Charlie Foley of Christie’s to lead Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction

Charlie Foley of Christie’s will be the fifth auctioneer in the event’s 45-year history to take up the gavel at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction in Stellenbosch on Friday.

The flamboyant Charlie Foley of Christie’s will lead the Cape Fine & Rare Wines Auction in Stellenbosch

Foley, 29, was on the rostrum at Christie’s in London last November when a single bottle of The Macallan 1926 with a hand-painted bottle created by Irish artist Michael Dillon smashed records when it sold for £1.2 million.

Founded as the Nederburg Auction in 1975, the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction’s first auctioneer, Patrick Grubb, holds the Guinness World Record for hosting an auction for 31 consecutive years from 1975 to 2005.

Taking place at the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch on 18 and 19 October, the auction will feature wines from some of the most lusted after estates in South Africa.

124 wines from 64 of South Africa’s top producers will go under the hammer at this year’s auction.

“What a fantastic offering – you couldn’t ask for a more intriguing smorgasbord of wines. I have visited the Cape this year and have spent time with many estates listed in these exceptional lots,” Foley told Wine.co.za of the line-up.

Among the lots on offer at the auction is a ‘super lot’ from Christie’s auction house.

“It will be a fantastic feature in our catalogue and will allow our buyers the chance to learn about, experience and bid on the best wines the Cape cultivates.

“I worked in South Africa for Steenberg some years ago and since then, I have been banging the drum for South African wines. There is magic in those hills,” Foley said.

Also up for grabs is a case of Alheit Vineyards Magnetic North Mountain Makstok Chenin Blanc 2015 and two cases of Chris and Suzaan Alheit’s revered Cartology 2015.

Among the other lots of interest are six bottles of David and Nadia Hoë-Steen2015; a nine-litre bottle of De Toren Fusion V 2004; six half cases of Kanonkop Paul Sauer 1995; five half cases of Ken Forrester The FMC Chenin Blanc 2009; and half cases of Klein Constantia Vin de Contstance 2007 and Meerlust Rubicon 1989.

Topping the reserve price per case at the auction is a double vertical of Columella from Sadie Family Wines, which includes a 75cl bottle of the wine from the 2001-2012 vintages, and magnus of Columella from 2005-2016. The current reserve price per case for the lot is R 54,000 (£2,905).