The Big Easy Radio 2025 Perpetual Holidaze Grenache has been named McLaren Vale’s Best Wine of Show for 2026, crowning owner and winemaker Matt Head the 2026 McLaren Vale Bushing Monarch.
From 652 entries, the wine was awarded the highest accolade by an impressive panel of judges including chair Toby Barlow (Wine SX), international judge Richard Hemming MW (JancisRobinson.com), and panel chairs Glenn Barry (Tonic Wines), Steven Paul (Oakdene) and Stuart Hordern (Brokenwood).
Mr Barlow said, “Grenache was, as expected, a highlight and continues to be such an exciting and compelling story within Australian wine.
“However, the depth and expression across Shiraz wines also promoted a lot of discussion between judges and stiff competition for trophies.
“The standout trend in Shiraz was balance and freshness while sitting alongside Mclaren Vale’s trademark palate generosity.
“This year’s show was also a poignant reminder of why this region continues to raise the bar for Mediterranean varieties in Australia.
“Many of the wines showed real confidence and varietal understanding from growers and winemakers in tune with their vineyard sites and climate…
“The emerging varieties continue to positively develop across both red and whites and are becoming an integral part of the McLaren Vale narrative.
“The authentic fit between these varieties, their styles, the regional venues and outstanding food offering really elevates both the wine quality potential, but importantly the consumer experience too.”
On the Best Wine of Show – Big Easy Radio 2025 Perpetual Holidaze Grenache – Mr Barlow said, “The vote was very close this year, however the winning wine just kept showing up and growing from the very first bracket as it moved through multiple call back tastings and trophy taste-offs.
“It’s both modern and classic at the same time, and very compelling.
“On top of that every element was in balance, nothing out of place, with a finish that kept drawing the judges back.
“It captures McLaren Vale at its very best.”
Richard Hemming MW described his experience judging at the McLaren Vale Wine Show as “a seriously fun responsibility”.
“The work is no joke: hundreds of wines are scrutinised by multiple tasters in multiple stages to ensure that the very best efforts gain recognition,” he said.
“But the atmosphere is light-hearted, and the energy is nothing but positive.
“As an international judge, it was an honour to take part.
“And the results speak for themselves, demonstrating a level of excellence that makes McLaren Vale one of Australia’s most exciting and dynamic wine regions.”
About one in ten wines received a gold medal.
Trophies
BEST WINE OF SHOW & BUSHING MONARCH
Big Easy Radio 2025 Perpetual Holidaze Grenache
CHAIR OF JUDGES’ WINE OF SHOW
Aphelion 2025 Wait Single Site Grenache
INTERNATIONAL JUDGE’S WINE OF SHOW
Thistledown 2025 Walking with Kings Grenache Blanc Roussanne
WINE OF PROVENANCE
Hardys Eileen Hardy Shiraz 2024, 2021, 2015 vintages
BEST MUSEUM WINE
Scarpantoni Estate 2006 Brothers Block Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SHIRAZ OF SHOW
Chapel Hill 2024 The Parson McLaren Vale Shiraz
BEST GRENACHE OF SHOW
Big Easy Radio 2025 Perpetual Holidaze Grenache
BEST CABERNET SAUVIGNON OF SHOW
Serafino 2023 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD SHIRAZ OF SHOW
Cooter & Cooter 2025 Almond Block Shiraz
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD WINE ANY STYLE (OTHER THAN SHIRAZ)
Paralian 2025 Springs Hill Vineyard Shiraz Mataro
BEST SINGLE VINEYARD VITICULTURIST
Skye Salter – Springs Hill Vineyard
BEST SMALL PRODUCER OF SHOW
Bondar Wines
MOST SUCCESSFUL EXHIBITOR
Vinarchy
BEST TWO YEAR OR OLDER GRENACHE
S.C. Pannell 2024 Little Branch Grenache
BEST TWO YEAR OLD SHIRAZ
Chapel Hill 2024 The Parson McLaren Vale Shiraz
BEST OTHER RED & BLENDS
Battle of Bosworth Wines 2025 Heretic Touriga Mataro Graciano Shiraz
BEST SHIRAZ BLEND
Springs Hill Vineyard 2025 Shiraz Mataro
BEST GRENACHE BLEND
Serafino 2025 Grenache Shiraz Mataro
BEST TEMPRANILLO & BLENDS
Big Easy Radio 2025 Cosmic Antennae Tempranillo
BEST NERO D’AVOLA
Scarpantoni Estate 2025 Black Label Nero D’Avola
BEST ROSÉ
Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2026 Circle Rosé
BEST FIANO
Vigna Bottin 2026 Fiano
BEST TRADITIONAL WHITE WINE
Scarpantoni Estate 2026 School Block White
BEST NEW AND EMERGING WHITE WINE
Yangarra Estate Vineyard 2026 Circle Piquepoul
BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER SHIRAZ
Serafino 2023 Black Label Shiraz
BEST THREE YEAR OR OLDER CABERNET SAUVIGNON
Serafino 2023 Black Label Cabernet Sauvignon
BEST ONE YEAR OR YOUNGER SHIRAZ
Cooter & Cooter 2025 Almond Block Shiraz
BEST ONE YEAR OLD GRENACHE
Big Easy Radio 2025 Perpetual Holidaze Grenache
TROTT FAMILY AWARD
Karena Armstrong & Alex Marchetti, The Salopian Inn
D’ARRY OSBORN AWARD
The late Peter Fraser of Yangarra Estate Vineyard