Wednesday, 27 March, 2024
wine.co.za
Patrick was one of the youngest people ever to become a Master of Wine in 1958 at the age of 27. He specialised in Cape wine, Madeira, Port and Bordeaux wines.
He became director and head of the wine department at Sotheby's Auctioneers in London in 1973 and was invited to be the first auctioneer at the inaugural Nederburg Auction in South Africa in 1975.
He became a household name at the Nederburg Auction and within the South African Wine Industry and achieved the world record of overseeing a wine auction for 33 consecutive years.
Says Michael Fridjhon who has known him for 50 years: “He was a real beacon of civilised wine engagement and the most elegant of auctioneers in the world.”
Bennie Howard, former GM of the Nederburg Auction, who worked with Patrick Grubb for more than 27 years said that Patrick loved South Africa and it’s wines: “He was a great man in all respects. And a very, very dear friend of everybody at the Auction and in our wine industry!! We all loved and respected him for his amazing talent of wine knowledge and auctioneering. He left a remarkable footprint in the history of the Nederburg Auction and the SA wine industry. We salute a true wine legend and a hero of our industry.”
He leaves his wife Jennie and sons Hugo and Harry behind.
Our sincere condolences to his family and friends.