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by Cassie du Plessis
Yes, the buzz is all about records ... more wines, more participants, more turnover. But, ultimately its significance lies in quality - measuring the status of the land's wine quality in the face of its international challenges ... a quality event showcasing quality wines - purchased by professionals who know what they want and recognise quality worth paying for. Auction manager Bennie Howard believes that these days the buyers are very purposeful and informed. At the same time, there is a marked swing away from the fruitier, early drinking 'New World style' red wines to more classic, complex, matured wines. This, together with a continued healthy competition between the South African supermarket buyers and foreign participants, made for another record-breaking Nederburg ... when the Boland autumn sun once again shone brilliantly on the event which attracted some 1 600 buyers, wine industry personalities, media and dignitaries. The record prices realised, believes Bennie, had a lot to do with the fact that the South African winemakers now increasingly manage to turn out wines of international standard. The gap between "ordinary" wines and the elite products is widening. "We're moving in the direction of developing a new dimension of 'super premium' wines," he said.
The fact that supermarket purchases once again dominated, by representing a third of total sales, means that probably more top wines than ever before will be available to domestic consumers who are prepared to pay that extra premium to get the best. This also means that supermarkets have in recent years considerably widened their spectrum on offer from the early days when they used to be more in the business of "affordables." This is probably also a spin-off from a more informed, quality conscious buying public. Leading the buying for the third year running was Spar's Ray Edwards, who purchased 1 288 cases at R1,1 million. This was followed by Makro and Pick 'n Pay, buying for about R500 000 each, and Shoprite-Checkers coming in at R184 700. Liquor groups Big Five Duty Free spent R406 700 and Wholesale Liquor Warehouse (Metcash) R258 710. Also among the top ten buyers were the Cape Town Fish Market who bought to the value of R226 880 and Cybercellar for R187 760. The export market took nearly 18% (Namibia included), with Franklin Tree, a British wine broker resident in Switzerland, accounting for R241 260 and stalwart importers Grays Limited of Mauritius for R192 380. Other big international buyers came from the United Kingdom, Belgium, Indonesia and Zambia. Buyers, journalists and guests from 28 countries attended the auction. This supermarket surge has probably saved Nederburg from a few lean years, because foreign buying has not exactly set the Auction on fire, having decreased from a peak of 46% in 1994 to around 9% last year and the year before, and this year's 18%. Bennie points out, however, that with Big Five Duty Free and Cybercellar's purchases included, the wines earmarked for foreign destinations probably represent about 25% of sales. Following the first Nederburg Auction in the Distell fold last year, the company declared it a priority to increase overseas buying. Other vital statistics:
'Quality will counteract overproduction'
Marchese Piero Antinori, guest speaker
I firmly believe that, today more than ever, it is vital to have a vision, a long-term vision, clear ideas, perseverance and above all, a great passion, for the product, for the land of its origin and a real obsession for quality.
I am convinced that everyone, big and small, has a role to play, both today and in the future, on the condition, of course, that quality is ever-present. Consolidation to some extent is inevitable, as the degree of structural fragmentation in the wine industry is probably excessive and unequalled by any other sector (with about 50 000 brands worldwide).
A distinction between the Old World and the New World will remain, but I perceive a growing area of overlap.
In the New World, in fact, more and more value is being attributed to territorial identity, to the characteristics of the "terroir", to the appellations of origin and the sub-appellations and to the vineyard designation of the wines.
On the other hand, for a certain category of wines at least the Old World is placing more and more importance on the name of the grape variety, as this offers the consumer clarification and simplicity.
South Africa is in the unique position of being somewhere between the Old and the New World and could play a very important role of harmonising different viewpoints.
Quality remains the crucial condition for success. This reality (of products which have to meet absolutely perfect standards in their category and price range) will not only render our work more demanding, but will also lead to a general rise in consumption, because more and more quality wines will be available at reasonable prices.
- extracted from Mr Antinori's opening address; see also International Profile, page 45.
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 2009/10 Directory Now Available! Facts, figures, contact details and much more...
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With all the hype around the 28th International Nederburg Auction of Rare South African Wines - the biggest and most glamorous event on the Cape wine calendar - one would tend to think this is all about figures ... Sales figures, wine industry and wine trade "public figures" ... and figures of the models on the ramp at the mammoth fashion show.
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