The 28th Annual Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards culminated in a spectacular celebration on 30 August 2024, at the Southern Sun Cape Sun in Cape Town. Located a short walk from the vibrant Bo Kaap, the CTICC, as well as Bree and Long Street, the Southern Sun Cape Sun combines city center convenience with contemporary comfort, offering all the amenities needed for business or leisure.
An evening of glitz and glamour, and a ode to the resilient wine industry, the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards are considered one of the most prestigious wine awards in the world, so it was only fitting that the dress code was black tie. The Michelangelo Awards offer a platform to distinguish your brand and achieve recognition that can drive sales and brand loyalty. The over 1.5k brands that entered, definitely seized that opportunity!
Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards – A Legacy of Excellence
Reflecting on the competition’s journey, it’s remarkable to think that 28 years have passed since Michelangelo’s inception in 1997. What began as a modest initiative now stands as Africa’s largest wine and spirits competition, and one of the most respected globally. The Michelangelo Awards remains unique on the continent, with all judges being hand-picked experts from five different continents. Since its inception, more than 288 individual judges from 56 countries have participated, ensuring a rigorous and diverse evaluation process.
The 2024 judging week took place from July 22nd to 26th at the stunning Lourensford Wine Estate in Somerset West, a setting befitting the grandeur of the Michelangelo Awards. This year, the tasting panel consisted of 24 judges—17 international and 7 South African experts—led by technical director Dr. Winnie Bowman. The commitment and expertise of the judges ensure that only the top third of entries are awarded medals, based on the 100-point international judging system.
Celebrating the Top Achievers
This year’s Michelangelo Awards saw 1,555 entries, including 1,388 wines and 167 spirits, representing 7 countries. With 689 winners across 63 classes, the competition was fierce, particularly in the Sauvignon Blanc, Shiraz, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon categories. Notably, the 2024 competition introduced two special Old Vine Project awards for the top-scoring certified white and red wines.
A total of 33 Platinum medals were awarded, a mark of exceptional quality, with products needing to score 96 points or more out of 100 to earn this honour.
The Award Stats
This year, there are 3 Grand Prix Award Winners, 21 Trophy, 33 Platinum, 182 Double Gold, 391 Gold, and 83 silver.
The Top Producer for 2024:
The 2024 Top Producer Trophy sponsored by Vinlog, powered by Kuehne & Nagel went to Durbanville Hills
The Grand Prix Trophies:
This year Michelangelo Awards allocated three Grand Prix trophies for the following classes:
Dessert Wine Grand Prix, Spirits Grand Prix &, Wine Grand Prix.
- The Michelangelo Dessert Wine Grand Prix Trophy went to Botha Cellar for their 2016 Late Bottled Vintage
- The Michelangelo Spirits Grand Prix Trophy went to Three Ships Cape Ruby Cask Finish Aged 13 Years
- The Wine Grand Prix Trophy Sponsored by Southern Sun went to Kleine Zalze for their 2022 Family Reserve Sauvignon Blanc
The full results are available on the Michelangelo website. Additionally, the Awards Video will be accessible on their YouTube channel.
A New Era of Elegance
In our commitment to evolving with the times, Michelangelo has unveiled a sleek, modern new look for its award stickers this year. These redesigned emblems reflect the contemporary elegance of the Michelangelo brand, ensuring that every bottle wearing its mark is adorned with style, class, and finesse. The stickers are available for download online for digital use.
Stickers can be ordered online via www.maiwsa.co.za/entry
