This year a platinum tier and two additional trophies were introduced to the competition. African Cellar Suppliers sponsors the Best Method Cap Classique Trophy and The Toneleria Naçional Best Pinotage Coffee Trophy.
The platinum tier has been added above the Gran d'Or medals for superior wines scoring higher than 98 points. To muster a platinum medal is a significant achievement and honours exceptional quality. A total of 1,415 entries were received and only three entrants; Kleine Zalze, Saronsberg Cellar and Grundheim Wines, can boast a platinum medal for 2013.
A panel of 16 wine and brandy specialists from 15 countries judged the entries from the 12th to the 17th of August at Romond Vineyards in Somerset West. Since the competition's inception more than 160 international wine experts from 37 countries have served on the judging panels.
'The Michelangelo competition offers value to their entrants,' says Lorraine Immelman, founder and owner of the Michelangelo International Wine Awards, adding, 'The competition provides a platform for local wines to be judged by a panel of international judges on local soil and to compete against entries from other countries.' This year international entries were received from Chile, Italy, New Zealand.
Technical director for the Awards, Sue van Wyk CWM from Australia, said several judges commented on the improved quality of the Chenin Blancs and Pinotage, further stating that these wines' high standard provides a platform for the industry to build local and international markets. South African Shiraz always impressive an this year was no exception. Other categories that impressed the judges were Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Apart from the three platinum medals, 58 gran d'or medals were awarded, 197 gold and 235 silver. According to the competition rules no bronze medals are awarded and only the top third of entrants are awarded a medal.
The Sauvignon Blanc class received the most entries, namely a record number of 173; awarded seven gran d'or, 20 gold and 33 silver medals. The Pinotage category received 107 entries and walked away with an impressive ten gran d'or medal winners, thereby leading the run and followed by Shiraz's eight. This year saw a record number of 161 Shiraz entries, apart from the gran d'or medals received also being honoured with 21 gold and 31 silver medals.
The trophy winners
This year two new trophies were introduced into the competition. African Cellar Suppliers has come on board as sponsor for the Best Method Cap Classique Trophy and Domaine des Dieux walked away with this honour for their Domaine des Dieux Rose of Sharon 2008. The Toneleria Naçional Best Pinotage Coffee Trophy was awarded to Boland Cellar’s Cappupino Ccinotage 2012.
Building on last year's success Stellenrust Estate received the Best Fairtrade Red Wine Trophy for their Stellenrust Cabernet Franc 2010.
The coveted Rotolabel Grand Prix Trophy is awarded by the judges as their collective best entry and this year the Boschkloof Syrah 2010 which were honoured with this trophy.
The trophy winners:
|
Rotolabel Grand Prix Trophy
|
Boschkloof Wines
Boschkloof Syrah 2010
|
|
RX South
Africa Organic Trophy
|
Laibach
Vineyards
Woolworths White Ladybird Chardonnay
|
|
Garagiste Trophy
|
Topaz
Wine Company
Topaz
Shiraz/Mourvédre 2012
|
|
Sue van
Wyk Pinotage Trophy
|
Wildekrans Wine Estate
Barrel
Select Reserve Pinotage 2011
|
|
Grotto
Trophy Top Producer Trophy
|
Perdeberg Winery
|
|
Golden
Oldie Trophy
|
Welbedacht Wine Estate
Chenin
Blanc 2005
|
|
Brandy
Trophy
|
Distell
Pty
Van
Ryn’s Fine Cask Reserve 15 Year Old
|
|
AfriRack
Best Dessert Wine Trophy
|
Grundheim Wines
Grundheim Rosyntjiewyn 2011
|
|
Best
International Entry
|
Villa
Maria Estate
Reserve
Gimblett Gravels Hawks Bay Syrah 2009
|
|
Best
Fairtrade Red Wine Trophy
|
Stellenrust Estate
Stellenrust Cabernet Franc 2010
|
|
Best
Fairtrade White Wine Trophy
|
Koopmanskloof Wingerde
Koopmanskloof Chardonnay 2013
|
|
Tonnellerie de Mercurey Best Bordeaux Style Red Blend Trophy
|
Grande
Provence
Grand
Provence 2009
|
|
Toneleria Naçional Coffee Pinotage Trophy
|
Boland
Cellar
Cappupino Ccinotage 2012
|
|
African
Cellars Suppliers MCC Trophy
|
Domaine
des Dieux
Domaine
des Dieux Rose of Sharon 2008
|
Medal winners
All entries were judged blind using the 100-point system. The judging process and all results were audited by DDI Financial Solutions.
