The results were announced at a glittering gala event at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West on 13 September 2008.

This year 1,342 entries collected a total of 460 medals for 258 producers. Of these 41 were Double Gold, 144 Gold and 275 Silver.

Shiraz wines attracted the most entries - 196 of which eight were awarded double gold medals, 26 gold and 41 silver, followed by Cabernet Sauvignon with 156 entries. Sauvignon Blanc topped the white wine entries with 140 wines entered.

In accordance with the rules of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards a maximum of 30% of the entries may be awarded a medal which adds to the prestige of a wine bearing a Michelangelo medal.

In addition, eight trophies were awarded. The trophy winners are:

The Ferroprint Grand Prix Trophy

Raka Biography Shiraz 2007
This trophy is awarded for the wine with the highest score in the competition. This exceptional wine was described by the judges as "a world class Shiraz" and "a prime example of winemaking excellence".

The RX South Africa Grand Prix Runner's up Trophy

Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2008
This wine was described by the judges as "well-made with an abundance of fresh herbaceous flavours - a benchmark Sauvignon Blanc, with complexity and finesse".

The Wine Tourism News Organic Trophy

La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2008
This is the second consecutive year that the Organic Trophy is awarded to La Motte. "I am very passionate about this award", says MIWA founder and director, Lorraine Immelman-Steyn. "I totally support the worldwide health movement towards the use of fewer chemicals in all products. This trophy proves that organically-made wines can compete with the rest and come out tops."

She pointed out that all entries are judged blind in its respective classes and that entries into the Organic and Garagiste classes are not singled out in any way during the judging process. Both these trophy-winning wines were wines in their own right.

The Sue van Wyk Pinotage Trophy

Marianne Wine Estate for the 2005 Pinotage
The judges described this wine as "a classic style Pinotage with great finesse, well-made and not over-manipulated".

Good Taste Garagiste Trophy

Hofstraat Kelder for the 2007 Renosterbos Shiraz
The Michelangelo International Wine Awards is the only wine competition which gives recognition to small Garagiste winemakers. This is the second time that the Garagiste Trophy was won by Hofstraat - their Shiraz clinched the award in 2006.

Spiegelau Brandy Trophy

KWV 15 Year Old Brandy
"Brandy is a vital part of the South African offering and we have proven that we can compete with the best in the world. South Africa won the trophy for the best brandy in the world six out of nine times at the International Wine and Spirit Competition; we are therefore delighted to pay tribute to fine brandy," said Immelman.

Stellenbosch Wine Routes Golden Oldie Award

Nuy Winery Red Muscadel 1987
According to the judging panel the sweet wines did exceptionally well at this year's competition. "South Africa makes prime examples of sweet wine and from what I could see these wines are sold at very reasonable price points. This is a category that will hopefully become more popular with the consumer, as not only does it offer excellent value for money, but also outstanding quality, said Michel Blanc from France.

Laker & Le Roux Most Innovative Wine On Show Trophy

Blaauwklippen Vineyards BVS Malbec Noble Late Harvest 2007
The judges were astounded with this unique offering from Blaauwklippen. As far as could be established, this is the only Malbec Noble Late Vintage in South-Africa.

Sue van Wyk, Cape Wine Master (now living in Australia), and technical director of the judging panel commented that she had had higher expectations for the Pinotage entries this year than what the results reveal. She expressed the opinion that she is still convinced that Pinotage is the wine that should be the flag bearer for South African red wines, but that producers should be vigilant of not over-manipulating the wines in the cellar.

"Compared to last year, we had very few Pinotage Double Gold winners this year, it might be a vintage related occurrence, but the judges also felt that the use of too much oak should be guarded against," she added. Sue has been on the judging panel for the Michelangelo International Wine Awards since the inception of the competition 12 years ago.

The Double Gold Medal winners were:

Altydgedacht Barbera 2006
Groenendal Andreas 2006
Arabella Shiraz 2007
Babylons Peak Syrah 2006
Bergkelder Fleur du Cap Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Bonnievale Cape Vintage 2005
Boplaas Cape Vintage Reserve Port 2005
Cederberg Chenin Blanc 2008

Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Dombeya Wines Samara 2005
Du Toitskloof Red Muscadel 2008
Fort Simon Chenin Blanc 2007

Grundheim Wit Hond Muskadel Reserve 2004
Hazendal The Last Straw 2005
KWV 15 Year Old Brandy
KWV 20 Year Old Brandy
Landskroon Paul de Villiers Shiraz 2006
Lanzerac Pioneer Pinotage 2006
L'Olivier Non Pareil Sauvignon Blanc 2008
Major's Hill Cabernet Sauvignon 2006
Marianne Pinotage 2005
Marianne Floreal 2005
Nederburg Noble Late Harvest 2007
Nederburg Eminence 2007
Nederburg Winemaster?s Reserve Chenin Blanc 2007
Nederburg Private Bin D234 Sauvignon Blanc 2007
Neethlingshof Lord Neethling Weisser Riesling NLH 2007
Nitida Shiraz 2005
Raka Petit Verdot 2007
Raka Biography 2007
Saronsberg Provenance Shiraz 2006
Saronsberg Shiraz 2006
Seidelberg E Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Stark-Conde Cabernet Sauvignon 2004
Stellenzicht Master Release Shiraz 2004
Thelema Sutherland Chardonnay 2007
Tokara Zondernaam Cabernet Sauvignon 2005
Wellington Chenin Blanc 2008
Windmeul Vintage Port 2005
Windmeul Pinotage Reserve 2007
Windmeul Chenin Blanc 2008

Unlike other South African wine competitions, the Michelangelo International Wine Awards is judged by a panel consisting of international judges plus only one local judge.

The panel of judges were:
Georg Meissner (Germany)
Edouard Desplat (France)
Carlos Zalve (Spain)
Chris Alblas (The Netherlands)
Uros Bolcina (Slovenia)
Michel Blanc (France)
Christine Rudman (South Africa)
Emanuelle Pellucci (Italy)
Jan Rook (The Netherlands)
Yorgos Floudas (Greece)
Sue van Wyk (Australia)
Phillipe Libuda (France)
Freddie Grimwood (Canada)
Margarita Lozano (Spain)
Manuel Moreira (Portugal)
Isabelle Legeron (France)

Caption

From back row - left to right:
Loch Nel (Good Taste Garagiste Trophy - Hofstraat Kelder for the 2007 Renosterbos Shiraz), Juan Slabbert (Stellenbosch Wine Routes Golden Oldie Award for Nuy Winery Red Muscadel 1987), Thys Louw (The RX South Africa Grand Prix Runner's up Trophy for Diemersdal Eight Rows Sauvignon Blanc 2008), Josef & Piet Dreyer (The Ferroprint Grand Prix Trophy for Raka Biography Shiraz 2007), Michael Langenhoven (The Wine Tourism News Organic Trophy for La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2008), Rolf Zeitvogel (Laker & Le Roux Most Innovative Wine On Show Trophy for Blaauwklippen Vineyards BVS Malbec Noble Late Harvest 2007), Wim Smit & Jack de Clerq (Hofstraat), Franck Malassigne (The Sue van Wyk Pinotage Trophy for Marianne Wine Estate for the 2005 Pinotage), Johan von Willich, Kobus Gelderblom (Spiegelau Brandy Trophy for KWV 15 Year Old Brandy)

Click here to view the complete list of the 2008 winners.