The best 20th birthday present – a record number of entries for the 2016 Michelangelo awards!

Wednesday, 31 August, 2016
Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards
“The best 20th birthday present we could have asked for – an increase of almost 10% in entries for the 2016 Michelangelo to a new record of 1829!” So says Michelangelo CEO, Lorraine Immelman, after completion of the six-day judging which took place in Somerset West in mid-August.

Judging panels consisted of judges from 22 countries around the globe and entries this year were received from nine countries outside South Africa, including the Czech Republic, Slovenia, Chile, Lebanon, China, Italy and France. “This confirms the growing recognition of the Michelangelo as an international competition equal to larger competitions in Europe such as the Concourse de Mondial in Brussels and IWSC,” says Lorraine.

From the beginning the aim of the Michelangelo has been to highlight and give credit to South African wines which were selected by foreign wine experts to fare well in export markets – something local wine producers understand and appreciate. However, it is also a huge compliment to be awarded a medal by wine judges who are not only professional and internationally credible, but who also are totally neutral in awarding these accolades. All wines are tasted, blind which makes the awards so much more credible.

Increased entries

Many of the bigger classes such as Pinotage, Shiraz, Cape Blends, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc showed increased entries this year. There was also a marked increase in entries for bubblies, resulting in a total of 91 entries in four classes. Whereas fortified and sweet wines have always represented a substantial portion of Michelangelo entries, 2016 attracted 110 entries.

Inaugural spirits judging

For the first time this year the Michelangelo accepted white spirits for judging, including vodka, gin and rum. Joining the brandy and spirits panel chaired by Dave Hughes, were spirits consultant Kristina Wolf from Germany and brandy and spirits specialist Chris Alblas from the Netherlands. Kristina owns and runs a spirits shop in Berlin, where she trades in more than 700 different spirits including gin, rum, whisky and cognac.  Local judges Winnie Bowman and Dr Andy Roediger  joined the spirits panel, which also judged the liqueur and brandy awards.

The results will be announced at the awards ceremony on 26 September 2016.