An incentive to greater wine standards
The viticulturist runs great risks in producing a truly noble wine. The Nederburg Auction is an attempt to provide due recognition and rewards for these efforts – acting as a showcase for the best that South African vintners can produce.

Developing an awareness of South African wine
The annual auctions at Nederburg have placed South Africa firmly on the wine map of the world. It is now recognised as one of the world’s five major wine auctions, thus fulfilling a similar objective to the auctions of Hospices de Beaune in France and Kloster Eberbach in Germany. History has shown that this event has helped to stimulate interest in South African wines among connoisseurs and the wine-loving public, both in South Africa and further afield.

To ensure fair distribution of rare wines
Local and international wine buyers and connoisseurs have gathered at Nederburg every year to savour, evaluate and buy the cream of South Africa’s wines, many of them outstanding old wines available in only very limited quantities. The auction thereby offers a fair means of distribution of these wines.

At the first auction in 1975, there were 15 wines on offer from five participants. This year, there will be 159 items (4 203 cases) from 69 participants (brands, estates and wineries). Last year, 162 wines from 73 participants were auctioned. The general average price paid per case has risen from R19.21 in 1975 to R1 084 (or R1 505 per 9-litre case) in 2010.