Today marks the opening of Vista Nova School auctions on bidorbuy.

The generous friends of this non-profit organization have been hard at work. They listed almost one hundred items, ranging from art to travel. We urge you to stop by Vista Nova’s virtual stall on bidorbuy and place your bid. You are likely to get some excellent deals. You will also help raise funds for the Vista Nova School for children with cerebral palsy and other physical or learning disabilities in the Western Cape region.

And the items that the Friends of Vista Nova are offering are indeed wonderful. There is a six-month subscription to a well-known women’s magazine. There are the practical bathroom racks, lovely decorative prints, a beautiful Afghan kilim, an irresistible kiddie’s chair, a diamond and white gold necklace, a heap of holiday-related vouchers, and much more.

Above all, there are wines. Some twenty-odd cases, each containing six bottles of this diving beverage, are up for grabs. There are cases of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Rose, among other. Most of the wines are from renowned South African wine estates: Tokara, Villiera, David Frost, Avontuur, Constantia Uitsig, Welmoed, Cabriere, De Trafford, Windmeul, Zandvliet and Van Loveren. Several are from Italy, like the enticingly named Zaccagnini Il Bianco di Ciccio.

When you buy a case or two and invite friends over for tasting – for drinking wine is inherently a social experience – bear in mind a hint or two.

Firstly, remember to serve the wine in proper glassware. Wine glasses with larger, broader bowls are used for bold red wines with rich bouquets, while narrower wine glasses are used to concentrate the more delicate aromas of lighter white wines.

Secondly, remember to hold the glass by the stem, so that your hand does not heat the wine. If your friends are doing it wrong, avoid embarrassing them; instead, take them aside one by one and enlighten them.

Thirdly, remember not to drink and bid!