ATTRACTING the highest bid of R4583pb at the 2026 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction in Woodstock, Cape Town, was Andrea Mullineux's ‘The Gris' Old Vine Semillon 2025. A “piece of South African viticultural history”, according to the auctioneers Strauss & Co. “Once dominating the vineyards of the Cape, this natural and genetically unique mutation of Semillon has been whittled down to just a few vineyards… After 14 years of genetic isolation and propagation, Semillon Gris has now been officially recognized as a variety unique enough to bear its own name on the label.”
Fetching as much as R3166pb was Samantha O'Keefe's Lismore Child of Venus Viognier 2025 and Donovan Rall's Noa Syrah, with some of Sebastian Beaumont's GG's Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2025, Mullineux's Leeu Passant Hillside Cabernet Franc 2023 and Abrie Beeslaar's CWG Pinotage 2024 going or over R2500pb.
The auction brought together buyers from around the world, with 263 registered bidders from 16 countries participating in person, online and telephonically. 58 wines went under the hammer, comprising 34 red wines (1364 cases), 22 white wines (780 cases) and two Cap Classique wines (76 cases), achieving a record-breaking total of over R18-million. 96 of the bidders were successful, with the top ten buyers including two private clients, the luxury Grootbos nature reserve and Singita games lodges as well as Bordeaux Index in the United Kingdom. 78% of the sales went to South African bidders, with the balance sold to 10 countries including the UK, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Hong Kong, Luxenbourg, Netherlands, Switzerland, Guernsey and Australia. The retail trade accounted for 44% of the total value purchased.
For the most highly sought-after wines at the 2026 CWG Auction, see below. For the full results of the sale and more details about the wines, click here.
OVER R4000 PER BOTTLE
Mullineux ‘The Gris' Old Vine Semillon 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R55 000 (USD3299)
Riebeek-Kasteel cellar, WO Swartland
Winemaker Andrea Mullineux
OVER R3000 PER BOTTLE
Lismore Child of Venus Viognier 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R38 000 (USD2278)
Greyton cellar, WO Greyton
Winemaker Samantha O'Keefe
Rall Noa Syrah 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R38 000 (USD2278)
Cellar in Riebeek West, WO Swartland
Winemaker Donovan Rall
OVER R2500 PER BOTTLE
Beaumont GG’s Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R35 000 (USD2099)
Bot River cellar, WO Bot River
Winemaker Sebastian Beaumont
Leeu Passant Hillside Cabernet Franc 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R35 000 (USD2098)
Franschhoek cellar, WO Swartland
Winemaker Andrea Mullineux
Beeslaar CWG Pinotage 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R32 000 (USD1919)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Abrie Beeslaar
OVER R2000 PER BOTTLE
Cederberg Black Slate Shiraz 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R30 000 (USD1799)
Cederberg cellar, WO Cederberg
Winemaker David Nieuwoudt
David & Nadia Veiling Chenin Blanc 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R30 000 (USD1799)
Paardeberg-Malmesbury cellar, WO Swartland
Winemaker David Sadie
Solo CWG Auction Merlot 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R30 000 (USD1799)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Carl Schultz
Storm Bokkeveld Shale Chardonnay 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R30 000 (USD1799)
Hemel-en-Aarde cellar, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Valley
Winemaker Hannes Storm
Newton Johnson Sandford Chardonnay 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R28 000 (USD1679)
Hemel-en-Aarde cellar, WO Upper Hemel-en-Aarde
Winemaker Gordon Newton Johnson
Savage Auction Syrah 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R28 000 (USD1679)
Cape Town producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Duncan Savage
Van Loggerenberg CWG Auction Syrah 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R28 000 (USD1679)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
Winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg
Beaumont Hope Single Vineyard Chenin Blanc 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R27 000 (USD1619)
Bot River cellar, WO Bot River
Winemaker Sebastian Beaumont
Le Riche CWG Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R27 000 (USD1619)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Christo le Riche
Boschkloof CWG Auction Epilogue 2024 (Shiraz)
12 x 750ml sold for R25 000 (USD1499)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Reenen Borman
Frans K Smit Sentinel Red 2022 (Cape Bordeaux Blend)
12 x 750ml sold for R25 000 (USD1499)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Frans Smit
Hamilton Russell CWG Chardonnay 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R25 000 (USD1499)
Hemel-en-Aarde cellar, WO Hemel-en-Aade Valley
Winemaker Emul Ross
Kershaw Ziggurat Chardonnay 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R25 000 (USD1499)
Elgin producer, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Winemaker Richard Kershaw MW
Miles Mossop Maximilian 2023 (Cabernet Sauvignon)
12 x 750ml sold for R25 000 (USD1499)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Miles Mossop
OVER R1500 PER BOTTLE
Keermont Where Mountains Meet 2023 (Cape Bordeaux Red Blend)
12 x 750ml sold for R23 000 (USD1379)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Alex Starey
Delaire Graff Banghoek Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Banghoek-Stellenbosch
Winemaker Morné Vrey
Jordan CWG Sophia 2024 (Cape Bordeaux Red Blend)
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Gary Jordan
Kershaw Vertiginous Pinot Noir 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Elgin producer, WO Elgin
Winemaker Richard Kershaw MW
Lismore The Sheltering Sky Syrah 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Greyton cellar, WO Elgin
Winemaker Samantha O'Keefe
Rock of Eye CWG Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Coenie Snyman
Storm Bokkeveld Shale Pinot Noir 2024
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Hemel-en-Aarde cellar, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Winemaker Hannes Storm
Survivor Tarras Doas Cabernet Franc 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R22 000 (USD1319)
Paarl cellar, WO Tradouw-Klein Karoo
Winemaker Pierre Wahl
Ataraxia Under The Gavel Chardonnay 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Hemel-en-Aarde cellar, WO Hemel-en-Aarde Ridge
Winemaker Kevin Grant
Erica Obermeyer Auction Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Erika Obermeyer
Jordan CWG Chardonnay 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Gary Jordan
Raats Stella Nova Cabernet Franc 2022
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Polkadraai Hills-Stellenbosch
Winemaker Bruwer Raats
Strydom Family Paradigm 2023 (Cape Bordeaux Red Blend)
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Stellenbosch
Winemaker Rianie Strydom
Survivor CWG Pinotage 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Paarl cellar, WO Swartland
Winemaker Pierre Wahl
Van Loggerenberg CWG Auction Chenin Blanc 2025
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch producer, WO Piekenierskloof-Citrusdal Mountain
Winemaker Lukas van Loggerenberg
Warwick Auction Cabernet Franc – Cabernet Sauvignon 2023
12 x 750ml sold for R20 000 (USD1199)
Stellenbosch cellar, WO Simonsberg-Stellenbosch
Winemaker JD Pretorius