Nederburg auction goes off-shore

RAY SMUTS THE PRESTIGIOUIS Nederburg Auction has ventured abroad for the first time in its 31-year history in the form of a satellite version in Canada, one of South Africa’s leading wine export destinations. The occasion was the 27th annual Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival - where South Africa was the theme country – earlier this month. The satellite auction, featuring 38 wines from 28 winemakers, represented the creme de la creme including Rust en Vrede, Ken Forrester, Bellingham, Graham Beck and Fleur du Cap. The decision to go off-shore represents an important commitment to developing the international profile of the auction (one of the world’s top five) which has grown from five participants in 1975 to 92 this year. The Playhouse International Wine Festival, Canada’s top wine event, featured a record 174 products from 17 countries.