Two new Bushing Kings are reigning on high, and trophies are heading out to wineries across the region, following yesterday’s McLaren Vale Wine Show.

As makers of the Best Wine in Show, brothers Richard and Malcolm Leask from Hither & Yon were crowned Bushing Kings at the Friday, October 25 awards, for their 2018 Nero d’Avola.

Nero d'Avola is Sicily’s most popular red wine variety, and this is the sixth vintage the Leask family has harvested from their vineyard on Sand Road, McLaren Vale. The 2018 vintage was according to the winery, "perhaps the most layered one we have made so far". It was characterised by the slightly above average rainfall in winter 2017 and a later bud burst than usual. It was a very warm summer with only 11mm rain falling across January and February, and several heatwave events, before easing into more mild weather around vintage time. Tonnage was down, but quality was very high. The fruit was handpicked, lightly processed with a five-day cold soak, a 10 day fermen and hand pressing three times a day, and put in four-year-old French oak for seven months.

According to the Hither & Yon tasting notes, the wine's aroma is reminiscent of blackberry, dried thyme, forest floor and black pepper, while the flavours are suggestive of dark berry fruits, supple long tannings and a savoury nip to finish. Brown earth notes and Italian herbs add complexity and structure, suggesting good ageing and food matching potential. It retails for $29.00 per bottle from the winery's online shop.

On social media yesterday, the winery proclaimed its pride at the “overwhelming news” of its Bushing Trophy win. It also won a trophy for Best Mediterranean Variety.

“We have so many people to thank, as this is the result of a wonderful team and family working hand in hand, supporting growing and making this wine,” the Facebook post said.

Local MP Leon Bignell was quick to sing the Leask brothers’ praises: “King Dick (Richard Leask) and Monarch Malcolm Leask are very popular champs in our local community,” the Member for Mawson and former minister for agriculture and tourism posted on his Facebook page.

Staged every October, the McLaren Vale Wine Show is reputed as one of the most significant regional wine shows in Australia.

The show provides a platform for presenting wines that demonstrate varietal expression, excellence in viticulture and production, as well as provenance and sub-regionality. This year, more than 700 wines were received for judging.

The Leask brothers take over as Bushing Monarchs from Stephen Pannell and Fiona Lindquist of S.C Pannell.

The Bushing Lunch, at which the awards are announced, is attended by the McLaren Vale community, key regional stakeholders and industry members. It was held this year at the Salopian Inn.

McLaren Vale Wine Show 2019 results:

Best Mediterranean White Wine | sponsored by Booth Transport 

Zerella Wines 

2019 La Gita Fiano 

Best Small Batch Wines | sponsored by ANZ 

Thistledown 

2018 Vagabond Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache 

Best One Year Old Grenache | sponsored by McLaren Vintners 

Thistledown 

2018 Vagabond Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache 

Best One Year Old or Younger Shiraz | sponsored by McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association 

Main and Cherry 

2018 Clarendon Shiraz

Best McLaren Vale Rosé | sponsored by Hahn Corporation 

Bondar Wines

2019 Rose 

Best McLaren Vale White Wine | sponsored by VAF Memstar 

Zerella Wines 

2019 La Gita Fiano 

Best Two Year Old Shiraz | sponsored by Doreau Cooperage 

Rosemount Estate 

2017 Balmoral Syrah 

Best Grenache Predominant Blend | sponsored by Langley & Co 

Aphelion Wine Co 

2018 The Affinity Grenache Mataro Shiraz

Best Shiraz Predominant Blend | sponsored by McLaren Vale Enterprises 

Dandelion Vineyards 

2018 Lion’s Tooth of McLaren Vale Shiraz Riesling

Best Wine Label of Show | sponsored by McLaren Vale Grape Wine and Tourism Association

In Praise of Shadows 

2018 Grenache 

Best Mediterranean Variety | sponsored by Barrel Finance and Logistics 

Hither & Yon 

2018 Nero D’Avola 

Best Shiraz Three Years or Older | sponsored by Multicolor Australia 

Hardy’s Tintara 

2016 Upper Tintara Shiraz 

Best Red Blend | sponsored by A.P. John Coopers 

S.C. Pannell 

2018 Tempranillo Touriga

Most Successful Exhibitor | sponsored by Westpac Agribusiness 

Shingleback 

Best Small Producer | sponsored by Vinocor 

Aphelion Wine Co 

2018 The Affinity Grenache Mataro Shiraz 

Best Single Vineyard Wine Any Style (other than Shiraz) | sponsored by E.E. Muir & Sons - VinCru 

Zerella Wines 

2019 La Gita Fiano

Best Single Vineyard Viticulturist | sponsored by G & J East (Strathalbyn) 

Jim Zerella 

Best Single Vineyard Shiraz | sponsored by Torresan Estate 

Main and Cherry 

2018 Clarendon Shiraz

Best Grenache | sponsored by Parallax Design 

Thistledown 

2018 Vagabond Blewitt Springs Old Vine Grenache 

Best Shiraz | sponsored by Lallemand 

Rosemount Estate 

2017 Balmoral Syrah 

Best Cabernet Sauvignon | sponsored by Orora Pertaringa 

2018 Understudy Cabernet Sauvignon 

Best Museum Wine | sponsored by Willunga Basin Water 

Penny’s Hill 

2014 Footprint Shiraz

Best Icon Wine | sponsored by Wineworks Australia 

Wolf Blass 

Grey Label Shiraz 2010, 2014, 2017 

International Judge’s Wine of Show | sponsored by Vinpac 

S.C. Pannell 

2018 Tempranillo Touriga 

Chairperson’s Trophy | sponsored by Visy Board 

Graham Stevens Wines 

2019 Vintage Fortified 

Bushing Monarch | sponsored by MGA Insurance 

Hither & Yon 

2018 Nero D’Avola