Wine Show
2022 MGA INSURANCE MCLAREN VALE WINE SHOW
Hither & Yon’s 2021 Aglianico has won McLaren Vale’s Best Wine of Show 2022, seeing brothers Malcolm and Richard Leask crowned McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs for the second time.
The Trophies from the 2022 MGA Insurance McLaren Vale Wine Show, including Best Wine of Show and the prestigious ‘Bushing Monarch’ title, were awarded at the 58th annual McLaren Vale Bushing Lunch, held at Chalk Hill Wines on Friday 28 October 2022.
From over 750 entries the 2021 Hither & Yon Aglianico was selected as the 2022 Best Wine of Show by an impressive panel of judges from across Australia, including Andrew Thomas of Thomas Wines, Andrea Pritzker MW, Tim Dolan of Kaesler Wines, industry legend Ian McKenzie and Liz Silkman of First Creek Wines.
Please click here to download the 2022 MGA Insurance McLaren Vale Wine Show Results.
Registration of interest for Judging positions in next year's wine show can be emailed to [email protected] in early 2023.
2022: Please click here to download the 2022 McLaren Vale Wine Show Results.
2021: Please click here to download the 2021 McLaren Vale Wine Show Results.
ABOUT THE MCLAREN VALE WINE SHOW
Every year in October, the great producers of the McLaren Vale wine community prepare their most prized wines for judging at the annual McLaren Vale Wine Show - one of the most significant regional wine shows in Australia. The McLaren Vale Wine Show provides a platform for presenting wines that demonstrate varietal expression, excellence in viticulture and production, as well as provenance and sub-regionality.
The McLaren Vale Wine Show is highly regarded by international and national wine media and trade, and annually attracts a panel of high-calibre wine judges.
In 2014, McLaren Vale became the first regional Australian wine show to introduce a food component into the judging process with the intention to invite the public along to be part of the experience through a series of intimate local wine dinners for epicurean devotees. It also became the first regional wine show to invite Australian ‘Silver Bullets’ to guest judge varieties of particular influence and lead the discussion for the attendees at the dinners. The Consumer Dinner Series inclusion proved to be hugely successful and paved the way for the future trajectory of the event.
HISTORY OF THE BUSHING LUNCH
For more than half a decade, the McLaren Vale wine community has celebrated the culmination of the McLaren Vale Wine Show through the Bushing tradition.
The tradition dates back to medieval times when tavern owners would place ivy bushes above their tavern doors to celebrate the arrival of the new vintage wine, or fresh mead. The hanging ivy represented the opportunity to savour wines at their best.
In the early 1970’s, McLaren Vale winemakers incorporated this tradition to welcome the release of new vintage wines, by hanging olive branches over their cellar doors. Nowadays, olive branches (and their olives) are much more valuable, but the tradition still continues with olive trees placed (or planted) outside cellar doors.
The Bushing tradition coincided with local winemakers discussing how to improve the quality of the wines produced in the region, and ultimately – improving the region’s reputation as a producer of high quality wines. This resulted in the formation of McLaren Vale’s first Wine Show Committee, with the first McLaren Vale Wine Show being held in 1973.
Whilst McLaren Vale is one of Australia’ oldest wine regions, it is devoid of pomp and ceremony – except for the crowning of the Bushing King or Queen.
YEAR | BUSHING KING | BUSHING QUEEN | PRODUCER | WINE |
2022 | Malcolm & Richard Leask | Hither & Yon | 2021 Hither & Yon Aglianico | |
2021 | Zar Brooks | Elena Brooks | Dandelion Vineyards | Dandelion Vineyards 2020 Lion's Tooth McLaren Vale Shiraz Riesling |
2020 | Tom Harvey | Renae Hirsch | Chalk Hill Wines | Chalk Hill Wines 2019 Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache |
2019 | Malcolm & Richard Leask | Hither & Yon | 2018 Hither & Yon Nero D’Avola | |
2018 | Stephen Pannell | Fiona Lindquist | S.C. Pannell Wines | 2016 S.C. Pannell Cabernet Malbec |
