The Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction (formerly the Nederburg Auction), one of the most prestigious events in South Africa's wine calendar, has been rescheduled to take place in spring 2021.
Originally scheduled for October 2020, the auction's organisers took the decision to postpone the event in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Announcing the new date, the organisers said the auction would be presented in a "hybrid format", allowing live bidding online as well as in-person bidding at the Rupert Museum in Stellenbosch.
There will also be satellite events in London ahead of the auction, run at partner venues and/or online and hosted by Christie's auctioneer Charlie Foley with selected judges including South African wine authority Michael Fridjhon.
Alongside this new format, the Cape Fine & Rare Auction will also see new leadership in 2021 with seasoned winemaker and passionate South African wine ambassador Niël Groenewald taking the helm.
Niël, who will run the auction on 22 May, 2021 from South Africa with a global team, said: "We are excited that the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction can continue to act as a much-needed platform to showcase the best of South African wines. Indeed, there is no better time to support our great wines than the present."
He continued: "We are formulating exciting plans which will allow our online bidders to still share in the magic and enjoy the energy that the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction has come to represent. We are especially thrilled that our online format allows producers to virtually enter the homes and cellars of collectors, even those as far away as the UK, Hong Kong or the US.
"Auction houses globally have seen a shift in collectors' behaviours, who are now more confident than ever to bid online - the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction looks forward to broadening its bidder base to include these global collectors."
Wine collectors who would like to bid and participate as a buyer at the Cape Fine & Rare Wine Auction can register now.
11 December 2020 - Bethany Whymark