WhaleTale News
Dear Friends, on the 12th of October, we celebrated one year in our new province, and our hearts are filled with gratitude. We have settled in so well as you can imagine through the WhaleTale Updates? Our first Cape winter is done and dusted, and we sailed through winter rains and gale-force winds like champion skippers.
A record rainfall ensured that all our dams in Hermanus and Cape Town surroundings are overflowing. Nature is rejoicing everywhere with colourful ”veld blommetjies” beautifying the arid landscape like scattered Persian carpets. Spring is now rolling over into summer with sunny weather, blue skies, and a turquoise sea. Overstrand life is slowly dancing its way back on the melody of Barbra Streisand’s classic song… The Way We Were!
Earlier this month, the 36th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, hosted by Bonhams in London took place, and it was a grand success, just like our first year in Hermanus! The Guild Auction made history with record prices reaching across the board during two online auctions raising a staggering R5.15 million. The auction comprised of 564 cases, made up of 17 red wines, one fortified Cape Vintage and 11 white wines that included two Méthode Cap Classique wines.
Three producers from our Hemel-en-Aarde wine valley made us proud with their excellent performances this year.
Ataraxia Estate, Under the Gavel Chardonnay 2019, R8 500 per 6 bottle case.
Newton Johnson Vineyards, Windansea Pinot Noir 2017, R8 000 per 6 bottle case.
And Bartho Eksteen’s, Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2019 (wooded), R7 000 per 6 bottle case.
A very thirsty soul paid R12 000 per 6 bottle case, (R2 000 per bottle, a new record), for Bartho’s aka “Monsieur Sauvignon Blanc”, Vloekskoot from 6 different vintages (2013-2018).?
The interest in South African wines is growing year by year. While 65% of sales went to SA bidders, the balance of the wine went to bidders in the UK, Denmark, USA, Germany, the Netherlands, Singapore and Belgium. Another record number of 163 bidders registered this year, 82 from SA and 81 buyers from across the globe. According to Richard Harvey, global director of Bonhams London, it is essential to raise international awareness of the outstanding quality of Cape wines. The excellent results obtained so far, are a good indication of the world-class quality wines produced by the Guild members.?How cool is that?
For the record, we had a tremendous six-day visit with Carmen beginning of October, and we even booked a charter boat trip out to sea to see the Southern Right Whales up close and personally. An excellent and highly recommended experience!?
So my special friends, please raise with me a glass of Vloeksk?t, Sauvignon Blanc to:
Our fabulous winemakers who are setting record sales prices.
The Vaalies who are still my favourite people.
Carmen’s online Pilates classes that helped us pull through an irksome lockdown period… and of course,
Die Kaal-ou with his gorgeous, talented wife, who, for the record, successfully secured their Green Card immigration status for the Western Cape. CHEERS GUYS!!?
Leave a Reply