User:Lorraineimmelman/Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards (MIWA)

The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards
The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards (MIWSA) is held annually in Stellenbosch in the Western Cape, South Africa. The competition was founded in 1997 by Marketing and Public Relations graduate and wine enthusiast, Lorraine Immelman, to create an opportunity for both local and foreign producers who want to submit their wines and spirits appraised by international specialists.

The competition is considered particularly exacting when it comes to consistency, standards and number of awards and uses only accredited wine judges from around the world to judge entries.

Growing from only 146 entries in it's first year (1997), the competition attracted 1385 entries in 2011 and a new record of 1730 entries in 2014. The wine, brandy and liqueur entries are received from South African producers as well as from producers spanning the globe, including France, Spain, Italy, Bulgaria and the Czech Republic in Europe; North and South America (Argentina, Mexico, Chile; the Californian Napa Valley and Canada); Australia, New Zealand and in Africa (besides South Africa), Lebanon and Kenya.

Judges
Between 18 and 22 international wine experts are hand-picked from countries around the globe to judge on the Michelangelo panels every year. To date 43 countries - representing all seven continents - have been represented by 165 different judges on the Michelangelo panels. Of them, many are Masters of Wine in their respective countries; others are distillers, sommeliers, wine makers, importers and distributors.

The 2015 panel is made up of the following judges:

1.	Christine Austin (UK)

2.Dave Hughes CWM (South Africa)

3.	Denis Garrett (France)

4.Eduardo Viotti(Brazil)

5.Gérard Chaussee (France)

6.Gregory Mundame (South Africa)

7.Helen Frith (New Zealand)

8.Jean-Marc Amez-Droz (Switzerland)

9.Jordi Vidal (Spain)

10.József Kosárka (Hungary)

11.	Liam Campbell (Ireland)

12.	Luigi Salvo (Italy)

13.Marin Berovič (Slovenia)

14.Mark van Oversteeg (The Netherlands)

15.	Roz Crowley (Ireland)

16.Sagi Cooper (Israel)

17.Subhash Arora (India)

18.Sue van Wyk CWM (Australia)

19.Vili Galabova (Bulgaria)

20.Wolfgang Junglas (Germany)


 * The Brandy panel is joined by South African brandy specialists, Kobus Gelderblom and Dr Caroline Snyman

Entries
Wine, liqueur, Methode Cap Classique and brandy samples are entered in a total of 48 classes and approximately 200 sub-classes.

Judging process
Judging is done blind in panels of 5 judges over a period of six days. Judges do not have access to any information except the vintage and varietal/s of the sample. All samples are judged according to the international 100 point system

Awards
Only the top scoring one-third of total entries in the Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards are eligible for medals, which means Michelangelo medals are rare and well-deserved. The following medals are awarded:


 * Platinum (for wines scoring 98 or higher)
 * Gran d'Or (Double gold)
 * Gold
 * Silver
 * Gold
 * Silver
 * Silver


 * No bronze medals or merit awards are awarded.

Winners of trophies and medals may purchase trophy, Gran d'Or, gold and silver award stickers to fix on market-ready bottles for both local sale and distribution and for export purposes.

Innovative developments
The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards strives to constantly improve and expand opportunities for producers. To this end in 2006 South Africa's first award for Brandy was created in the Michelangelo Brandy Trophy. A significant further development was the announcement of the Michelangelo International Liqueur Awards in 2014, and to date remains the only platform for producers of liqueur and specialist fruit wines and spirits to have their products judged by an international jury in South Africa.

Trophies
A total of 16 specialist trophies are awarded:

1.Collotype Grand Prix Trophy for the top scoring wine entered in the competition

2.IQ Business Trophy for the Most Innovative Wine

3.JFHillebrand Pinotage Trophy

4.Trane Trophy for the best Cape Blend entered

5.Toneleria Naçional Trophy for the best Coffee Pinotage

6.Fairtrade Trophy awarded to the best Fairtrade White Wine

7.Fairtrade Trophy awarded to the best Fairtrade Red Wine

8.RX South Africa Organic Trophy

9.TM Mercurey Bordeaux Style Red Blend Trophy

10.Trophy for the Best International Entry

11.African Cellar Suppliers trophy for the best Methode Cap Classique

12.Dessert Wine Trophy

13.Garagiste Trophy awarded to the best wine entered by a small winemaker

14.Golden Oldie Trophy

15.Brandy Trophy

16.Liqueur Trophy

Awards luncheon
Awards are made one month after the judging has been completed at a luncheon held at the Lord Charles Hotel in Somerset West, Western Cape. Medal winners receive medals and certificates and trophy winners receive a trophy and a certificate.