The 2024 MGA Insurance Group McLaren Vale Wine Show has wrapped up, with Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache awarded the the top wine accolade. This award not only positioned the wine as McLaren Vale’s Best Wine of Show, with winemakers Alexia Roberts and Paul Carpenter crowned 2024 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarchs. The awards, including the coveted ‘Bushing Monarch’ title, were presented during the 51st annual McLaren Vale Bushing Lunch held on Friday, 25 October.
With over 629 contenders, the Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache was awarded the highest accolade by an impressive panel of judges, including Chair of Judges Andrew Thomas (Thomas Wines, Hunter Valley) International Judge Emma Jenkins MW (New Zealand), and panel chairs Pip Anderson (Tolpuddle, Tasmania), Toby Barlow (TWE, South Australia), and Steven Paul (Oakdene, Victoria).
According to Andrew Thomas, the Grenache showcased exemplary winemaking and vineyard quality. “This wine stood out within its class, and to ultimately be chosen as the Best Wine of the Show reinforces both detailed winemaking and a pedigree vineyard site,” he stated. He highlighted the wine’s attributes including “vibrant red cherry fruit, delicate florals, and a subtle whole bunch complexity, alongside a sweet fruited yet savoury texture, crunchy acidity, and chalky tannin structure.”
The Chair of Judges also elaborated on the successful showcasing of diverse wine varieties during this year’s event. Mr. Thomas remarked on the impressive performance of white wines. Mr. Thomas said, “As we would expect from this region, red wines dominated the entries, however it is very pleasing indeed to see some increased focus and attention to detail in the white wine category over the last few years. Fiano has certainly emerged as the leading variety, but we also saw some beautifully crafted wines from Chenin Blanc, Vermentino, and Grenache Gris from the 2024 vintage.”
Erin Leggat, CEO of the McLaren Vale Grape Wine & Tourism Association, commented on the significance of the Best Wine of Show, saying “McLaren Vale’s reputation as a global leader for Grenache and a hub for Australia’s most exciting wine varieties and styles continues to soar, and this year’s Best Wine of Show is a shining example of the creativity, precision, and passion that defines our region.”
2024 MGA Insurance McLaren Vale Wine Show – Trophy List
BEST WINE OF SHOW & BUSHING MONARCH
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
CHAIRPERSON’S TROPHY
Battle of Bosworth 2024 Puritan Preservative Free Shiraz
INTERNATIONAL JUDGE’S TROPHY
Serafino 2024 Bellissimo Fiano
WINE OF PROVENANCE
Hardys 2021, 2016, 2012 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
BEST MUSEUM WINE
Hardys 2018 Eileen Hardy Shiraz
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Reynella 2021 Basket Pressed Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST GRENACHE
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD VITICULTURALIST
Kingsley Fuller for Penny’s Hill
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE ANY STYLE (OTHER THAN SHIRAZ)
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST SMALL PRODUCER OF SHOW
Larnook Wines
MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR
Chalk Hill Wines
BEST OTHER RED & BLENDS
St Hubert’s Wines 2023 Notes Touriga Tinta Cao
BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER SHIRAZ
Brokenwood Wines 2021 Rayner Vineyard Shiraz
BEST MEDITERRANEAN RED VARIETY
Chalk Hill 2023 Small Batch Release Graciano
BEST TWO YEAR OR YOUNGER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Battle of Bosworth 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST TWO YEAR OR OLDER GRENACHE
S.C. Pannell 2022 Old McDonald Grenache
BEST SHIRAZ PREDOMINANT BLEND
Chalk Hill 2023 Small Batch Release Shiraz Barbera
BEST GRENACHE PREDOMINANT BLEND
Wirra Wirra 2023 Original Blend Grenache Shiraz
BEST TWO YEAR OLD SHIRAZ
Chalk Hill Wines Alpha Crucis 2022 Clarendon Syrah
BEST ROSÉ
Chalk Hill 2024 Diana Mary Rosé
BEST ONE YEAR OLD OR YOUNGER SHIRAZ
Battle of Bosworth 2023 White Boar Shiraz
BEST ONE YEAR OLD GRENACHE
Penny’s Hill 2023 Single Vineyard Grenache
BEST TRADITIONAL WHITE WINE
Aphelion 2024 Pir Chenin Blanc
BEST FIANO
Oliver’s Taranga 2024 Fiano
BEST NEW AND EMERGING WHITE WINE
Larnook 2024 Grenache Gris
TROTT FAMILY AWARD
Derek Cameron and James Hook, DJ’s Growers
D’ARRY OSBORN AWARD
Bernard Smart, Smart Vineyard (posthumous)
