Cape Wine Auction 2026 raises over R10 million for education and social upliftment

The Cape Wine Auction has once again underlined its status as one of South Africa’s most prestigious charitable events, raising more than R10 million during its 2026 edition hosted at Nederburg Wine Estate.

The auction generated R10.6 million over a gala weekend, taking the cumulative amount raised since its inaugural event in 2014 to an extraordinary R152.8 million. Proceeds support education and social upliftment initiatives in the Cape Winelands.

Reflecting on the twelfth edition, Cape Wine Auction Trust chairperson Paul Clüver said the event continued to inspire both hope and generosity.

“This twelfth edition of the Cape Wine Auction affirmed our collective belief that this is a unique oasis of hope and inspiration for the future of the Cape Winelands,” Clüver said.

“Once again, we were deeply humbled by the extraordinary generosity of our donors and the bidders whose wholehearted support made this success possible.”

The weekend programme combined fine wine with live entertainment and curated auction experiences. According to auction director Darielle Robertson, enthusiasm remained high from start to finish, from the Saturday morning Barrel Auction through to the main auction and celebration that followed. Guests were entertained by live performances from Mi Casa and Lloyiso, with festivities continuing late into the night.

Other standout items included a life-size bronze sculpture by Anton Smit titled In Moment II, which sold for R650,000, and three luxury villa packages from The Hideaways Club, each achieving R600,000. A Côte du Cap coastal escape for eight guests, including private flights and a four-night stay at an exclusive Plettenberg Bay villa, went for R420,000.

Additional sought-after lots ranged from an Oregon Willamette Valley wine journey (R320,000) to a Zambezi River escape in Zambia with a hosted sommelier experience (R240,000), and a Domaine Laroche experience in Chablis, France (R230,000).

Nederburg general manager Kate Jackson said the estate was honoured to host the auction.

“We are incredibly proud to have hosted the Cape Wine Auction at Nederburg and to witness the remarkable generosity that defines this event,” Jackson said. “The funds raised speak not only to the passion of the wine community, but to a shared commitment to creating meaningful change through education in the Cape Winelands.”

Widely regarded as South Africa’s most prominent international wine charity event, the Cape Wine Auction is held annually, drawing wine collectors and patrons from around the world to bid on exclusive wine, travel, art and culinary experiences in support of long-term social impact.

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Cape Argus