What has been called ‘the oldest auction in the New World of wine’ takes place on 2 and 3 April in Paarl when 1 700 local and overseas buyers bid for a stringently selected range of the finest wines produced by 102 of the Cape’s top estates, wineries and cellars on the 30th Nederburg Auction. Buyers are representative of the country’s major supermarket and hotel groups, the retail and wholesale liquor trade, wine shops, fine dining restaurants, restaurant franchises and game lodges, as well as internationals from 33 other countries. Some 178 wines (9 290 cases) including 123 reds, 29 whites, four sparkling, one Special Late Harvest, eight Noble Late Harvest, 10 ports and three muscadel wines will come under the hammer of auctioneer Patrick Grubb, who has knocked down wines to the value of over R75 million since inception. Eleven newcomers on the auction this year are Annandale, Asara, Darling Cellars, De Toren Private Cellar, Durbanville Hills, Hidden Valley, Klein Zalze, Nitida, Onderkloof, Stellenbosch Vineyards and Tukulu. Nederburg’s own auction offering includes every style and category of wine produced by three winemakers over three decades – the celebrated Günter Brözel, Newald Marais and Razvan Macici. One of the exciting prospects will be the sale of the legendary 1974 Nederburg Auction Cabernet Sauvignon hailed as one of the best wines ever produced in South Africa. Doyenne of the French wine industry May de Lencquesaing of Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande, of Bordeaux, France – one-time president of the International Wine and Spirit Competition – will officially open the auction. Highlights of the proceedings on Saturday are the Nederburg Fashion Cabaret which will trace the 30 years of style and trends in South Africa and numerous exhibitions including a wonderful selection of former President Nelson Mandela’s artworks from his Robben Island Series. Also on display will be his Freedom Key, an exact replica of the key to his cell and amazing imprints of Madiba’s hands. The cuisine ranges from gourmet canapés served in the fashion lounges designed by Rooi Rose, Conde Nast House & Garden, Food and Home Entertaining and the GQ Nederburg bar to the sumptuous luncheon for more than 1 700 VIP guests and celebrities, prepared by Southern Sun Hotels. Charities benefiting from the auction are Mothers To Mothers, an HIV-AIDS NGO, and the Hospice Palliative Care Association of South Africa, which has received more than R1,6 million over the past 13 years from this event. The average price of a case of wine at the first auction 30 years ago was R19,21 per case – the average price last year was R1 230,72 – from R1,60 a bottle in 1975 to R102 a bottle in 2003!Issued by: Jenny McQueen on behalf of Nederburg AuctionContact: Bennie HowardTel: +27 (0) 21 809-7000Jenny McQueen & AssociatesTel : +27 (0) 21 439-5063 Email: jenny@mcqueen.co.za