The Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache has been named McLaren Vale’s Best Wine of Show for 2025, crowning Proprietor & Winemaker Giles Cooke MW and Director Patrick Gilhooly the 2025 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs.

The trophies from the 2025 MGA Insurance Group McLaren Vale Wine Show, including Best Wine of Show and the prestigious ‘Bushing Monarch’ title, were awarded at the 52nd annual McLaren Vale Bushing Lunch on Friday 31st October.

From 707 entries, the Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache was awarded the highest accolade by an impressive panel of sixteen judges, including Chair of Judges Toby Barlow (Treasury Wine Estates), International Judge Peter Richards MW (Wine Blast Podcast), and panel chairs Jack Glover (Hill-Smith Family Estates), Steven Paul (Oakdene Vineyards), and Stuart Hordern (Brokenwood Wines).

Reflecting on the Best Wine of Show, Chair of Judges Toby Barlow praised vineyard selection and reflection of place, “The most pleasing element of the Best Wine of Show taste-off was the quality and personality across all the trophy winning wines. Respectful mentions go to the Shiraz, Chenin Blanc and Grenache dominant blend which polled well and evoked some good discussion. However, it was clear from the vote that the Grenache had captured the judges’ attention and was a clear winner. The Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Blewitt Springs Grenache has captured that elusive balance of bright aromatic, even long flavours and a tannin framework that really spoke to site and region. The Best Wine of Show in the 2025 McLaren Vale Wine Show is a compelling example of Grenache grown in a region that is gaining global recognition for this variety."

For Mr Barlow, the results of this year’s McLaren Vale Wine Show demonstrate that “There’s a palpable sense of evolution and progression in both growing and winemaking for traditional and emerging varieties and styles.” He continued: “Grenache continues to shine with clarity and confidence that is evident in the wines and styles. The region’s Mediterranean varieties are evolving and showcasing viticultural improvements and winemaking evolution with producers leaning into site expression and freshness. The traditional and emerging reds deserve the attention they receive; however, I continue to be excited by fabulous examples of Chenin Blanc, Fiano, Grenache Blanc, Rosé, and Vermentino that are being carefully grown and crafted into delicious wines with balanced acidity, alcohol and phenolic textures that have great relevance to consumers. This year’s McLaren Vale Wine Show results are a great reminder of just how dynamic and diverse the region has become; exciting times.”

For McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association CEO Erin Leggat, the Best Wine of Show “stands as a benchmark for modern Australian Grenache, and firmly cements McLaren Vale’s reputation as a leading global wine region for distinctive, elegant wines that speak strongly of place. The Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Blewitt Springs Grenache exemplifies our region’s unique capacity to balance grace and intensity in equal measure, underpinned by highly-skilled, thoughtful winemaking, precision viticulture and meticulous vineyard stewardship.”

UK writer, broadcaster and Master of Wine Peter Richards MW – co-host of the Wine Blast podcast – joined the 2025 McLaren Vale Wine Show as this year’s International Judge, offering a global perspective. Reflecting on his experience, Peter shared: “First: a confession. I came to judge the McLaren Vale Wine Show because I wanted to see if this Grenache-based renaissance was real. My conclusion? Hell yeah, in spades. These new-wave Grenaches (and Grenache-based blends) were the clear standouts from the show. The best of them married beguiling, heady scents with refreshing acidity, eye-opening energy, serious complexity and grippy, insistent tannins. A new-wave fine wine category fit to join the world’s greats?! Better believe it. The Shiraz and Cabernet classes were more mixed, as you might expect, with both traditional and modern styles. The best married complexity with elegance and perfume (with those taking a leaf out of Grenache’s book – ie majoring on refinement and perfume – clearly the best). But it didn’t end there – the ‘alternative’ reds were an intriguing bunch, with Sangiovese, Tempranillo, Mencía and Nero d’Avola showing promise. Grenache Blanc was the standout white alongside Fiano: both these varieties will have a bright future in the Vale.”

2025 MGA INSURANCE GROUP McLAREN VALE WINE SHOW RESULTS

BEST WINE OF SHOW & BUSHING MONARCH

Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

CHAIRPERSON’S TROPHY

Mitolo 2024 Trovato Fiano

INTERNATIONAL JUDGE’S TROPHY

Ministry of Clouds 2024 Grenache

WINES OF PROVENANCE TROPHY

Reynella 2022, 2017, 2012 Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST MUSEUM WINE

Hardys 2012 Eileen Hardy Shiraz

BEST SHIRAZ

Dune 2024 Shiraz

BEST GRENACHE

Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Richard Hamilton 2021 Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ

Chalk Hill Wines 2023 Alpha Crucis Seaview Syrah

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE ANY STYLE (OTHER THAN SHIRAZ)

Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

BEST SINGLE VINEYARD VITICULTURALIST

Sue Trott, Trott Vineyard

BEST SMALL PRODUCER OF SHOW

Paralian Wines

MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR

Vinarchy

BEST TWO YEAR OR OLDER GRENACHE

S.C. Pannell 2023 Old McDonald Grenache

BEST TWO YEAR OLD SHIRAZ

Serafino 2023 Black Label Shiraz

BEST TWO YEAR OR YOUNGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Coriole 2023 Mary Kathleen Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST OTHER RED & BLENDS

Battle of Bosworth Wines 2024 ‘Heretic’ Touriga Nacional Graciano Mataro Shiraz

BEST SHIRAZ BLEND

Shottesbrooke Vineyards 2024 Engine Room by Hamish Maguire Shiraz Mataro Grenache

BEST GRENACHE BLEND

Paralian 2024 Blewitt Springs Grenache Shiraz

BEST TEMPRANILLO & BLENDS

Gemtree Wines 2024 Luna Temprana Tempranillo

BEST NERO D’AVOLA

Hugo Wines 2024 Nero D'Avola

BEST ROSÉ

Mazi 2025 Limited Release Grenache Mourvèdre Rosé

BEST FIANO

Hugo Wines 2025 Fiano

BEST TRADITIONAL WHITE WINE

MMAD Vineyard 2024 Chenin Blanc

BEST NEW AND EMERGING WHITE WINE

Harrison 2025 Tan Fresca Grenache Blanc

BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER SHIRAZ

Wirra Wirra 2022 RSW Shiraz

BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Richard Hamilton 2021 Hut Block Cabernet Sauvignon

BEST ONE YEAR OR YOUNGER SHIRAZ

Dune 2024 Shiraz

BEST ONE YEAR OLD GRENACHE

Thistledown 2024 Sands of Time Single Vineyard Blewitt Springs Grenache

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TROTT FAMILY AWARD

Jim Ellis, Ellis Butchers

D’ARRY OSBORN AWARD

Willunga 100

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The full results and medal list for the 2025 MGA Insurance McLaren Vale Wine Show can be viewed HERE.