Inaugural AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction

The inaugural AfrAsia Bank Cape Wine Auction 2014 (AfrABCWA), regarded by the organisers as possibly the most extraordinary international wine event ever seen in South Africa, will set a local philanthropic precedent.

It is seen as the wine industry uniting to raise significant funds to fund and promote education in the South African winelands.

The two-day event will launch at the Waterford Estate on the evening of Friday March 14 with a barrel tasting and auction preview. The auction event will be held at the Delaire Graff Estate on Saturday March 15.

AfrABCWA says prominent wine aficionados from around the globe, hosted by South Africa’s iconic winemakers and celebrity chefs, will be invited to “make a serious difference when the bidding opens”.

This global showcase of South African wines is said to be “committed to changing people’s lives through the powerful tool of education, from infant development through to technological innovation, the provision of a leadership academy and tertiary educational endowments”.

The Cape Wine Auction Trust has been established with a mandate to raise funds for education in the winelands. Founding trustees include: Michael Jordaan, Ken Kinsey-Quick, Wendy Appelbaum and Michael Ratcliffe. They will provide guidance and leadership. Beneficiaries to date include the Pebbles Project, the MAD Charity and the Click Foundation which are all focused on education.

The ‘Auction Ambassadors’ comprise a group of high-profile wine industry personalities who have curated the auction lots. The lots are described as “an astounding line-up of once-in-a-lifetime offerings including rare wine collections as well as exclusive hand-selected local and international wine, gourmet and travel experiences.

www.thecapewineauction.com.