Bushing Monarch


The Bushing Monarch is an annual title awarded in the Australian state of South Australia to the winemaker of highest scoring individual wine at the McLaren Vale Wine Show. Established in 1973, the winner is crowned the "Bushing King" or "Bushing Queen" until they are disrobed when the next winner is announced.

Controversy

Greg Trott was crowned Bushing King in 1984 following the abdication of Geoff Merrill after the winning wine was found to be outside the parameters for entry.

Wassail

Part of the "coronation" tradition has been the local singing of a Wassail:

List of Bushing Monarchs

YearBushing KingBushing QueenProducerWine
2025Giles Cooke MW and Patrick GilhoolyThistledown2024 Thistledown Sands of Time Blewitt Springs Grenache
2024Paul CarpenterAlexia RobertsPenny's Hill2023 Penny’s Hill Single Vineyard Grenache
2023Tom HarveyRenae HirschChalk Hill Wines2022 Chalk Hill Tempranillo Grenache
2022Malcolm Leask and Richard LeaskHither & Yon2021 Hither & Yon Aglianico
2021Zar BrooksElena BrooksDandelion Vineyards2020 Dandelion Vineyards Lion's Tooth Shiraz Riesling
2020Tom HarveyRenae HirschChalk Hill Wines2019 Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis Old Vine Grenache
2019Malcolm and Richard LeaskHither & Yon2018 Hither & Yon Nero D’Avola
2018Stephen PannellFiona LindquistS.C. Pannell Wines2016 S.C. Pannell Cabernet Malbec
2017Duncan KennedyElspeth KayKay Brothers2016 Kay Brothers Griffon's Key Grenache
2016Stephen PannellFiona LindquistS.C. Pannell Wines2015 S.C. Pannell Touriga Cabernet Mataro
2015Stephen PannellFiona LindquistS.C. Pannell Wines2014 S.C. Pannell Grenache Shiraz Touriga
2014Matt Caldersmith and Nic BowenChateau Reynella2012 Chateau Reynella Basket Press Shiraz
2013Matt Koch & Randall CumminsRosemount Estate2012 Rosemount Estate District Release Cabernet Sauvignon
2012Matt Koch & Andrew LockeRosemount Estate2011 Rosemount Estate Nursery Project Mataro
2011Stephen PannellFiona LindquistS.C. Pannell Wines2010 S.C. Pannell Tempranillo Touriga
2010Michael Fragos & Bryn RichardsChapel Hill2008 Chapel Hill Vicar Shiraz
2009Paul CarpenterAlix HardyHardy's Tintara2004 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
2008Brian LightRose KentishUlithorne Wines2008 Ulithorne Cabernet Sauvignon-Shiraz
2007Scott RawlinsonMaria MaglieriSerafino Wines2006 Serafino Cabernet Sauvignon
2006Wayne ThomasBev ThomasWayne Thomas Wines2005 Wayne Thomas Shiraz
2005Ben RiggsAnnie RiggsPenny's Hill2004 Penny's Hill Shiraz
2004Wayne ThomasBev ThomasWayne Thomas Wines2003 Wayne Thomas Petit Verdot
2003Dan Hills and Tony WalkerFox Creek Wines2002 Fox Creek Short Row Shiraz
2002Sparky MarquisSarah MarquisShirvington2001 Shirvington Shiraz
2001Grant Harrison and Mark LloydCoriole Vineyards1999 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz
2000Ben RiggsAnnie RiggsWirra Wirra Vineyards1998 Wirra Wirra RSW Shiraz
1999Michael Fragos and Justin McNameeTatachilla Winery1997 Tatachilla Cabernet Sauvignon
1998Sparky MarquisSarah MarquisFox Creek Wines1997 Fox Creek JSM Shiraz-Cabernet Franc
1997Michael FragosTatachilla Winery1996 Tatachilla Chardonnay
1996Sparky MarquisSarah MarquisFox Creek Wines1994 Fox Creek Shiraz
1995Brian LightKay LightMerrivale Wines1994 Brian Light Reserve Shiraz
1994Mike FarmiloDiane MurphySeaview Winery1992 Edwards and Chaffey Shiraz
1993Nick HaselgroveJames Haselgrove Wines1992 Haselgrove Futures Shiraz
1992John LoxtonMaria MaglieriMaglieri Wines1990 Maglieri Shiraz
1991Pam DunsfordChapel Hill1990 Chapel Hill Reserve Shiraz
1990Chester OsbornJulie McEwend'Arenberg Wines1987 d'Arenberg Noble Riesling
1989Brian LightKay LightNormans Wines1986 Normans Chais Clarendon Shiraz
1988Bill HardyMerrilyn HardyThomas Hardy & Sons1975 Hardys Vintage Port
1987Walter ClappisKerry ClappisIngoldby Wines1985 Ingoldby Cabernet Sauvignon
1986Scott CollettAnne TullyWoodstock Winery1985 Woodstock Chardonnay
1985Graham StevensMarie StevensStevens Cambrai Wines1984 McLaren Heights Hermitage
1984Geoff Merrill abdicated
Greg Trott 		Janet MerrillChateau Reynella1977 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port
1983Peter DennisMarg DennisDaringa Cellars1980 Daringa Cabernet Sauvignon
1982Iain RiggsJanice RiggsHazelmere Estate1982 Hazelmere Estate Chardonnay
1981Geoff MerrillJanet MerrillChateau Reynella1975 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port
1980Ken MaxwellMargaret MaxwellMaxwell Wines1980 Maxwell Shiraz
1979Steve MaglieriLetizia MaglieriMaglieri Wines1979 Maglieri Shiraz
1978Ken MaxwellMargaret MaxwellDaringa Cellars1978 Maxwell Cabernet Sauvignon
1977Ian WilsonJoylene ThorpeSouthern Australian Vintners1977 Burge & Wilson Cabernet Sauvignon
1976Graham BeenhamJenny BeenhamSouthern Vales Co-Op Winery
1975Graham StevensMarie StevensCoriole Vineyards1975 Festival Shiraz
1974Hugh LloydMolly LloydCoriole Vineyards1974 Coriole Shiraz
1973David HardyHelen HardyThomas Hardy & Sons1970 Eileen Hardy Shiraz

Multiple Coronations

The following have been crowned on multiple occasions:
TimesNameYears
6Hardy’s-Reynella1973, 81, 84, 88, 2009, 14
4Stephen Pannell2011, 2015, 2016, 2018
3Sparky Marquis1996, 1998, 2002
3Sarah Marquis1996, 1998, 2002
3Brian Light1989, 1995, 2008
3Michael Fragos1997, 1999, 2010
3Fiona Lindquist2015, 2016, 2018
2Ken Maxwell1978, 1980
2Margaret Maxwell1978, 1980
2Geoff Merrill1981, 1984
2Janet Merrill1981, 1984
2Graham Stevens1975, 1985
2Marie Stevens1975, 1985
2Kay Light1989, 1995
2Ben Riggs2000, 2005
2Annie Riggs2000, 2005
2Wayne Thomas2004, 2006
2Bev Thomas2004, 2006
2Maria Maglieri1992, 2007
2Matt Koch2012, 2013