Paarl: World Design Capital 2014 NOT

The Nederburg Auction powered effortlessly through R3 million this afternoon as prices rose roughly 90% thanks to huge African interest. SA supermarket buyers has smiles all over their dials as they totted up profits to be made marking up last year’s Auction wines to reflect this year’s prices. While Cape Town is World Design Capital for 2014, judging by the giant desk lamps outside the Auction Press Centre, all is not well in Boland design circles. WDC2014 CEO Alayne Reesburg is expected tomorrow and her opinion of the desk lamps is awaited with anticipation.

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The press centre itself is something of a misnomer this year as the traditional space is shared with bidder registration. The press ranks are seriously depleted, confirming the pathetic state of the industry which has lost its way between thrusting bloggers, undeclared advertorial generators and pay-per-tweeters. Perhaps the dearth of press palates is a reflection of maturity among SA drinkers who do not need laundry lists to make decisions.

Singita sommelier Francois Rautenbach was an enthusiastic buyer of Stellenrust Chenin Blanc, ignoring the “Chenin problem” identified by auctioneer Anthony Barne who struggled to talk-up Raats Chenin. Francois says he can sell Chenin as a Chardonnay replacement to foreign lodge guests and once tasted, they invariably come back for more.