2017 Cape Wine Auction sets new record

The annual Cape Wine Auction has broken a new fundraising record, raising a staggering R22.3 million (£1.3m) on 11 February at the Anthonij Rupert Wine Estate in Franschhoek.

Guest celebrate the record-breaking amount raised at this year’s Cape Wine Auction in Franschhoek

The event, sponsored by Nedbank Private Wealth, will see all proceeds allocated to 22 beneficiaries which work to improve education and welfare of children living in the Cape Winelands.

Bids of exciting travel, luxury accommodation and limited edition wines went under the hammer, with a bespoke travel experience to the Napa Valley, California, raising an especially impressive R3m (£180,000) – making it the most valuable lot in the auction’s history.

A Lionel and Anton Smit collaborative sculpture, created especially for the auction, raised R1.2m (£72,000) and included a wine and dining experience at Idiom Fine Dining Restaurant and Wine Estate in Somerset West.

Guests from across South Africa and as far afield as the US, Germany and Sweden were treated with food prepared by some of South Africa’s leading chefs, limited edition wines and performances by Zolani Mahola, Watershed’s Craig Hinds and George Town.

The auction total of R22.3m smashes last year’s total of R15m, raised at Klein Constantia Wine Estate in Cape Town.

A Lionel and Anton Smit sculpture created especially for the Cape Wine Auction raised R1.2m (£72,000)

Cape Wine auction director Darielle Robertson said they had been overwhelmed by the generosity of the bidders.

“We set out aiming to raise R15m this year but the final amount has literally left everyone speechless,” Robertson said.

“The commitment to giving back, changing lives and sharing good fortune was certainly testament in the overwhelming bids raised. With this money we can expand our programmes and reach even greater heights from the progress we have achieved so far.”