The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards was established in 1997 to offer South African producers the opportunity of having their wines adjudicated locally by a highly experienced and respected panel of professionals from around the globe. Our primary objective was – and to a great extent still remains – to support local wine and spirits producers who are targeting international markets for exports and, through our international judges, are able to determine whether their wines will be well received both abroad and locally.
Since 2003 the competition has received an increasing number of entries from international wine producers; 2003 marked the start of a new era for the competition when the Michelangelo International Wine Awards moved to Stellenbosch, the main wine producing area of South Africa. During that year the organisers introduced the first of a number of trophies, namely the Grand Prix trophy for the top scoring wine, the Pinotage trophy and a trophy for the best Garagiste (Boutique) wine entered into the competition.
Now, in its 26th year, Africa’s largest wine and spirits competition, Michelangelo remains unique in Africa, in that all judges are hand-picked wine experts, hailing from five different continents. Since the start of the competition in 1997, more than 263 individual judges from 47 countries have served on the panels. All entries are judged blind by panels of 5 judges, using the 100-point international recognised OIV judging system.
De Kleine Schorre: the winner
On Saturday the 23rd of July I had a dayflight from Amsterdam to Cape Town and had a chat with some members of the cabin crew. I spoke about the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards and to taste for this competition. The crew members gave me the opportunity to have a small tasting of “De Kleine Schorre 2021” and the Montes Chardonnay 2019. The wine from the Netherlands is really great! It’s a a delicious fresh fruity blend (auxerrois, rivaner, pinot blanc). From the red wines is Ken Forrester Wines Pat’s Garden Reserve Red 2018 by far the winner. It’s a great wine from Stellenbosch South Africa. Also a blend: merlot, cabernet sauvignon and others. The Champagne, Brut Réserve, from Nicolas Feuillatte is a great refreshing sparkling! A well made blend from pinot noir (40%), chardonnay (40%) and pinot meunier (20%). Thanks a lot KLM cabin crew for this tasting!
Chris Alblas, judge Michelangelo Internationale Wine & Spirits Awards
