From the Desk of the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards

Thursday, 24 May, 2018
Michelangelo International Awards
As everyone predicted, the 2018 South African wine harvest was substantially lower than its average figure due to the ongoing drought in the Western Cape. This year saw 15% fewer grapes reaching the cellars than last year, with about 170m litres less wine being made than 2017.

No doubt this significant shortfall is going to have a knock-on effect in the South African wine industry, with prices to consumers expected to rise between 8% and 11%.  I’d say it’s about time, as anybody involved at the coal-face will tell you our wines have been too cheap, for too long. And this includes the local as well as the export market.

At the information session announcing the state of the 2018 harvest, industry body Vinpro highlighted two aspects I deem important to repeat.

Firstly, that the harvest could have been much lower had it not been for the knowledge, skill and tenacity of South Africa’s wine makers and grape farmers. Expecting a dry year, they employed real farming expertise in terms of managing the limited amount of water available for irrigation as well as ensuring canopies and vine growth were controlled to ensure minimum damage in these conditions.

The saying goes, “’n boer maak ’n plan” and had the plans been absent, Vinpro says, the crop could have fallen far greater with even more sombre implications.

On a more positive note -  and this is the second take-out from Vinpro’s session - is that wine quality is expected to be superb this year. For it might have been dry, but cool nights and mild days during harvest saw the admittedly fewer bunches of grapes reaching the cellar in rude health. This especially for the red grape varieties that were subjected to longer hang-time before reaching optimal phenolic ripeness.

As organisers of South Africa’s only true international wine and spirits competition, we at Michelangelo are tremendously proud at the way the country’s wine farmers and grape growers have reacted to the challenge nature has thrown at them. It shows a real understanding of the various wine regions’ terroir, as well as the kind of natural wine farming instinct South Africans should be proud of. No wonder that we are respected by the French vignerons who say they can relate to South African wine farmers “because like us, you too are true sons of the soil”. (Please add “daughters”, monsieur, as our women wine makers are making their presence known!)

Here at Michelangelo HQ we are getting our systems in place for this year’s competition, which opens for entries on 1 June. And like 2017, there are a couple of new features to look forward to. These include exciting technology as well as our adding value to producers who enter the competition through boutique shows and tailored food and wine tastings. All to be revealed shortly in this space!

That’s why I am writing this – the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards is no longer an annual once-off affair. We are consistently looking at ways to improve the competition experience for producers taking part through offering exposure and business opportunities. With the quality of the wines and spirits they are making, they deserve only the very best from us.

Lorraine Immelman
CEO and owner of the Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards

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Lorraine Immelmann
Lorraine Immelmann



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