Wine
Guild auction to attract big bids
The biggest selection of wines in the 29-year history of the Cape Winemakers Guild auction, to be held on Saturday, is expected to attract bids from all over the world. This year, for the second time, bidding online in real time will take place, opening the door to previously untapped demand. Online bidding was introduced successfully on a trial basis for the first time last year and sales are expected to increase this year. Bidders will compete for the small volumes of unique wines crafted exclusively for the auction by guild members, which are all rare collectors’ items. The sale normally attracts regular trade buyers, of whom Alan Pick of the Butcher Shop and Grill in Sandton has been the biggest spender for the last eleven years. Francois Rautenbach, who buys for the five-star Singita game lodges, said he chose the guild’s wines for their proven track record, limited volumes and the high reputation of the winemakers. Cobus du Plessis of restaurant Mosaic at the Orient boutique hotel near Pretoria said he bought them to offer a wine list of diversity, depth and quality. – Audrey D’Angelo
Wine
US retailer to boost exports
Whole Foods Market, one of the largest retail chains in the US, with more than 340 stores, is giving a major boost to South African wine exports through a countrywide “Point of Origin” campaign that will run until the end of October. South African wine producers have battled for years to secure a larger share of the huge North American wine market, in which they compete with the domestic industry. South African wines have also been handicapped by an image of being cheap plonk although this is changing, partly through the efforts of Cape Classics, which has been importing high-quality wines to the US. Whole Foods Market is currently highlighting the Indaba Sauvignon Blanc 2012 and De Morgenzon’s DMZ Chardonnay 2012 as wines from the region that offer the fruity style now popular in the US. – Audrey D’Angelo
Defence
Denel unit joins space society
Denel’s new space engineering unit, Spaceteq, was inducted into the International Astronautical Federation (IAF) on Monday, the company said. The event took place at the 64th annual International Astronautical Congress currently under way in Beijing, China, spokeswoman Vuyelwa Qinga said. “This formal induction and membership into the IAF will assist Spaceteq to successfully enter the space industry with greater insight and establish international networks,” Denel Dynamics chief executive Tsepo Monaheng said. – Sapa
Aviation
Rivals aim to fight FlySafair
South Africa’s latest low-cost airline, FlySafair, had started selling tickets despite a competitor threatening court action against it, Beeld reported yesterday. The airline started selling tickets online on Monday, with a one-way ticket from Johannesburg to Cape Town costing R798. Executive head Dave Andrew said it planned to have ten flights a day between the two cities when it started operating on October 17. But competitor Comair and other parties have indicated they wanted to secure an interdict against FlySafair, apparently because it did not meet all the required regulations to operate. – Sapa