A Brumby is a free-ranging feral horse Down Under, but from the looks of the Brumbies player cradling the Balthazar of Viljoensdrift River Grandeur Merlot 2007 at a Wine Charity Auction at the yearling sales in Germiston last night, there is nothing feral about the Brumbies touring SA at the minute.  Stabled at Monte Casino, let’s hope they are free-ranging, for the sake of the SA gene pool.  The Merlot was knocked down for R5000 by racy auctioneer Graeme Hawkins, who makes Rael Levitt look like a rank amateur.  If SARS had given Quoin Rock to Graeme, the SA University of Wine would be celebrating the end of the first semester already.

Organized by Natasha Barry from Riverton Stud in Robertson, the auction raised R73, 750.00 for various rural charities (Herberg Children’s Home and the Kieskammahoek Child Care & Development Centre).  Top lot of the night was a Nebuchadnezzar of Zandvliet Shiraz 2008 which was knocked down for R13,000.00.  The generosity of Robertson winemakers in particular in donating their wines confirmed that although times may be tough for wine producers, their legendary generosity of spirit has not dimmed at all.

Heck, six bottles of Langverwacht Ruby Cabernet 2006 – a Veritas 2009 Bronze Awardee, as the programme proudly noted, went for R1,300.00.  Knocked down to champion jockey Pierre Strydom whose reward will surely be claimed in heaven.  The only unhappy attendee was the barn owl attempting to roost in the thatch roof of the boma at the TBA Sales Complex.  Or was this another employee of Auction Alliance, signalling bids from the rafters on behalf of Harry Potter and Professor Dumbledor?