Once in a lifetime lots at the American Express Cape Wine Barrel Auction

The American Express Cape Wine Barrel Auction – the highly-anticipated Friday night precursor to the Cape Wine Auction – is the chance for oenophiles and serious wine collectors to own truly one-of-a-kind wines while giving something back to the wine community.

Once again this year some of the Cape’s top winemakers have made their most exclusive and vintage wines available in never-before-offered selections guaranteed to excite any wine aficionado. This year’s lots include a last vintage from Alheit Vineyards, DeToren's highly acclaimed Fusion series, the Finlayson's Crystallum Collection and Creation's Art of Creation Pinot Noir & Chardonnay.

The event takes place on Friday, March 1, at the beautiful Norval Foundation. Located in the Steenberg area of Cape Town, adjacent to Table Mountain National Park, the Norval Foundation is a centre for art and cultural expression dedicated to the research and exhibition of 20th and 21st century visual art from South Africa and beyond.

There are some truly exciting lots on offer including:

• From Alheit Vineyards, one magnum bottle each of Radio Lazarus 2017, the last vintage ever produced, Magnetic North 2017, Huilkrans 2017 and La Colline 2017, each in its own case. These have been lauded as the best vintages from this estate ever in South Africa.
• From Creation, three vintages of some of the most sought after, revered and long-lived expressions of the noble Burgundian grape varieties produced in Walker Bay – The Art of Creation Pinot Noir & Chardonnay 2015, 2016 & 2017.
• From Deetlefs Wine Estate, one of the rarest, most sought after and most exclusive wines ever produced in South Africa, a bottle of 1974 Philippus Petrus Deetlefs Muscat d’Alexandrie and two Deetlefs wooden boxes with the Familie White 2014 and 2017, Voyage 2016 and 2017 and the Reserve Chenin Blanc 2015 and 2017.
• From iconic producer De Toren Private Cellar, an incredibly rare overview in time with three bottles of the highly acclaimed Fusion V, the 1999 maiden vintage, 2008 and the 2016 current release as well as three bottles of the equally sought-after Fusion Z, the 2004 maiden vintage, 2010 and the 2016 current vintage.
• From Etienne Le Riche, arguably the most renowned Cabernet producer in the Cape, a vertical in 750ml Etienne le Riche Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from 2010 to 2015.
• From Hamiton Russell - the most pioneering Pinot Noir producer in the Cape, having never left the estate, carefully cellared and individually signed by the proprietors comes a rare look into the evolution of this iconic estate over the past decade showcased from 2005 to 2014.
• The Crystallum Collection, from the winemaking talents of third generation Finlayson producers - a world class collection of new world wines with old world class. Cuveé Cinema 2015, 2016 and 2017; the Clay Shales 2016 and the maiden vintages of Bona Fide 2012 and Whole Bunch 2016.
• From KWV Centenary, the very first brandy made by KWV in 1926, KWV brandy from the only cask that survived a devastating fire in 1942 and a balance of their rarest potstill brandies, aged a minimum of 38 years.
• From Nederburg, the chance to own a piece of history with the last known complete vertical case of Auction Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon from 1970 to 1981.
• From Vilafonté, their Series C magnums 2005, 2007 and 2011. Hailed as one of the most long lived and unique expressions of the marriage between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc, this vertical beautifully merges Californian style with Cape terroir and African class. 

Says Cape Wine Auction chairperson Wendy Appelbaum: “Bidding is going to be a hotly contested affair as wine lovers challenge each other for a rare opportunity to own a masterpiece of South African winemaking. But it's all for a good cause and the biggest winners ultimately are the 22 trusts that benefit from all the monies raised.”

Adds Chris Wood, Head of American Express South Africa: "American Express is proud to again sponsor the American Express Cape Wine Barrel Auction, which takes place the evening before the Cape Wine Auction, and we hope it sets the tone for what is going to be an inspiring weekend of camaraderie, generosity and giving to fantastic causes."

The Cape Wine Auction - proudly sponsored by Nedbank Private Wealth – is one of the most significant international charity auctions ever conceived in South Africa, uniting the wine industry around a single goal of raising money for education in the Cape winelands.

Since its inception in 2014, over R71 million has been raised, with 100% of all monies allocated to carefully selected beneficiaries who make a profoundly positive difference on the lives of children in the winelands. Managed by the Cape Wine Auction Trust, a beneficiary community has been established where funded beneficiaries get to know each other, learn from each other and support one another. This collaborative mindset has already resulted in enormous impact and increased efficiencies.

For more details, go to http://www.thecapewineauction.com/