# 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:
   'Tis for love of wine we sing, Glory to the Bushing King, 'Tis for love of wine we sing, Glory to the Bushing King, On your feet now, to the beat now Off your arses, charge your glasses, Let us make the rafters ring - Glory to the Bushing King! ALL HAIL! WASSAIL!

## Multiple Coronations

The following have been crowned on multiple occasions:
| Times | Name | Years |
| 6 | Hardy’s-Reynella | 1973, 81, 84, 88, 2009, 14 |
| 4 | Stephen Pannell | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 3 | Sparky Marquis | 1996, 1998, 2002 |
| 3 | Sarah Marquis | 1996, 1998, 2002 |
| 3 | Brian Light | 1989, 1995, 2008 |
| 3 | Michael Fragos | 1997, 1999, 2010 |
| 3 | Fiona Lindquist | 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| 2 | Ken Maxwell | 1978, 1980 |
| 2 | Margaret Maxwell | 1978, 1980 |
| 2 | Geoff Merrill | 1981, 1984 |
| 2 | Janet Merrill | 1981, 1984 |
| 2 | Graham Stevens | 1975, 1985 |
| 2 | Marie Stevens | 1975, 1985 |
| 2 | Kay Light | 1989, 1995 |
| 2 | Ben Riggs | 2000, 2005 |
| 2 | Annie Riggs | 2000, 2005 |
| 2 | Wayne Thomas | 2004, 2006 |
| 2 | Bev Thomas | 2004, 2006 |
| 2 | Maria Maglieri | 1992, 2007 |
| 2 | Matt Koch | 2012, 2013 |

## List of Bushing Monarchs

| Year | Bushing King | Bushing Queen | Producer | Wine |
| 2021 | Zar Brooks | Elena Brooks | Dandelion Vineyards | 2020 Dandelion Vineyards Lion's Tooth Shiraz Riesling |
| 2020 | Tom Harvey | Renae Hirsch | Chalk Hill Wines | 2019 Chalk Hill Wines 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. Parnell 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 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 Tintara | 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 | Ben 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 Shiraz |
| 2001 | Grant Harrison & Mark Lloyd | | Coriole Vineyards | 1999 Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz |
| 2000 | Ben Riggs | Annie Riggs | Wirra Wirra Vineyards | 1998 Wirra Wirra RSW 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 Haselgrove Futures Shiraz |
| 1992 | John Loxton | Maria Maglieri | Maglieri Wines | 1990 Maglieri Shiraz |
| 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 Hardys 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 | 1975 Chateau Reynella Vintage Port |
| 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 Co-Op Winery | |
| 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 | 1970 Eileen Hardy Shiraz |