The Cape Winemakers Guild Auction Tasting

Bordeaux Index

26 September 2025

On Wednesday 24th September, we hosted our Cape Winemakers Guild 2025 Auction Tasting. Guests enjoyed the full line up of 48 wines and had the opportunity to meet CWG Chair Samantha O’Keefe and Vice Chair JD Pretorius, along with leading winemakers and guild members Gary Jordan, Duncan Savage, and Adi Badenhorst.

The Cape Winemakers Guild Auction is rapidly approaching, taking place over the 3rd & 4th October. As in the past two years, Bordeaux Index will once again be bidding on selected lots.

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After tasting through the 2025 line up, our excitement for South African fine wine has only grown. This year’s collection is shaping up to be one of the most compelling editions yet: 48 wines spanning a fantastic breadth of styles, with several bottles already showing finesse, balance, and age-worthy structure. A number of wines stood out as truly world-class, underlining why the Guild Auction remains the pinnacle of South Africa’s fine wine calendar.

“The quality of this year’s CWG wines is higher than ever, with some truly outstanding bottles. What’s most striking is how the South African wine industry is no longer defined by just a handful of shining lights, but by a broad base of producers reaching new peaks of excellence. The tasting revealed remarkable restraint and elegance throughout, with a clear sense of winemakers deeply attuned to their grape varieties, soils, and microclimates.” - David Thomas, Sales Director at Bordeaux Index

For those less familiar: established in 1982, the Guild represents the very best winemakers in South Africa. Membership is by invitation only, extended to those who have consistently produced wines of excellence for at least five years. Each year, members submit their most exceptional, often tiny-production wines for a rigorous blind tasting. Only those that pass are accepted for the auction, ensuring that what’s offered truly reflects the best of South Africa. With volumes often averaging fewer than 40 cases per wine, these are rare treasures.

"We are honoured to present the extraordinary wines of the 2025 Cape Winemakers Guild Auction. Each bottle tells a story of vision, dedication, and artistry - a testament to the spirit of collaboration and excellence that defines the Guild... The Guild is a proud reflection of the dynamic evolution of South African wine. Our membership is more diverse and energetic than ever before, spanning generations, styles, and regions - from the rugged mountains of the Cederberg and the coastal slopes of Walker Bay to the bold frontiers of the Swartland and beyond.

The wines in this year’s auction are as individual as the hands that made them. Crafted in limited quantities and curated for excellence, they represent the pinnacle of craftsmanship and creativity. We invite you to savour these wines and join us in celebrating a tradition of excellence, innovation, and inclusivity." - Samantha O’Keefe, Chair of the CWG

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Beyond the wines, the Guild also invests in the future through the Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Development Trust and the Protégé Programme, nurturing the next generation of South African winemakers. Supporting the auction is not only a chance to secure some of the country’s rarest and most compelling bottles, but also to play a role in shaping its dynamic future.

"Our commitment to transformation is embodied in the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme - South Africa’s most successful winemaking mentorship initiative. Through this programme, we are shaping a new generation of world-class winemakers who bring fresh perspectives and passion to our industry." - Samantha O’Keefe, Chair of the CWG

Get Involved

South Africa is now one of the most exciting and dynamic wine-producing countries in the world. Long gone are the days of generic blends – today, winemakers are harnessing microclimates, soils, clonal selections, and viticultural excellence to create wines that sit comfortably amongst the world’s best. We firmly believe every great cellar should have a South African section, and the Guild Auction is the place to secure its rarest treasures.

As in previous years, we are asking for pledges of £1,000, £2,000, £5,000+ and will bid on your behalf. We aim to secure the best wines at fair levels, and if pricing runs away, we’ll only fulfil pledges to the extent that it makes sense for you.

Interested in making a pledge, or want to find out more? We encourage you to register interest via the link below.

2025 Guild Members

Membership is by invitation only and many of South Africa’s leading winemakers are members of the Guild. The CWG meets regularly as a technical tasting group, providing its members with an opportunity to evaluate wines from around the world and to share their knowledge and ideas – ensuring that CWG members remain leaders in the art and science of winemaking.

We've highlighted all of the winemakers involved below:

Abrie Beeslaar - Beeslaar Wines

Adi Badenhorst - AA Badenhorst Family Wines

Alex Starey - Keermont Vineyards

Andrea Mullineux - Mullineux / Leeu Passant

Andries Burger - Paul Clüver Wines

Batho Elksteen - Bartho Elksteen Wine Estate

Bruwer Raats - Raats Family Wines

Carl Schultz - Solo Wines

Charles Hopkins - De Grendel

Christo le Riche - Le Riche Wines

Coenie Snyman - Rock of Eye