The first of two live Barossa Wine Auctions at Chateau Tanunda in the Barossa yesterday saw enthusiastic bidding and record prices paid for some lots.
Presented by Barossa Grape & Wine Association (BGWA) and supported by Langton’s Fine Wines, the first of two live auction events saw a total of 29 lots from the Barossa’s most prestigious wineries go under the hammer.
James March, chief executive of BGWA says, “Today marked a resounding display of confidence and interest in Barossa wine.
“Our region continues to stake a fair claim as Australia’s premier wine region with these results.
“On behalf of all the region’s growers and makers, we are grateful for the sustained support and wish the successful bidders every enjoyment with their new vinous treasures.”
Large format wines made an impressive and formidable display this year, with seven six-litre imperials up for grabs.
A regular standout is the rare imperial of Penfolds Bin 95 Grange, which on its 75th anniversary, sold for $58,250 (including buyer’s premium).
One of only 11 bottled, the collector was an Australian-based collector.
In an extraordinary reflection on the quality of Barossa Grenache, the Torbreck 2010 Les Amis imperial set a new record of a single bottle of Grenache sold in the auction, doubling its estimate with a final sale price of $6,960 (including buyer’s premium)
The Standish Wine Company The Relic Single Vineyard Shiraz Viognier Imperial (6 litre) set an impressive result, reaching 10 times its estimate, at $8,155 (including buyer’s premium).
Eden Valley Riesling again inspired fervent bidding, with the 60 bottle Eden Valley Riesling Collection, Pewsey Vale Vineyard and Peter Lehmann Wigan vertical collections selling well above reserve.
Langton’s Head of Auctions, Tamara Grischy, and Baron of Barossa, Andrew Caillard MW, oversaw the buoyant bidding that made for an exhilarating and fast-paced auction.
Caillard says, “Nothing can stop Barossa. The exhuberance in the room today is a reflection of the resilience of Barossa.
“The generosity of Barossa’s community was returned as bidders from across Australia, buoyed by the confidence in the quality of Barossa’s wines, were willing to dig deep to invest.”
Grischy says, “Barossa has one again shown that their wines are the very benchmark for collectors and wine enthusiasts alike. Prices exceeded catalogue expectation by 35%. Record online bidding pushed in room prices higher than ever!”
The biennial event, first held as an integral part of the Barossa Vintage Festival in 1965, expands in 2021. The Sydney Live event featuring an additional 30 lots takes place on Thursday 29 April.
All lots in the auctions are sourced directly from the region’s wineries’ cellars and winemakers’ collections.
Another first this year was a partnership between the Barossa Wine Auction and technology company Cellr to deliver proof of provenance on all wines in the auction via a unique and digitally interactive experience using near field communication (NFC).
Auction attendees also had a first look at the new Barossa Wine game, an entertaining entry into the Barossa Wine School e-learning platform set for release in mid- 2021.
The Barossa Wine School e-learning platform was made possible through funding by the South Australian Government’s Wine Industry Development Scheme.
A portion of the net proceeds from the auction goes to the BGWA Well-being Fund. Administered by Foundation Barossa, the BGWA Well-being Fund aims to equip better members of the Barossa wine and grape growing community to provide active support for people affected by poor mental health.
An Art and Wine raffle with prizes including artworks by Andrew Holt, Bernadette Kaeding and Dragan Radocaj, paired with wines and a $1,000 collection of Barossa wines, will further support this fund. Tickets are still available for purchase at $20 each at barossawine.com until Sunday 2 May.
• Photo: John Kruger.
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