ABOUT – Michelangelo International Wine and Spirits Awards

HISTORY IN THE MAKING

Discovering incredible Wines and Spirits

MILESTONES

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Established

The Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards was established in 1997 to offer South African producers the opportunity of having their wines adjudicated locally by a highly experienced and respected panel of professionals from around the globe. Our primary objective was – and to a great extent still remains – to support local wine and spirits producers who are targeting international markets for exports and, through our international judges, are able to determine whether their wines will be well received both abroad and locally.

Big Changes

Since 2003 the competition has received an increasing number of entries from international wine producers; 2003 marked the start of a new era for the competition when the Michelangelo International Wine Awards moved to Stellenbosch, the main wine-producing area of South Africa.

Today

Now, in its 31st year, Michelangelo International Wine & Spirits Awards represent the largest wine and spirits competition in Africa, connecting producers, buyers, hospitality professionals and lifestyle audiences across 157 countries. Michelangelo distinguishes itself through a rigorous judging process, featuring hand-selected wine experts drawn from five continents.

2026

The Michelangelo ecosystem operates within a government-aligned, market-driven long-term vision supporting high-value sustainable tourism, investment-led growth, and public–private sector collaboration. Positioned at the intersection of tourism, hospitality, and the wine and liquor industry, the platform connects with high-value audiences across 157 countries, converting international visibility into measurable credibility, demand and scalable economic value while strengthening global competitiveness.

MEET THE TEAM

In 2018, the Michelangelo competition changed to cater for further expansion aimed at adding value to the wine & spirits industries, in a constantly expanding market. The Michelangelo team each manages a number of dedicated responsibilities to ensure the new company is geared to constantly assist in the sales and marketing growth of its clients, in the ever-changing and demanding wine & spirits industry.