IRONHEART WINS McLAREN ICON TROPHY

The day after the shoot-thinners had been through, adjusting the coiffure of Yangarra's Ironheart Shiraz on my front doorstep, the roos were in, sniffing around for titbits, while south in the Vales Ironheart was being awarded the Wineworks Australia Trophy for McLaren Vale Icon Red Wine at the wine Bushing Lunch. 

Vintages 2010, '13 and '16 were adjudged ... photo Philip White

Stephen Pannell won his fourth Bushing Crown for best wine in the show with a blend usually more associated with Clare: his S. C. Pannell McLaren Vale Cabernet Malbec 2016. Here he is with wife Fiona Lindquist ... this photo Milton Wordley

Always at the front in supporting the local wine industry, Member for Mawson Leon Bignell, centre left, joins the toast to celebrate Pannell's win ... photo Milton Wordley

Having crossed their Rubicon with their imposing and contentious taxpayer-sponsored  "Cube" honeytrap for tourists at d'Arenberg, D'Arry and Chester Osborn are always ready to take a bit more attention ... this time collecting a gold medal (no trophy awarded) for their Derelict Vineyard Grenache 2016.

Elena Brooks, ace winemaker of both Heirloom and Dandelion Wines, makes her entrance ... photo Milton Wordley

To see the full list of judges, stewards, entries and results, click here.

Here's Yangarra manager and winemaker Peter Fraser with viticulturer and farm manager Michael Lane, collecting their second top gong for the day, this time the Memstar Trophy for the best white wine of the show, the Yangarra Estate Vineyard Blanc 2018, Australia's first full-bore blend of newly introduced Châteauneuf-du-Pape varieties ... photo Milton Wordley