Auction sobers view on wine price

The 139 buyers spent a total of R3.8-million, 25% less than last year, on the 39 wines on offer. Spread over 19 types and styles, this year's auction, held at Spier Wine Estate, offered a record 13 white wines. The total volume under the hammer was similar to last year, and all the wines cases - 2298 - were sold.

Brisk bidding for Etienne le Riche's Le Riche Cabernet Sauvignon Auction Reserve 2006 kick-started the auction, going under the hammer at R3800 for a case of six. The highest price achieved for a case was Peter Finlayson's Bouchard Finlayson Unfiltered Pinot Noir 2007(1.5-litre bottles) at R5 100 - R100 less than last year. Other top selling red wines were Dewaldt Heyns' Saronsberg Die Erf Shiraz 2007 at R4500 a case and Abrie Beeslaar's maiden auction wine, Kanonkop CWG Paul Sauer 2007, at R3700.

Czech Republic restaurateur Zdenek Lang paid R16000 for this year's charity item, a 12-litre blend of top 2007 vintage wines from the 41 members of the Cape Winemakers' Guild.

"There was no crazy bidding going on, and I suspect some of the restaurants and retail buyers were working together [to avoid driving up prices], said Edgebaston winemaker David Finlayson. "This year's prices are a market correction after the highs of last year."

Cape Winemakers Guild chairman Johan Malan said the auction was a reflection of the state of the economy.

"Last year we were pleasantly surprised with our best auction ever, the mood was positive prior to the World Cup. Now the reality of supply and demand is clearly visible."

The lower prices were also attributed to the increase in the number of white wines on auction.

"High prices are an ego thing. I am pleased that more of my wines were on auction this year and they were cheaper, meaning more people will get to drink them," said Adi Badenhorst of AA Badenhorst Family Wines.

More than 80% of the wine was bought by 110 local buyers, with 29 overseas buyers registered. Alan Pick of The Butcher Shop and Grill triumphed for the 9th consecutive year as the biggest spender - R644600. The biggest overseas buyers came from the UK, Netherlands, Hong Kong, Belgium, Denmark, Namibia, Canada, Czech Republic, the US and Germany.