The Cape Winemakers Guild Auction 2025 - Record Breaking Scores

For us at Bordeaux Index, the CWG Auction is one of the highlights of the year. It reflects everything we value about South African wine: creativity, excellence, and authenticity. Just as importantly, it gives our clients access to bottles that are truly unique – small-production wines crafted at the very highest level and released only once.

What Makes South African Wine Special

South Africa’s growing reputation on the world stage is no accident. The country’s wines combine a deep sense of place with a bold, forward-looking energy that sets them apart from anywhere else. At once rooted in history and alive with innovation, they offer both authenticity and excitement - a balance that has captured the attention of critics and collectors alike.

South Africa's diverse wine regions offer a range of microclimates and soil types, enabling the production of various wine styles, from robust reds to crisp whites. The Cape Winelands, all found close to Cape Town, form the heart of the industry, benefiting from a Mediterranean climate with warm summers and cool, wet winters. The nearby Atlantic Ocean and the ‘Cape Doctor’ wine provide temperature moderation and diurnal variation, enhancing the wines' freshness and complexity. The country's ancient and varied soils, from Swartland's granite to Hemel en Aarde’s clay, impart unique characteristics, allowing winemakers to express the distinct qualities of their vineyards.

“South African wine is often described as a bridge between old world and new world. Savoury complexity from Europe and riper fruit and high-tech winemaking from the new. But for me it’s the human element that makes South Africa truly special: there’s a spirit of invention and creativity. Winemakers are constantly trying new things, never standing still or resting on laurels. It’s the most exciting wine-producing country on the planet.” - Alex Aldersley-Hey

That pioneering spirit is matched by extraordinary natural advantages. South Africa has some of the oldest geology in the world, which often shows itself in a distinctive saltiness or stoniness across different grape varieties. Combined with old vines and ambitious winemakers, it creates wines with depth, character, and individuality.

The Cape Winemakers Guild

The Cape Winemakers Guild is a prestigious association of leading South African winemakers. Membership is by invitation only and requires commitment to advancing winemaking excellence and fostering transformation within the local industry. The annual Cape Winemakers Guild Auction showcases the apex of South African winemaking, embodying the members' collective life-long dedication to honing their craft. Undergoing a rigorous selection process to ensure their excellence, all wines are exclusively produced for the auction by members of the Cape Winemakers Guild.

Each year, they craft small lots of wine made exclusively for the CWG Auction – one-off bottlings that reflect their very best work.

“The CWG is an amazing project. On one hand, it raises money and reinvests into a wine region that has always struggled, in particular supporting bright new winemakers, which is a wonderful programme to support. On the other hand, it allows collectors access to limited-edition, one-off bottlings from some of South Africa’s – and the planet’s – finest winemakers.” - Alex Aldersley-Hey

A Record-Breaking 2025 Auction

Each year, the Cape Winemakers Guild (CWG) Auction shines a spotlight on the very best of South African wine. More than just a sale, it’s a celebration of creativity, heritage, and excellence – and a rare opportunity for collectors to secure bottles they’ll never see on the open market.

This year’s auction, taking place on 3–4 October, is already breaking records. Of the 48 wines going under the hammer, 26 have scored 95 points or higher from leading critics Christian Eedes, Tim Atkin MW, and Michael Fridjhon. An early standout, Donovan Rall’s Noa Syrah 2023, even made history as Winemag’s first-ever 99-point wine.

South African wine has never been stronger, and the CWG Auction is its perfect showcase. Find out more about the wines on show here.

Why Collectors Should Act Now

The rise of South African wine is one of the most exciting stories in the fine wine world today. Critical acclaim is growing rapidly, international demand is increasing, and the quality has never been higher. Yet production remains relatively small. With old vines, naturally low yields, and ongoing challenges such as drought, supply simply cannot expand to meet the pace of global interest.

This imbalance between demand and availability makes South African wines both compelling to drink and smart to collect. As Alex explains:

“South African wine is really beginning to hit the big time internationally, with significant merchants and export markets really beginning to pay attention. South Africa still offers incredible value compared to longer-established regions when producing wines of the same – if not higher – quality. But as with all wines, these prices will rise as demand increases and production remains relatively low. Any wine enthusiast will thank themselves in the future for starting to collect these great wines now.”

Our Recommendations

The diverse terroir of South Africa lends itself well to a range of grape varietals. Chenin Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Pinotage are among the longest-standing, expressing the South African landscape and producing a broad array of fantastic wines.

With so many excellent wines on show, it's hard to pick a favourite, but there are some standout grape varieties that we really think capture the heart of South Africa's identity:

“Syrah is rapidly becoming a star grape in South Africa. The wines being made here from this variety easily sit among the world’s finest – there is an elegance and precision to the finest that can take your breath away.

But grapes with a longer history shouldn’t be overlooked: Grenache, Chenin Blanc, and Semillon were planted as workhorse grape centuries ago, and the legacy of old vines produces some truly astonishing, unique wine.” - Alex Aldersley-Hey

The Cape Winemakers Guild Auction is more than an event. It is a showcase of South Africa’s finest winemaking talent and a glimpse into the country’s extraordinary future. With record-breaking wines, rising global demand, and production that will always remain limited, this year’s auction is one not to miss. We will be following the action closely and sharing our highlights along the way, so join us as we celebrate the brilliance of South African wine and the rare, remarkable bottles that define it.

To find out more about the upcoming auction, including how to get involved, please reach out to your account manager or contact us at [email protected]