8 Strauss & Co, Johannesburg Sunday 26 July 2020 Session 1 at 11 am South African Fine Wine Lots 1–130 Higgo Jacobs Roland Peens Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auctions is a ground-breaking Higgo Jacobs, Auction Curator and Wine Specialist Roland Peens, Wine Specialist and Director of venture between leading South African retailer Wine Higgo Jacobs’s experience in the wine industry Wine Cellar Cellar, sommelier Higgo Jacobs and Strauss & Co. spans over 20 years. He started by doing harvests Studying economics at the University of Stellenbosch It is no secret that South Africa is undergoing in Stellenbosch in 1998 and 1999, before being meant that Roland was surrounded by wine. He a fine wine renaissance. Interest in vintage South interrupted by a law degree from the University of succumbed to its lures and, as soon as he had finished African wines is at an all-time high, especially as the Stellenbosch. He has experience on either side of his BComm degree, he found his way into the industry. country raises its profile in the local and international the cellar door, first as winemaker’s assistant, then Roland worked in marketing, retail, exports and as wine market. Clearly the time is right to elevate in marketing and sales. Relocating to the UK in a sommelier before joining Wine Cellar Fine Wine South Africa’s finest wines, both old and new, to the 2007, he cut his teeth on the wines of the world, Merchants in 2005. As one of South Africa’s foremost same level of collectability as northern hemisphere working with highly respected wine merchants importers and retailers of fine wine, Wine Cellar wines, as well as professionalise their availability via a Anthony Byrne Fine Wines and Jeroboams of focuses on the traditional regions of Europe as well transparent auction platform. London, and completing studies with the Wine and as on South Africa’s finest wines. Wine Cellar leads The aim of the curated wine sale is simple: to Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and Court of Master the industry in offering the biggest allocations of present prospective buyers and collectors with a Sommeliers certification. South Africa’s most sought-after wines. As a cellaring meticulously sourced sale of rare and esteemed Higgo returned to South Africa in the role of operation, Wine Cellar manages the holdings of 900 South African and international wines. resident sommelier at the five-star Steenberg Hotel customers and some 450 000 bottles, constituting The auction process offers a transparent, in Constantia, after which he began consulting to the arguably, the largest collection of fine wine in South structured and sustainable model for affirming industry. He is the driving force behind a variety of Africa. Wine Cellar has also helped develop the the status of our very finest wines. We have made projects ranging from annual fine wine events and secondary market in South Africa by identifying and absolutely sure that all the wines featured in the auctions, to sommelier education and competitions. brokering local and international vintage wines. Since Strauss & Co Fine Wine Auction come from credible Higgo is a senior judge at the International Wine 2018, various wine investment portfolios have been provenance, properly stored, in order to pass onto Challenge (IWC) and Decanter World Wine Awards. launched, adding 35 000 bottles of South African fine our clients the guarantee that these wines represent He is a founding member and past chairman of the wine to the future secondary market. the pinnacle of rare, properly matured, fine wines. South African Sommelier Association (SASA), which Local and international study, as well as regular does training and development for the profession travel, have added to Roland’s extensive insight in South Africa, as well as a member of by-laws into the wine world. You will find Roland at most of committee of the ASI (Association de le Sommellerie South Africa’s top wine events, judging, learning and Internationale), the international regulatory body for exploring the world of wine, forever expanding his the sommelier profession. palate. Roland has been a taster for Platter’s Guide, ‘The application of strict criteria with regard to Winemag.com and the Nederburg Auction, and quality, provenance and rarity will enable collectors to participated in the world wine tasting championships buy outstanding wines with confidence, in a seamless in Bordeaux in 2013. and highly transparent manner.’ – Higgo Jacobs ‘As prices rise, we have naturally had more brokerage requests. We see a serious opportunity for an open-market auction. No other auction house has the track record and experience in selling fine and rare assets that Strauss & Co brings to the table.’ – Roland Peens 10 Buying Wine at Strauss & Co Provenance definitions + VAT on the buyer’s premium on each winecellar.co.za. Clients are billed with new corks to ensure quality. Where Every effort is made in selecting only lot. quarterly in arrears and wines can be capsules, corks and fill heights still looked the very best, well-stored bottles for viewed or withdrawn at any time via the satisfactory we opted not to disturb the auction. Methods of payment: website. original packaging. a) Electronic Transfer (EFT) Producer – sourced directly from the Current Account For more information, please visit If you are using a regular (screw) opener, producer’s cellars Strauss & Co www.straussart.co.za/strausswine make sure that the screw is inserted into Standard Bank: Killarney or contact Sarah Jordaan via the center of the cork, and make sure Wine Cellar – stored since release in Bank code: 007205 [email protected] or that you go deep enough, otherwise you Wine Cellar’s professional cellars under Current Account No: 001670891 +27 82 922 2594. will only pull out the top half of the cork. optimum conditions Swift address: SBZA ZA JJ Pull upwards very softly and very slowly. b) Credit cards acceptable to Strauss Storage tips and tricks Tools of the trade for easier opening are Private client – sourced from a private & Co: Mastercard, Visa and Diners To ensure that you get the maximum the prong openers, also called the ‘Ah So’ client or stored at a renowned or Club enjoyment out of your purchase, it is for when we expect really fragile corks. commercial cellar. Rigorous tasting and c) Telegraphic Transfer (TT) important that these optimum cellaring Generally, most corks are removed with vetting has been performed by Higgo Remitter to bear all costs conditions are continued, especially if regular bottle openers, as long as it’s Jacobs and the Wine Cellar team. you are considering reselling the wines done slowly and carefully. Insurance in the future. Here are a few important Cataloguing information Wine Cellar covers insurance of R450 pointers on how to store your wines IMPORTANT 1. Descriptions include size, vintage, per 750ml bottle whilst under Wine correctly until you decide to open it. If the cork does disintegrate and a few provenance, background information Cellar management and cellaring. Full pieces fall into the wine, this does not and tasting notes from a highly insurance on transport across South Temperature – Ideal range between 12ºC mean that your wine is spoilt. Simply regarded source, where possible. Africa is included in the transport fee. and 16ºC. The key is avoiding fluctuations. decant the wine with a funnel and sieve, or any clean filter process that you can 2. Estimates are given for all lots and Collections Darkness – Store wines in a dark space, muster. A corked wine is a wine that are based on recent prices achieved Collections can be made during office as light ages wine prematurely. has been sealed with a defective cork for comparable property, taking hours by prior arrangement at Wine and can be a perfectly healthy looking into account quality, condition and Cellar, Unit 4 Prices Park, Nelson Road, Store wine on its side – This position cork in a young wine. Note that a brittle provenance. Estimates are exclusive of Observatory, Western Cape, South Africa. keeps the liquid in touch with the cork. cork does not mean the wine is spoilt. Buyer’s Premium and VAT. Wine Cellar will charge successful bidders The only proof of a wine’s condition is cellaring fees from 4 weeks after the sale. Quiet – Keep free from vibrations and its taste. 3. The reserve is a confidential figure other movements that disturb the between Strauss & Co and the seller Door-to-door delivery sediment. Many red wines and port-style wines below which a lot may not be sold. It Wine Cellar is able to assist in delivering drop a sediment. This is a harmless never exceeds the lower estimate. your successful bid almost anywhere in Humidity – Roughly at around 70%. deposit that actually points to positive South Africa at a fee, depending on the This prevents the cork from shrinking. elements of more natural winemaking If your bid is successful: volume and delivery address. Wine Cellar and less intensive filtration by the All the lots you purchase will be invoiced will also assist with international delivery OPENING OLDER CORKS winemaker. Prevent the sediment from to the name and address that appear on via The Vineyard Connection. Natural corks are a great closure for ageing being poured into your glass by standing the registration form. wines; however, it is wise to expect a cork the bottle in a vertical position for a few Further cellaring in an aged wine (whether white, red or hours before service. You will receive an invoice and payment Wine Cellar is able to continue cellaring fortified) to be brittle and fragile. instructions shortly after the sale. Please your successful bid at Wine Cellar, Unit Very old wines are sensitive to oxidation arrange payment and indicate to Sarah 4 Prices Park, Nelson Road, Observatory, It is hard to predict exactly when a cork and should never be aerated in a Jordaan via [email protected] or +27 Western Cape, South Africa.