A year full of highlights for the outgoing Grape King

Augusta Van Muyen is wrapping up her one-year reign as Grape King. The new king will be installed later this month. ~ File photo

By Luke Edwards

From start to finish, August Van Muyen’s reign as Grape King has been a whirlwind of excitement.

A year ago as the Grape Growers of Ontario bestowed on her the new honorific, the grape and wine sector celebrated at Tawse Winery, where she’s vineyard manager. As several former Grape Kings came up and offered their congratulations, it dawned on Van Muyen that she’d just joined an exclusive club. In the year following she got to participate in all kinds of events and visit with some of Canada’s top winemakers.

In fact, those visits were some of Van Muyen’s favourite days as Grape King.

“I walked in so many vineyards,” she said. “I got to do so many things, the whole time has been a highlight.”

Van Muyen was only the fourth woman to be named Grape King since the title was created in 1956. It came during a year the United Nations dubbed as Year of the Woman Farmer.

She said one of the best parts of becoming Grape King was the camaraderie with others who have worn the chains. Like those before her, she was immediately welcomed with open arms by her colleagues.

The next Grape King will be installed as the Grape and Wine Festival - in its 75th year - kicks off in September. The GGO holds its annual celebrity luncheon, with Michael “Pinball” Clemons as this year’s guest speaker, on Wednesday, Sept. 16. It’ll be at that time that the new Grape King is announced.

Even as the current king, Van Muyen said she has no idea who’s been selected. She even tried to sneakily get some inside information. Last month she had to relinquish her chains so they could be updated with the new king’s name. However, she realized she needed them for another event. When she got them back, the new name had been covered up.

“I’m really excited to find out who the next person is,” she said.

Whoever it is, Van Muyen encouraged them to take full advantage of the position and the opportunities it offers.

“Say yes to everything. Just go for it,” she said.