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Bordeaux Index becomes largest buyer at Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction

10 October 2023 By db staff writer

Fine wine merchant Bordeaux Index has established itself as the single largest buyer worldwide at the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction in South Africa, contributing more than 10% of the total auction value. This achievement underscores Bordeaux Index’s growing prominence in the South African fine wine market.

Victoria Mason, senior fine wine Buyer for Bordeaux Index, who joined the company in January 2023, has been passionately championing South African wine.

She said: “Our recent campaigns, on Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon 2020 and Porseleinberg Syrah 2021, were two of our most successful offers overall in September.

“By bidding at the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction this year, for the very first time, and enthusing our clients about the incredible quality of these wines, we are showing that Bordeaux Index believes in, and fully supports, South African fine wine and its future potential.”

Gary Boom, CEO and founder of Bordeaux Index commented: “I am thrilled with the remarkable success we’ve achieved at the Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction. It truly demonstrates that when Bordeaux Index sets its mind to something, we swiftly emerge as the single largest and most prominent player in the market.”

David Thomas, sales director at Bordeaux Index also commented: “I was staggered by the sheer beauty of this year’s auction wines; I couldn’t believe the overall quality on show. They made a lasting impression on us, and our clients couldn’t help but be inspired by our unwavering belief in them which sparked excitement to get in on the auction action. These are wines you must have in your cellar.”

The Cape Winemaker’s Guild Auction is a highly anticipated vinous event that showcases some of the very best talent of the Cape. It features limited quantities of unique, one-of-a-kind wines that are exclusively available through this auction.

Following a record-setting year last year, the auction continues to gain momentum, reflecting the growing global interest in South African wines.

The Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG), founded in 1982, represents a collective of some of the Cape’s most esteemed winemakers. Its members are dedicated to emphasising quality and highlighting the importance of creating outstanding wines that express the unique terroir. Over the last two decades, South Africa has transformed into one of the most exciting and dynamic wine-growing countries globally, with the CWG playing an important role in this transformation.

Membership within the CWG is a hard-earned privilege, with an invitation-only system in place.

Prospective members must have demonstrated exceptional dedication to winemaking, consistently exceeding industry standards for a minimum of five years. Furthermore, they must align with the core mission at the heart of the CWG. This mission: an unwavering commitment to advancing the South African wine industry. It encompasses a spirit of exploration and innovation within vineyards and wineries, a culture of knowledge sharing, and a deep-seated dedication to nurturing emerging talent through educational initiatives, internships, mentorship, and bursaries. These efforts are facilitated by the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust and the CWG Protégé Programme, reflecting the Guild’s enduring commitment to excellence and progress.

At a London tasting event, Bordeaux Index’s sales director David Thomas and senior fine wine buyers Victoria Mason and Robert Mathias said they were “blown away’ by the exceptional quality of this year’s 39 CWG wines from 31 members. The outstanding quality across the board, growing client demand, and Mason’s expertise in South African wine, is what really got Bordeaux Index excited about participating in the auction this year.

The CWG auction wines are meticulously selected through a rigorous blind tasting process by its members, ensuring only the highest-quality, most elegant, and age-worthy wines make it to the auction. These wines are produced in extremely limited quantities, this year ranging from 30 to 113 cases of 6, making them highly collectible.

Building on their recent successes, including focuses on the Swartland and on Stellenbosch Cabernet, and the new releases of Le Riche Cabernet and Porseleinberg Syrah, Bordeaux Index is enthusiastic about expanding the reach and presence of South African fine wine in the UK market. With a discerning High Net Worth client base that values exclusivity and quality, the company sees its participation in the CWG Auction as a crucial step towards establishing itself as a serious player in the South African fine wine sector.

Commenting on another record-breaking year at the CWG auction, CWG chair Gordon Newton Johnson stated: “We’re ecstatic about the results.” The auction’s success underscores the rising demand for South African wines and Bordeaux Index’s commitment to promoting exceptional wines from the country.”

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