VIEW PRESS 2006

  VIEW PRESS 2005

The Michelangelo International Wine Awards, (MIWA) widely regarded as one of the wine competitions with the most credibility in South Africa, announced the results of the 11th annual competition at a glittering gala function at Stellenrust, Stellenbosch on Saturday, 15 September 2007.

The record number of 1438 entries collected a total of 440 medals for 268 producers. Of these 30 were Double Gold, 137 Gold and 273 Silver. In addition, seven trophies were awarded. 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.

The red blend class attracted the most entries, namely 210 of which 68 were awarded medals. The Shiraz class attracted 207 entries, of which 79 received medals, while the Cabernet Sauvignon class attracted 161 of which 50 received medals. This was followed by Pinotage with 94 entries and 25 medals.

Sauvignon Blanc topped the white wine entries with 161 entries and a total of 52 medals.

The Stellenbosch region produced both of the top scoring wines, namely, Hartenberg The Stork Shiraz 2003 which was awarded the Ferroprint Grand Prix Trophy. This exceptional wine was described by the judges as " A wine of great intensity, with velvety texture and gorgeous spicy red fruit - a very well crafted Shiraz."

The runner's up award went to Stellenbosch Hills for their 2007 Sauvignon Blanc.

Sue van Wyk, Cape Wine Master (now living in Australia), and technical director of the judging panel commented that the 2007 Sauvignon Blancs showed much better than the 2006 entries, tasted last year. After tasting all the Pinotage entries Sue was very optimistic about the quality of Pinotage, especially wines from the 2003 vintage. 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.

The Sue van Wyk Pinotage Trophy was clinched by the Rijk's Private Cellar 2003 Pinotage, whilst La Motte Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2007 was awarded the Organic Trophy.

The Good Taste Garagiste trophy went to Leon Engelke for his Unfiltered Cabernet Sauvignon 2006, a wine described by the judges as “a wine with a bright ruby red colour, a ripe black cherry nose leads to a soft, fruity, succulent pallet”. The Michelangelo International Wine Awards is the only wine competition which gives recognition to small Garagiste winemakers.

The Michelangelo Trophy for the Best Organic wine was this year awarded to La Motte for their Pierneef Sauvignon Blanc 2007. "This trophy is very dear to my heart", says MIWA founder and director, Lorraine Immelman-Steyn. "I totally support the world health movement toward the use of less chemicals in all products, and 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 their 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 came out tops as being great wines in their own right.

The Michelangelo Brandy Trophy went to Southern Cape Barry Nephews Potstill Brandy 2003.

A special Golden Oldie award was given this year to the KWV Jerepiko 1953. Judges described this special wine as the unexpected "highlight" of their tasting experience, it being “dark topaz-brown in colour with a green edge. Opulent, ripe fig and nutty scents beguile the senses. A rich, unctuous pallet – what a privilege to taste a wine like this!” This very special wine represents a piece of history – it was made over 54 years ago and finally bottled in the eighties at the KWV premises in Paarl.

Another first this year was the awarding of a Gold medal to a Methode Cap Classique - this honour went to former JC Le Roux winemaker, Melanie van der Merwe's Tanzanite.

The Double Gold Medal winners were: Bellevue Pinotage (Morkel Pinotage 2005), Bon Courage Estate (Bon Courage Red Muscadel 2002), Dasbosch Wine Cellar (Dasbosch Nectar de Provision Colombar 2006), DGB (Bellingham The Maverick Syrah 2005), Durbanville Hills (Caapmans Cabernet Sauvignon/Merlot 2003), Finlayson Family Wines (Edgebaston Shiraz 2004), Groot Eiland Wine Cellar (Groot Eiland Pinotage 2006), Hartenberg Estate (The Stork Shiraz 2003), Kleine Zalze (Vineyard Selection Chenin Blanc Barrel Fermented 2006), Kloovenburg Vineyards (Kloovenburg Shiraz 2005), KWV (KWV Muskadel Jerepiko 1953 and KWV 20 Year Brandy), Longridge Winery (Longridge Merlot 2004), Lourensford (Lourensford Semillon NLH 2005), Nederburg Wines (Nederburg Private Bin Edelkeur 2005 and Nederburg Eminence 2003), Nitida (Nitida Semillon 2006), Nuy Wynkelder (Rooi Muskadel 1998), Raka (Biography Shiraz 2004), Rijk's Private Cellar (Pinotage 2003 and Bravado Red Blend 2002), Southern Cape Vineyards (Barry Nephews Potstill Brandy 2003), Stellenbosch Hills (Stellenbosch Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2007), Stellenzicht (Cellarmaster Release Pinotage 2005), Swartland Winery (Indalo Cabernet Sauvignon 2006), Uva Mira (Uva Mira Cellar Selection Sauvignon Blanc 2007), Waterford Estate (Waterford Cabernet Sauvignon 2004), Wellington Koorperatiewe Wynkelder (Wellington Shiraz Reserve 2003 and Wellington Cabernet Sauvignon 2003), Zorgvliet Wines (Zorgvliet Sauvignon Blanc 2007)

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. Besides Sue van Wyk, this year’s competition was judged by: Geoff Adams, UK; Chris Alblas, Holland; Tony Aspler, Canada; Andy De Brouwer, Belgium; Adriana Etcheberry, Spain; Haim Gan, Israel; Dermot Nolan, Ireland; Herve Pennequin, USA; Juan Carlos Rincon-Dominguez, Columbia; Guiseppe Rizzardi, Italy; Christine Rudman, South Africa; Anne Serres, France; Edwin Soon, Singapore and Antonio Casado Torne, Spain.

Michelangelo double gold & trophy winners

Wilhelm Botha (Hartenberg Viticulturist), Patrick Ngamane (Hartenberg Assistant Winemaker), PG Slabbert (Stellenbosch Hills Winemaker)