By Ian Neubauer
A lot consisting of three bottles of South Australian wine fetched $145,240 at the Naples Winter Wine Festival in the US state of Florida this week.
The lot included a bottle of Barossa Valley Ares Shiraz, Aphrodite Cabernet Sauvignon and Aerope Grenache — all produced by award winning Barossa Valley winemaker Two Hands.
“Two Hands has a strong following in the United States and this latest achievement confirms we are hitting the mark with our wines,” Two Hands proprietor, Michael Twelftree, told News Ltd. “It’s also excellent recognition for the Australian wine industry and the calibre of our premium wine regions.”
Proceeds from the Naples Winter Wine Festival’s auction go directly to children’s charities in the US, including hospitals, foster care councils, childcare centres, YMCAs, migrant associations, and shelters for abused women and children. In its eight year history the festival has raised $77 million, making it the most successful charity wine auction in the world.
“It is a great cause for the children,” winning bidder of the Two Hands lot, Harry Avant, told the Naples Daily News. “We are really happy to be here.”