My year of wine: Quest for the wine divine

On the first floor of one of the big four banks, deep in the heart of Sandton, I tasted, spitting and drinking, the products of long hours of fine winemaking early Wednesday afternoon.

The responsible wine-makers, members of the Cape Winemakers Guild, explained their wares to me and to potential bidders at their auction next month.

The 45 winemakers (43 men and two women) gather eight to 10 times a year to taste wines from around the world, raise funds for a development trust to help transform the industry, and make the best wine they can for their annual auction. Last year their wines fetched an average price of R2609 for a case of six bottles .

We heard stories from the King of Cab, Etienne le Riche. Abrie Beesleer spoke on the effect of wind speed and Peter Finlayson spoke on cool temperatures.

So what did we drink? Graham Beck Non Plus Ultra Cap Classique 2008 started us off. The perfectly delicious bubbly was followed by 14 white wines, 27 reds and Boplaas's Ouma Cloete Straw Wine 2013.

I kept track of the whites, predictably (for me) preferring the chenins to the others, and lost my way with the reds. Danie Steytler's Kaapzicht CWG 1947 Chenin Blanc 2013 was one of my favourite wines of the day. My better-informed, actuarial scientist neighbour said the Cederberg Teen Die Hoog Shiraz 2012 was his best wine of the tasting.

For someone less informed, like me, it's easy to be persuaded by personality and a good story rather than by your palate.

What I learnt: I know too little about reds and I want to make wines and handpick the grapes, like Bartho Eksteen did for his Vloekskoot Sauvignon Blanc 2013.

• The Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction takes place at Spier in Stellenbosch on October 4