On June 22, the LANGTONS x Barossa Australia Fine Wine Auction took place in the majestic surrounds of Crown Sydney’s glistening new Pearl Ballroom. Monumental in scale and sentiment, this live auction event served as the foremost gathering in homage to the Barossa’s most coveted wines. It was a seminal meeting between the craftspeople of the Barossa and the lovers of its greatest wines, forging plenty of memories and seeing high estimates shattered.

When we think of Barossa we reflect on the oldest vines in the world, still on their own root systems, eking fruit from a propitious dynamic of ancient soils, deep root systems, a Mediterranean climate and a deft touch borne of the pursuit of freedom by early Silesian settlers. We think of a younger generation of growers and makers harnessing their own creative license to produce the remarkable. With this in mind, LANGTONS and Barossa Australia sought to cut loose, let the hair down and celebrate Barossan wine.

As we return to our normal lives across the jitters and jerks of the world economy, any sense of trepidation was immediately dashed by the palpable anticipation, excitement and sheer glee among the crowd of several hundred. The mirth was consummated with record-breaking bids and astounding results, shattering the reserve price for virtually every lot of wine. Our host, food journalist and Masterchef judge Melissa Leong, seemed as delighted as she was surprised by the audience’s zeal!

The record-setting lots on the night were impressive in number. They included an eight-bottle suite of Henschke Hill of Grace signed by Stephen & Prue Henschke, proclaimed by Ned Goodwin Master of Wine as 'one of the oldest parcels of Shiraz vines in existence'. With an estimate of $8,800, the hammer price reached a stratospheric $25,960*.

Large formats shone, with a magnum vertical of John Duval Wines Eligo Shiraz, estimated at $3,000 to reach $6,490*.A magnum duo featuring the Classified Outstanding Greenock Creek Roennfeldt Road Shiraz and its Cabernet sibling saw a high estimate of $2,000, and went for $5,900*. A double magnum of the LANGTONS Classified Excellent St Hallett Old Block Shiraz 2016 was estimated at $450, and saw a passionate contingent raise the hammer price to $1,770*.

What would a Barossa-focused auction be without Torbreck and Rockford? A 2015 Torbreck Les Amis Imperial signed by Winemaker Ian Hongell, with an estimate of $2,500, reached $6,018. A 2012 Rockford Basket Press Imperial estimated at $8,000 saw a return of $15,694.

There was also keen interest across the unique experiences on offer, with a drinking and dining experience for nine people at Charles Melton focusing on back vintages of the iconic Nine Popes seeing a $3,500 estimate bloom to an astounding $18,880* hammer price.

While the results exceeded expectations and transcended the economic climate, Barossan winemaker Alex Head posited that the event was ‘wonderful for the Barossa’, returning the region to prime real estate in the capricious world of luxury and fine wine sales. As one of the country’s most important region, intrinsic to external perceptions of Australia as much as it is the best performing in the secondary market, Barossa continues to serve as a vector for fine wine in Australia, but also fine Australian wine in a global context.

Proceeds from Barossan Lots have been redirected to the Barossa Australia Wellbeing Fund, an initiative that actively promotes mental health support in the Barossa community.

A special thank you to our event partners: Barossa Australia, Vintec, Riedel, Coravin, Then our drinks partners were, Champagne Bollinger, Leo Buring, Saltram, Rieslingfreak, and Greenock Creek.

*Figures include Buyer’s Premium