Metro FM DJ and businessman Thabo “Tbo Touch” Molefe made a spectacular debut of his TouchWarwick wine with the bottle selling for a staggering R1.3-million.
The creation of two families, Ratcliffes and Molefes, the cabernet sauvignon vintage bottle was auctioned off on Saturday at The AfriAsia Cape Wine Auction at Klein Constantia farm.
Molefe said the secret behind the success of TouchWarwick was in its making. He said the blending of the wine was given a thumbs up by some 15 sommeliers across the country.
“They gave it a five-star rating and that’s affirmation from the highest society,” he said.
On a personal level, Molefe, who comes from Sharpeville in the Vaal, sees this as a milestone.
“There are no winemakers from Sharpeville, but there are revolutionaries. I’m revolutionising the space I am. This is a reflection of corporate SA post-Mandela, a partnership of two families coming together and pooling their resources.”
Molefe said the TouchWarwick joint venture started in 2013.
The affair was wall-to-wall with South Africa’s A-listers such as Minister of Sport Fikile Mbalula, premium fashion designer David Tlale, Olympian Ryk Neethling, businesswoman Wendy Applebaum and Norma Ratcliffe, who is the first female winemaker winner.
The bidding for the 750ml bottle opened at R50000 with over 100 hands in the air. As auctioneer Dan Nicoll reached the R800000 mark, the tension in the room mounted, leaving just four contenders to battle it out.
In the end it was businessman Sello Rasethaba, executive director at Mediterranean Shipping Company, who made history and coughed up the R1.3-million – the highest price for a bottle of wine in South Africa at an auction.
The 2016 AfriAsia Cape Wine Auction raised a total of R15-million to educate children in the Western Cape.
Source: Sowetan Live