Four Cousins’ Blog

The South African wine critic, Neil Pendock, who is one of the most influential personalities in the wine industry of South Africa has criticized the Michelangelo International Wine Awards for handing out more medals than they were allowed.

Pendock states that according to the strict rules of the OIV, a French body that polices wine regulations, no more than 30% of wines entered can win a medal. This year’s 1502 entries would mean a maximum of 451 medals, yet 522 were awarded.

Sue van Wyk, the show’s technical director, said: “If 15 wines end up with the same score - for example, 91.3 - it means all the wines lying on that score receive the appropriate medal and this applies in every class. So it is not rocket science really, or a contravention of any rules that more than 30% of wines get medals.

Pendock argued that the permutations for 70 odd wines having the exact same score are a bit steep.

Read more on Pendock’s Blog