The AfriAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction was held for the third year running last weekend and this time, raised more money than any of the organisers could have dreamt. The final total of R15 million is the largest to date, and every single cent, with no deductions whatsoever, will be distributed by the Cape Wine Auction Trust for education projects throughout the Western Cape.
The auction was hosted this year at Klein Constantia making it an easy-to-reach venue for many of SA’s great and good. On offer were 40 once-in-a-lifetime lots consisting of rare wines, private holidays, luxury transport and incredible meals by some of the worlds finest chefs and winemakers. A record was broken when the first ever bottle of Touch Warwick Cabernet Sauvignon 2014 was sold for an incredible R1.3 million and hot on its heels came the Port 2 Fino Lot, sponsored by online retailer Port2Port, which raised R1.25 million. In amongst these lots were many wonderful experiences and privileges sponsored by the likes of Thelema, Glen Carlou, Kanonkop and more.
“The 2016 AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction once again proved why it is a globally identified auction event. We are so fortunate to have a supportive presence from international audiences and media who are willing to be part of a great cause- which allows us to hearten and promote the education of underprivileged youth in the Cape Winelands,” says Mike Ratcliffe, Trustee of The AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction Trust and MD of Warwick Wine Estate & Vilafonté.
In 2015, the Cape Wine Auction allocated funds to a variety of different charities and organisations including my business, The International Wine Education Centre. Within the next two months, I will be using that money to provide internationally-recognised Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine courses to students at the Pinotage Youth Development Academy, enabling them to add these valuable qualifications to their skill set and making them even more employable both here in South Africa and overseas.
The 2016 AfriAsia Cape Wine Auction is a great example of an industry giving back to its community and investing in its future. Congratulations to all the trustees and the management team and roll on 2017!