Live online bidding will make its debut at the 28th Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction to be held Spier in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday, 6 October, in a bid to reach new, untapped world markets through a partnership between the Cape Winemakers Guild and UK auction giant, ATG.
The line-up to go under the hammer this year represents a full house of 52 exceptional wines signified by creativity and great diversity of styles in small volumes, made exclusively for the Auction by members of the Cape Winemakers Guild.
“We have been exploring options to open up our bidding platform through the internet for some time now, but technical challenges have hampered us in the past. Through the The saleroom wine collectors and dealers can now bid online as if they were on the auction floor, opening new frontiers for our wines,” says Louis Strydom, Chairman of the Guild which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year.
Live online bidding has revolutionised the auction world in recent years making it possible for both collectors and dealers to buy at auctions worldwide via the Internet. ATG’s is Europe's leading portal for live art and antiques auctions with a growing interest in wine. Users can search catalogues and place their bids over the internet in real-time, with live audio and video feeds recreating the auction room atmosphere – all from the comfort of their laptop or computer.
In 2011 the site hosted over 4,000 catalogues and 1,800 live auctions.
“In just one year between 2010 and 2011, we have seen a 40% increase in site visits coupled with a 33% increase in registered bidders, a clear indication that online bidding is on the increase,” says Angelika Elstner, ATG’s representative in South Africa.
Buyers can watch and listen to auctions from their own home or office and buy online from established auctioneers around the world who in turn use the platform to reach a wider international clientele whether they are based in the UK, the USA, Europe, China or in markets such as Australia or South Africa.
The prestigious Cape Winemakers Guild Auction is recognised as South Africa’s leading wine auction open to the wine trade and the general public and the 2012 Guild Auction boasts one of the most exclusive selections of wines to go under the hammer in recent years.
The 28th Nedbank CWG Auction, conducted by Henré Hablutzel of Hofmeyr Mills Auctioneers for the 15th consecutive year, is open to the public and will be held at the Spier Conference Centre in the Stellenbosch Winelands on Saturday, 6 October 2012. Prospective buyers who are unable to attend the auction, can either register in advance and take advantage of the Guild’s telephonic and proxy bidding facilities, or register free of charge with The saleroom to bid online on the day. Online registration opens two weeks prior to the auction once the catalogue has been posted on the site.
For further details and to attend the Auction, visit Cape Winemakers Guild or contact the Guild Office on Tel: 021 852 0408
mailto: info@capewinemakersguild.com
Issued by: GC Communications
Contact: Gudrun Clark
Tel: +27 +21-462 0520
E-mail: gudrun@gc-com.co.za
On behalf of: Cape Winemakers Guild
Contact: Kate Jonker
Tel: +27 +21-852 0408
mail to:kate@capewinemakersguild.com
