While this year has been a tumultuous one for the South African wine and spirits industry, the team behind the awards is determined to continue its 23-year old tradition of providing producers with the opportunity to have their wines and spirits adjudicated locally by a highly experienced and respected panel of professionals from around the globe. This year, for the first time, the competition is inclusive of RTD (ready-to-drinks) as well as canned wine, in addition to the traditional wine and spirits categories.
Founder and organizer of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards, Lorraine Immelman, says: “We know that this year we will have to deal with a myriad logistical challenges brought along by global Covid-19 restrictions, but we are determined to proceed with the 24th Michelangelo with the minimum disruption to all stakeholders. Since the inception of the awards, we have not only sought to discover incredible wines and spirits, but to support local producers – something which is needed now more than ever!”
“We are proud to have been able to provide tangible market support and will continue to do so, both now and in the future,” adds Mynard Slabbert, business development manager of the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards. “We remain dedicated to increasing sales, marketing and reach for our participants. Through our strategic partnerships with sponsors in various industries, we will carry on stimulating new sales channels and building producers’ brands.”
Asked why Boplaas Family Vineyards continues to enter the awards year after year, Marketing Manager, Rozanne Nel shares: “The Michelangelo Awards are one of the most important competitions for us because they have a wide range of different categories which we value because we produce whiskey, fortified wines, as well as red and white wines. It's the only competition that covers all these categories.”
She continues: “The medal stickers also play an important role especially if people don't know the wine products and the brand. The medal stickers on award-winning bottles offer consumers a lot of information regarding the product. Michelangelo’s stickers contribute hugely to building our image and generating additional sales. Last year we won the Bidvest Bank Top Producer Trophy, and promoting this with the aid of a Michelangelo medal sticker on all our bottles really made a massive difference for us.”
A new judge in this year’s awards, Spencer Fondaumiere, who is also vice-chairman and treasurer of the South African Sommeliers Association adds: “There are so many different stickers that a bottle can have, but this is the one that has true pedigree. It has been around for a very long time, so consumers instantly recognise it, and rightfully see it as a mark of excellence.”
All Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards’ stickers carry a QR code which, once scanned on a smartphone, gives consumers information on the product, including tasting notes and the producer’s story. To date these have been collectively scanned in as many as 95 countries around the world.
For Boela Gerber, winemaker at Groot Constantia (which walked off with five awards in last year’s competition, including the Multi Color Corporation Grand Prix Award for Top Scoring Wine), the international judging panel is what sets the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards apart from other competitions in the country. “One of the things that has helped shape our industry since the lifting of economic sanctions in 1992 is international exposure. Through the Michelangelo, we get international judges to adjudicate and give feedback on our wines from an international perspective. Winning an award from that panel is a nod which shows us that we are on the right path.”
The entry fee for this year’s Awards will remain unchanged, namely R1 150,00 (&VAT) per entry.
To enter, or for more information, go to www.michelangeloawards.com.
Please keep an eye on all Michelangelo International Wine & Spirit Awards Facebook and Twitter pages for the latest updates.