The year 1975 was responsible for a number of significant events on the timeline that makes up mankind’s history. Proclaimed by the United Nations as International Women’s Year, it also fell in the middle of a period nostalgically known as the greatest music decade of all time, with disco, glam rock and punk music leading the way, but followed closely by the emerging genres of reggae, hip hop and heavy metal – the success of British heavy metal rock group Led Zeppelin, who released the album Physical Graffiti on the 15th March 1975 and became the first band ever to have six albums in the US chart simultaneously, is well documented.
That same year, in another first that was perhaps not quite as musically explosive but significant nonetheless, the very first Nederburg Auction of rare Cape wines took place at Nederburg in Paarl. From a simple beginning that saw 15 wines knocked down for R237 000, the auction has evolved over nearly four decades into a significant event on the local and international wine calendar that is known for showcasing only the cream of South Africa’s finest wines.