The following wines were awarded Platinum medals:
|
Estate
|
Wine
|
Vintage
|
|
Kleine
Zalze
|
Vineyard
Selection Chardonnay
|
2012
|
|
Saronsberg Cellar
|
Saronsberg Full Circle
|
2011
|
|
Grundheim Wyne
|
Grundheim Rosyntjiewyn
|
2011
|
The following wines were awarded Grand D'Or medals:
|
Estate
|
Wine
|
Vintage
|
|
Anura
|
Anura
Pinotage Reserve
|
2011
|
|
Bergsig
Estate
|
Bergsig
Icarus
|
2010
|
|
Beyerskloof
|
Beyerskloof Diesel Pinotage
|
2011
|
|
Boland
Cellar
|
Cappupino Ccinotage
|
2012
|
|
Boplaas
Family Vineyards
|
Boplaas
Cape Tawny Vintners Reserve
|
NV
|
|
Boplaas
Family Vineyards
|
Boplaas
GAMKA
|
2012
|
|
Boschkloof
|
Boschkloof Syrah
|
2010
|
|
Checkers
Odd Bins
|
Odd Bins
Bin 242 Sauvignon Blanc
|
2013
|
|
Checkers
Odd Bins
|
Odd Bins
Bin 239 Sauvignon Blanc
|
2013
|
|
Clos
Malverne
|
Clos
Malverne Pinotage Reserve
|
2011
|
|
Conradie
Family Vineyards
|
Conradie
Family Vineyards Pinotage
|
2012
|
|
De
Grendel
|
De
Grendel Shiraz
|
2011
|
|
De
Wetshof Estate
|
Danie de
Wet Nature in Concert Pinot Noir
|
2009
|
|
Diemersdal Wine Estate
|
Diemersdal Chardonnay Unwooded
|
2013
|
|
Domaine
des Dieux
|
Rosé of
Sharon MCC
|
2008
|
|
Durbanville Hills Wines
|
Rhinofields Sauvignon Blanc
|
2013
|
|
Durbanville Hills Wines
|
Rhinofields NLH
|
2012
|
|
Excelsior Wine Estate
|
Excelsior Viognier
|
2013
|
|
Flagstone
|
Flagstone Music Room
|
2010
|
|
Fort
Simon
|
Fort
Simon Shiraz
|
2009
|
|
Goudini
Wine Cellar
|
Goudini
Unwooded Chardonnay
|
2013
|
|
Grande
Provence
|
Grande
Provence Red Blend
|
2009
|
|
Groot
Constantia Wine Estate
|
Grand
Constance
|
2010
|
|
Hidden
Valley Wines
|
Hidden
Valley Shiraz/Tannat
|
2011
|
|
Journey's End
|
Journey's End Shiraz
|
2007
|
|
Klein
Doolhof
|
Klein
Doolhof Chenin Blanc
|
2012
|
|
Kleine
Zalze
|
Vineyard
Selection Shiraz Mourvédre Viognier
|
2011
|
|
Koelfontein Estate
|
Koelfontein Chardonnay
|
2011
|
|
Koopmanskloof Wingerde
|
Chardonnay
|
2013
|
|
La
Petite Ferme
|
La
Petite Ferme Merlot
|
2012
|
|
L'Avenir
|
L'Avenir
Grand Vin Pinotage
|
2010
|
|
Lazanou
Organic Vineyards
|
Lazanou
Viognier
|
2013
|
|
Linton
Park Wines
|
Linton
Park Chardonnay
|
2013
|
|
Lutzville Vineyards
|
Lutzville Francois le Vaillant NLH
|
2012
|
|
Lutzville Vineyards
|
Diamond
Collection Chenin Blanc
|
2012
|
|
Maastricht Wines
|
Maastricht Pinot Noir
|
2012
|
|
Marianne
Wine Estate
|
Marianne
Merlot
|
2009
|
|
Nitida
Cellars
|
Nitida
Calligraphy
|
2011
|
|
Noble
Hill Wine Estate
|
Bloem
Syrah, Mourvédre
|
2012
|
|
Ormonde
Vineyards
|
Ondine
Cabernet Franc
|
2009
|
|
Perdeberg Winery
|
The Dry
Land Collection Pinotage
|
2011
|
|
Pulpit
Rock
|
Pulpit
Rock Pinotage Reserve
|
2012
|
|
Rickety
Bridge Winery
|
Paulina's Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
|
2012
|
|
Rijk's
Private Cellar
|
Rijk's
Private Cellar Chenin Blanc
|
2009
|
|
Robertson Winery
|
Retreat
Sauvignon Blanc
|
2010
|
|
Rosendal
Winery
|
Rosendal
Barony August Cabernet Sauvignon
|
2011
|
|
Rustenberg Wines
|
Rustenberg Stellenbosch Buzzard Kloof Syrah
|
2010
|
|
Star
Hill
|
Star
Hill Sauvignon Blanc
|
2012
|
|
Topaz
Wine Company
|
Topaz
Shiraz/Mourvédre
|
2012
|
|
Val du
Charron Wine & Olive Estate
|
VDC
Chardonnay
|
2012
|
|
Van Ryn
|
Van Ryn
Fine Cask Reserve 15 Year Old Brandy
|
|
|
Villa
Maria New Zealand
|
Villa
Maria Reserve Gimblett Gravels
Hawkes Bay Syrah
|
2009
|
|
Vintners
Drift
|
Vintners
Drift Shiraz
|
2011
|
|
Welbedacht Wine Estate
|
Welbedacht Wine Estate Cricket Patch
|
2008
|
|
Wellington Wines
|
Wellington Wines La Cave Shiraz
|
2010
|
|
Wildekrans Wine Estate
|
Pinotage
Barrel Select Reserve
|
2011
|
|
Windmeul
Kelder
|
Windmeul Chenin Blanc Reserve
|
2012
|
|
Wonderfontein
|
La Bonne
Vigne Sauvignon Blanc
|
2013
|
This year the judging panel consisted of 16 judges from fifteen different countries. The 2013 judges were:
1. Andrej Ondrejmiska, Slovakia
2. Chris Albas, Netherlands
3. Christine Austin, United Kingdom
4. Christine Rudman CWM, South Africa
5. Christoph Merchiers, Belgium
6. Dominique Rizzi, Luxembourg
7. Geoffrey Adams, United Kingdom
8. Joelle Thomson, New Zealand
9. Liam Campbell, Ireland
10. Maria Katsouli, Greece
11. Ralf Bengel, Germany
12. Reva K. Singh, India
13.&