BOTTLES of the mysterious and rare George Spies Cabernet (Durbanville grapes, Paarl cellar) are regularly made available via the South African auction house Strauss & Co, with 750ml of the 1968 vintage sold during the Bordeaux Theme sale on 17 September 2023 going for over R23K – the highest price paid for a local wine on the day. That said, the lots also included some seriously in-demand wines from elsewhere in the world, with the top price paid overall being R140 700 for a magnum / 1.5L bottle – R70 350 per 750ml – of 1989 Petrus (Merlot) from the Pomerol area of Bordeaux, France.

Here are the top prices paid for the South African wines on auction, i.e. those over R2000pb:

GS Cabernet 1968
R23 450 (US$1236) paid for 1×750ml

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
R10 553 (US$556) paid for 1×1.5L: R5276/750ml

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2015
R25 795 (US$1360) paid for 6×750ml: R4299/750ml

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2009
R21 105 (US$1113) paid for 6×750ml: R3517/750ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1975
R7035 (US$372) paid for 2×750ml: R3517/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2009
R10 553 (US$557) paid for 3×750ml: R3517/750ml

Meerlust Rubicon 1984
R6449 (US$341) paid for 1×1.5L: R3224/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2005
R18 760 (US$991) paid for 6×750ml: R3126/750ml

Meerlust Cabernet Sauvignon 1978
R5863 (US$310) paid for 2×750ml: R2931/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2011
R15 243 (US$804) paid for 6×750ml: R2540/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2010
R15 243 (US$804) paid for 6×750ml: R2540/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2007
R15 243 (US$805) paid for 6×750ml: R2540/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2008
R9967 (US$557) paid for 4×750ml: R2491/750ml

Cordoba Crescendo 2003
R7035 (US$371) paid for 3×750ml: R2345/750ml

Kanonkop Paul Sauer 2008
R14 070 (US$743) paid for 6×750ml: R2345/750ml

Vilafonté Series M 2015
R14 070 (US$743) paid for 6×750ml: R2345/750ml

Vilafonté Series C 2015
R14 070 (US$742) paid for 6×750ml: R2345/750ml