About us
In 2014 The Cape Wine Auction Trust was established, with Wendy Appelbaum, Michael Jordaan, Ken Kinsey-Quick, Mike Ratcliffe and Siobhan Thompson appointed as Trustees. Their vision – to support education in the wine lands by raising money through the hosting the Cape Wine Auction – a top-drawer two-day glamorous event that celebrates, on a global stage, South Africa’s vinous offering in line with uniting the industry around a common philanthropic goal. The outcome – to channel all of that cash back into the area that needs it most – education.
The first Cape Wine Auction was held at Delaire Graff Wine Estate back in 2014 with over R7 million raised. Four beneficiary organisations were funded.
The Cape Wine Auction 2023, in partnership with Mastercard, raised close to R8 million for charity at this year’s event, and has now accumulated over R125 million since the first auction took place in 2014. Funds are allocated to our partners who make a profound impact on education and the lives of children in the Cape Winelands. Managed by the Auction Trust, a Partners Conference has been established where our partners get to know each other, learn from each other and support one another. This collaborative mindset has already resulted in enormous impact and increased efficiencies.
The next Cape Wine Auction will be held in 2024 (date to be confirmed). We invite you to join us and support us so that together we can continue to inspire a wave of change in the lives of the children in the Cape winelands. As Nelson Mandela said “Education is the most powerful weapon which can be used to change the world”.
WHAT MAKES THE CWA TRUST DIFFERENT?
1) 100% of all donations go directly to beneficiaries.
2) Strategically selected beneficiaries who are all the leaders in their field within the education landscape.
3) These beneficiaries form part of a unique model of beneficiary collaboration and best-practice sharing to accelerate impact and efficiency.
4) A board of Trustees with extensive corporate, philanthropic and entrepreneurial experience work with a full-time Trust Facilitator who strategically monitors impact and needs.
THE JOURNEY SO FAR
2014
The Cape Wine Auction Trust is established. Wendy Appelbaum, Michael Jordaan, Ken Kinsey-Quick, Mike Ratcliffe and Siobhan Thompson are appointed as Trustees.
First Cape Wine Auction takes place at Delaire Graff Wine Estate. R7,045 million is raised. Four beneficiary organisations are funded.
2015
Second Cape Wine Auction takes place at Boschendal Wine Estate. Every philanthropic fundraising record in South Africa is broken with R10 million raised on the day.
A Trust Facilitator is appointed and the first beneficiary workshop takes place in Franschhoek. The 19 beneficiaries selected by the Trust meet to discuss methods to increase impact and deliver a real return on the money raised.
2016
The third Cape Wine Auction takes place at Klein Constantia Estate. R15 million is raised.
Paul Cluver and Raymond Ndlovu are appointed as Trustees. The 22 beneficiaries selected by the Trust meet at the second Beneficiary Workshop on 22 September. Ideas are shared and relationships are fostered. The donor community is established.
2017
The fourth Cape Wine Auction takes place at Anthonij Rupert Wines in February 2017.
Over R22 million is raised – a new record.
27 Beneficiaries are selected. The third Beneficiary Workshop takes place on Boschendal Estate where experts in the philanthropic field share their expertise with the CWA Trust-funded organisations.
2018
The American Express Barrel Auction takes place at Tokara on 9 February. The fifth Cape Wine Auction takes place at Rustenberg Estate on 10 February.
Over R17 million is raised. 22 beneficiaries selected.
The fourth Beneficiary Workshop takes place on Boschendal Estate where experts in the philanthropic field share their expertise with the CWA Trust-funded organisations.
Iain Banner appointed as a new trustee.
2019
The American Express Barrel Auction takes place at the Norval Foundation on Friday 1 March 2019. The sixth Cape Wine Auction takes place on Saturday 2 March 2019 at Buitenverwachting.
Over R15 million is raised. 28 partners are selected.
The fifth annual Partner Conference takes place at the Rupert Museum – discussing impact, focus and the desperate need for improvement to our Cape Winelands education outcomes.
Dominique Enthoven appointed as a new trustee.
2020
The Friday Night Cape Wine Auction takes place at The Werf Restaurant at Boschendal on Friday 14 February 2020. The seventh Cape Wine Auction takes place on Saturday 15 February 2020 March 2019 at The Olive Press at Boschendal.
Over R17 million is raised at the 2020 Cape Wine Auction and brings the total raised to date to R105 million!
In April and May The CWA Trust, with the help of one of their long-term partners, the Lunchbox Fund, distribute food parcels to almost 5 000 families that have been negatively impacted by the lockdown restrictions in the winelands.
The CWA Trust hosts the sixth annual Partner Conference in September at Spier. The conference was held with small groups with strict Covid protocols applying.
Niclas Kjellström-Matseke appointed as new trustee.
2022
The Cape Wine Auction 2022, in partnership with Mastercard, raised R12 205 000 for charity at this year’s event, and has now accumulated over R117 million since the first auction was held in 2014.
Held at the luxurious Quoin Rock Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on Saturday, February 12, the auction saw guests bidding generously for a collection of once-in-a-lifetime lots.
The day’s highest bid of R1.2 million was for Lot 17, which included a three-night getaway for eight people in the Bazaruto Archipelago at &Beyond Benguerra Island as well as a return private charter flights from Cape Town or Johannesburg and return scenic helicopter transfers from the lodge and Vilanculos. It was sponsored by Spier wine farm.
Other fiercely-contested lots included the Best of British Lot 18 (golf, horseracing and tickets to a Premier League football game), Lot 7 Celebrating Goodness with wine, dining and travel experiences in both South Africa and France, Lot 11 which was a celebration of South African excellence and Lot 14 – a week stay in Tuscany.
The Gift of the Giving Lots also raised a significant amount of money. These are essentially straight-forward donations to charitable causes with no prize/holiday/experience in return and consisted of five R10 000 donations, five R25 000 donations, five R50 000 donations and one donation of R100 000.
2023
The Cape Wine Auction 2023, in partnership with Mastercard, raised close to R8 million for charity at this year’s event, and has now accumulated over R125 million since the first auction took place in 2014.
This year’s auction was held at the magnificent Hazendal Wine Estate in Stellenbosch on Saturday, February 18, with guests bidding competitively, but generously, for a collection of once-in-a-lifetime experiences and unique collector’s items.
Four of the evening’s most sought after lots made up almost half of the total amount raised! Lot 19, a three-night getaway for eight people staying at the lavish &Beyond Benguerra Island in the Bazaruto Archipelago, was sold twice each time for R1 million, while Lot No 20, an ultra-luxurious safari experience for eight people at the award-winning Cheetah Plains in the Sabi Sand Nature Reserve, also went for R1 million.
Another fiercely-contested lot was Lot 21, a five day stay in Paris and two golden seat tickets to the Rugby World Cup final, courtesy of Mastercard, was sold for R600,000.
The Gift of the Giving Lots also raised a significant amount of money. These are essentially straight-forward donations to charitable causes with no prize/holiday/experience in return and consist of five R10 000 donations, five R25 000 donations, five R50 000 donations and one donation of R100 000, a total of R1,27 million.
