aware of the Cape Winemakers’ Guild Auction in October.
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