2017 | Duncan Kennedy | Elspeth Kay | Kay Brothers | 2016 Kay Brothers Griffon's Key Grenache |
2016 | Stephen Pannell | Fiona Lindquist | S.C. Pannell Wines | 2015 S.C. Pannell Touriga Cabernet Mataro |
2015 | Stephen Pannell | Fiona Lindquist | S.C. Pannell Wines | 2014 S.C. Pannell Grenache Shiraz Touriga |
2014 | Matt Caldersmith and Nic Bowen | Chateau Reynella | 2012 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz | |
2013 | Matt Koch & Randall Cummins | Rosemount Estate | 2012 Rosemount Estate District Release McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon | |
2012 | Matt Koch & Andrew Locke | Rosemount Estate | 2011 Rosemount Estate Nursery Project Mataro | |
2011 | Stephen Pannell | Fiona Lindquist | S.C. Pannell Wines | 2010 S.C. Pannell Tempranillo Touriga |
2010 | Michael Fragos & Bryn Richards | Chapel Hill | 2008 Chapel Hill Vicar Shiraz | |
2009 | Paul Carpenter | Alix Hardy | Hardy's Wines | 2004 Eileen Hardy Shiraz |
2008 | Brian Light | Rose Kentish | Ulithorne Wines | 2008 Ulithorne Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz |
2007 | Scott Rawlinson | Maria Maglieri | Serafino Wines | 2006 Serafino Cabernet Sauvignon |
2006 | Wayne Thomas | Bev Thomas | Wayne Thomas Wines | 2005 Wayne Thomas Shiraz |
2005 | Benn Riggs | Annie Riggs | Penny's Hill | 2004 Penny's Hill Shiraz |
2004 | Wayne Thomas | Bev Thomas | Wayne Thomas Wines | 2003 Wayne Thomas Petit Verdot |
2003 | Dan Hills & Tony Walker | Fox Creek Wines | 2002 Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz | |
2002 | Sparky Marquis | Sarah Marquis | Shirvington | 2001 Shirvington Cabernet Sauvignon |
2001 | Grant Harrison & Mark Lloyd | Coriole Vineyards | 1999 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz | |
2000 | Ben Riggs | Annie Riggs | Wirra Wirra Vineyards | 1998 Wirra Wirra "Chook Block" Shiraz |
1999 | Michael Fragos & Justin McNamee | Tatachilla Winery | 1997 Tatachilla Cabernet Sauvignon | |
1998 | Sparky Marquis | Sarah Marquis | Fox Creek Wines | 1997 Fox Creek JSM Shiraz / Cabernet Franc |
1997 | Michael Fragos | Tatachilla Winery | 1996 Tatachilla Chardonnay | |
1996 | Sparky Marquis | Sarah Marquis | Fox Creek Wines | 1994 Fox Creek Shiraz |
1995 | Brian Light | Kay Light | Merrivale Wines | 1994 Brian Light Reserve Shiraz |
1994 | Mike Farmilo | Diane Murphy | Seaview Winery | 1992 Edwards and Chaffey Shiraz |
1993 | Nick Haselgrove | James Haselgrove Wines | 1992 James Haselgrove "Futures" Shiraz | |
1992 | John Loxton | Maria Maglieri | Maglieri Wines | 1990 Maglieri Cabernet Sauvignon |
1991 | Pam Dunsford | Chapel Hill | 1990 Chapel Hill Reserve Shiraz | |
1990 | Chester Osborn | Julie McEwen | d'Arenberg Wines | 1987 d'Arenberg Noble Riesling |
1989 | Brian Light | Kay Light | Normans Wines | 1986 Normans Chais Clarendon Shiraz |
1988 | Bill Hardy | Merrilyn Hardy | Thomas Hardy & Sons | 1975 Harrdy's Vintage Port |
1987 | Walter (Bill) Clappis | Kerry Clappis | Ingoldby Wines | 1985 Ingoldby Cabernet Sauvignon |
1986 | Scott Collett | Anne Tully | Woodstock Winery | 1985 Woodstock Chardonnay |
1985 | Graham Stevens | Marie Stevens | Stevens Cambrai Wines | 1984 McLaren Heights Hermitage |
1984 | Geoff Merrill abdicated Greg Trott (replacement) | Janet Merrill | Chateau Reynella | 1977 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port |
1983 | Peter Dennis | Marg Dennis | Daringa Cellars | 1980 Daringa Cabernet Sauvignon |
1982 | Iain Riggs | Janice Riggs | Hazelmere Estate | 1982 Hazelmere Estate Chardonnay |
1981 | Geoff Merrill | Janet Merrill | Chateau Reynella | [Wine Unknown] |
1980 | Ken Maxwell | Margaret Maxwell | Maxwell Wines | 1980 Maxwell Shiraz |
1979 | Steve Maglieri | Letizia Maglieri | Maglieri Wines | 1979 Maglieri Shiraz |
1978 | Ken Maxwell | Margaret Maxwell | Daringa Cellars | 1978 Maxwell Cabernet Sauvignon |
1977 | Ian Wilson | Joylene Thorpe | Southern Australian Vintners | 1977 Burge & Wilson Cabernet Sauvignon |
1976 | Graham Beenham | Jenny Beenham | Southern Vales Wines | [Wine Unknown] |
1975 | Graham Stevens | Marie Stevens | Coriole Vineyards | 1975 Festival Shiraz |
1974 | Hugh Lloyd | Molly Lloyd | Coriole Vineyards | 1974 Coriole Shiraz |
1973 | David Hardy | Helen Hardy | Thomas Hardy & Sons | [Wine Unknown] |