Wines entered into the much acclaimed Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards competition are judged by a panel of esteemed local and international judges, who taste the wines blind and adjudicate according to the international 100-point system. A highly competitive awards system, this competition receives between 1700 and 1800 entries yearly, with wines only awarded a medal if they fall within the top-scoring one-third of entries received, and with only 15 Trophies awarded to wines of exceptional quality.
This year, two Trophies are making their way to the Breedekloof Valley: the Garagiste Trophy was awarded to Stofberg Family Vineyards for its Mia Chenin Blanc 2016, and the Multi Color Corporation Dessert Wine Grand Prix Trophy to Badsberg Wine Cellar for its Badslese 2012.
Stofberg Family Vineyards is a third-generation wine farm, with wines crafted under the expert guidance of winemaker Mariëtte Coetzee (née Stofberg). She comments: “The Mia Chenin Blanc 2016 is a classic example of the exceptional Chenin Blanc that is produced in the Breedekloof Valley, and this particular wine is fresh and vibrant with a lovely, dusty pineapple finish”.
Badsberg Wine Cellar, is on a winning streak following its recent success at the SA Young Wine Awards, and, says cellar master Willie Burger, they couldn’t be more pleased with the reinforcement of the quality message that a Trophy from the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards brings: “The winemaking team is very proud that the Badslese, a Natural Sweet Wine, is following on the success of the 2015 vintage which received a Double Gold Award from this same competition. It is a delicious, finely balanced wine with ample botrytis character from quality Chenin Blanc, and a bit of Hanepoot.” He adds: “We are also very happy to note that red wines from the Breedekloof Valley performed really well in this annual competition, proving that wineries here have access to diverse pockets of really great vines.”
Testament to the notion that the Breedekloof Valley is also home to some of the best Chenin Blanc sites, is the fact that this variety accounts for five of the Michelangelo Awards accrued during the 2016 competition: Grand D’Or Medals were awarded to Bergsig Reserve Chenin Blanc 2015 and Daschbosch Steen 2015 with Silver awarded to Badsberg Barrel Fermented Chenin Blanc 2015, Bergsig Reserve Chenin Blanc 2014 and Daschbosch Steen 2014.
These Chenin Blancs are all bottlings made by Breedekloof Makers, a collaborative initiative which was started by a group of fellow winemakers from the Valley who craft small, boutique productions of Chenin Blanc in limited volumes. Comments Pieter Cronje, from uniWines Vineyards in Breedekloof and member of Breedekloof Makers: “We are very happy to see Chenin Blanc – and many other varieties for that matter - performing so well in this prestigious, internationally acclaimed wine competition, with so many awards made to a single, relatively small wine valley, it is safe to say that wines from the Breedekloof aren’t the best kept secrets in the wine industry any longer!”
Full results as follows:
Trophies
Garagiste Trophy: Stofberg Family Vineyards for Mia Chenin Blanc 2016
Multi Color Corporation Dessert Wine Grand Prix: Badsberg Wine Cellar for Badslese 2012
Platinum
Flagstone
Grand’Or Medals
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Writers Block Pinotage (origin Silkbush Mountain Vineyards)
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2014
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Cape Vintage
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2009
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Bergsig Estate
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Bergsig Reserve Chenin Blanc
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2015
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Bergsig Estate
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Bergsig Cape LBV
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2003
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Deetlefs Wine Estate
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Deetlefs Estate Pinotage
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2013
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Pinotage
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2015
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Quest Heroes Journey 1 Red Blend
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2011
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Jason’s Hill Private Cellar
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Jason’s Hill Cabernet Sauvignon
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2015
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Merwida Vineyards
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Merwida Cabernet Sauvignon
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2015
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Silkbush Mountain Vineyards
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Viognier
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2016
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uniWines Vineyards
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Meander Chenin Sauvignon Blanc
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2016
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uniWines Vineyards
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Daschbosch Steen
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2015
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Gold Medals
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Belladonna
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2014
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Red Muscadel
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2003
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Bergsig Estate
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Bergsig Icarus
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2011
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Botha Kelder
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Botha Kelder Late Bottled Vintage
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2015
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Botha Kelder
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Botha Kelder Cabernet Sauvignon
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2012
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Brëeland
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Olifantsberg Shiraz
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2011
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Red Muscadel
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2014
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Hanepoot Jerepigo
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2014
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Goudini
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Sparkling Brut
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NV
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Goudini
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Merlot
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2015
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Silkbush Mountain Vineyards
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Sauvignon Blanc
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2016
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Slanghoek
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Slanghoek Vin Doux Sparkling Wine
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NV
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Slanghoek
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Slanghoek Private Selection Crème de Chenin
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2014
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Silver Medals
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Chenin Blanc Barrel Fermented
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2015
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Vin Doux
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2015
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Badsberg Wine Cellar
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Badsberg Red Jerepigo
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2014
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Bergsig Estate
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Bergsig Reserve Chenin Blanc
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2014
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Bergsig Estate
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Bergsig Icarus
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2012
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Botha Kelder
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Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon
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2013
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Brëeland
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Breeland Sauvignon Blanc
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2016
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Deetlefs Wine Estate
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Deetlefs Estate Sauvignon Blanc
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2015
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Merlot
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2015
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Du Toitskloof Wines
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Cape Ruby
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2010
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Jason’s Hill Private Cellar
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Jason’s Creek Classic Red
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2015
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Merwida Vineyards
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Merwida Barbera
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2015
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Slanghoek
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Slanghoek Red Muscadel
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2016
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Slanghoek
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Slanghoek Cape Ruby
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2016
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Stofberg Family
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Mia Pinot Noir Rosé
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2016
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uniWines Vineyards
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Daschbosch Steen
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2014
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