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Bushing King
Queen crowned
at McLaren vale
Mr Scott Collett, winemaker of
Woodstock Winery was crowned the
1986 Bushing King at the 22nd annual
McLaren Vale Winemakers Lunch at The
Estate, McLaren Vale on Wednesday.
Scott, whose queen was Anne Tully, was
awarded the title amid much pomp and
ceremony after Woodstock's 1985 Char
donnay scored the highest points in the
McLaren Vale Winemakers exhibition, judged
last week by Adelaide Wine Show judges.
The title, which is the southern wine
region's most prestigious award, is given
annually to a local winemaker judged to have
made the best commercially-available table
wine of the year.
Twenty-seven wines, which were the three
top wines in each of nine classes in the
exhibition were served to the 280 guests at
the luncheon.
They represented the McLaren Vale wine
district which stretches from Reynella to
Langhorne Creek.
The luncheon was the traditional opening
event of the 14th annual McLaren Vale Wine
Bushing Festival which is the biggest annual
wine festival in the world.
This year's event, at The Estate, was the
first time it had been done solely by private
enterprise.
The Estate manager, Mr Grant Cox said the
luncheon was provided on a cost only basis
as a gesture for Bushing and as a promotion
for the McLaren Vale district.
The venue, the Conservatory with its
brick-paved floor, naturally lit, domed roof
and massed hanging plants and palms, was a
superb setting for the sumptuous
smorgasbord prepared by The Estate's head
chef, Mr Malcolm Britton.
He had prepared long tables beautifully laid
with delicacies such as smoked quail, whole
snapper, venison, cherry and rabbit terrine,
honey cured hams and pepper-crusted roast
beef.
There were also fresh blue swimmer crabs,
Sydney rock oysters, yabbies, mussels, lobster
and snapper mousse, king prawns stuffed
with pine nuts and a selection of salads,
breads and cheeses.
The program of events began with a pro
cession through the dining area led by the
Chairman of Winemakers, Mr Bill Hardy with
ex Kings and Queens including the 1985 King
and Queen, Mr and Mrs Graham Stevens in
their Elizabethan regalia.
Winners of the McLaren Vale Winemakers
Exhbition were then announced and trophies
presented.
Woodstock Wines was awarded three
trophies, the J.G. Kelly Memorial trophy for
the most outstanding varietal dry white wine;
the Liquid Air (Aust) Ltd trophy for the most
outstanding sweet white table wine and the
Robin Adrian Brown Memorial trophy for the
most outstanding shiraz.
Maglieri Wines received the ANZ Bank
trophy for the most outstanding blended dry
white wine, Chateau Reynella received the
Westpac trophy for the most oustanding light
Bushing King and Quaan Soon Cofett and ArmaTufy. Help
Bushing King and Queen Scott Collett and
Anne Tully.
dry red or rose and the Commonwealth Bank
trophy for the most outstanding vintage port.
Pirramimma Wines received the Dan
Murphy trophy for the most outstanding
cabernet sauvignon, James Haselgrove Wines
received the Winestate Magazine trophy for
the most outstanding dry red - other varieties
or blends and Femhill Estate received the
Eric Lacey perpetual trophy for the most
outstanding tawny port.
Mr Wally Boehm received the Trott Family
trophy for service to McLaren Vale
viticulture and Graham Stevens received the
Robert Bryce & Co trophy as the previous
Bushing King.
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