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Ken Gargett

Ken was born and bred in Brisbane, Queensland. He had a non-trendy, perfectly happy childhood, in a family convinced alcohol meant instant condemnation to Hades. But a break fishing on the Great Barrier Reef, and some good wine, started a serious obsession that eventually took over. It did not stop Ken being chastised later for drinking Pol champagne, disgusted he’d drink anything made by a Cambodian dictator. Now, Ken mostly writes on wine, champagne and spirits for various newspapers, magazines and books, but is perhaps best known for his work in The Courier Mail. He also has a little sideline writing on cigars, fishing, travel and food. When not writing, fly-fishing for trout in NZ or bonefish on the flats of Cuba, travelling or smoking cigars, he is no doubt following a variety of sporting teams – the occasionally glorious Queensland Reds rugby, the dysfunctional Washington Redskins, the dodgy Arsenal and especially revels in the world restored to its proper axis with the return of the Ashes to their rightful home.
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Gundog Estate Hilltops Rosé 2025

This is undoubtedly one of the better Rosé’s of the year. The winery team moved from their traditional Cabernet Sauvignon-based...
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz No. 1 2024

Also from the superb 2024 vintage, this is a blend from various vineyards from the Hilltops, providing for a richer...
Hilltops Shiraz No

Gundog Estate Hilltops Shiraz No. 2 2024

2024 has proved to be an excellent vintage for the Hilltops region. The aim here was to highlight the savouriness...
Innocence Rosé

Chain of Ponds Innocence Adelaide Hills Rosé 2025

This most attractive Adelaide Hills Rosé is a blend of 46% Sangiovese, 39% Tempranillo, 10% Grenache and 5% Pinot Noir....
COPAmeliasLetterPinotGrisNV

Chain of Ponds Amelia’s Letter Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris 2025

The fruit here comes from a single vineyard in the Kenton Valley, a district in the Adelaide Hills, from an...
COPMorningStarPinotNoirNV

Chain of Ponds Morning Star Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023

Three vineyards in the Adelaide Hills provided the fruit for this excellent Pinot Noir. One from Kuitpo, one from Woodside...
Chain of Ponds Black Thursday Sauvignon Blanc NV

Chain of Ponds Black Thursday Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025

This Adelaide hills Savvy is sourced from ten vineyards across the region. The colour here is a very pale lemon,...
Field of Dreams Chenin Blanc

Moss Brothers Field of Dreams Chenin Blanc 2025

It seems that Chenin Blanc still holds a place in the hearts of our friends from the West who thankfully...
Moses Rock Chenin Blanc

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Chenin Blanc 2025

Margaret River Chenin Blanc, the wine spent three months on lees in a mix of stainless steel and older oak...
Moses Rock Sauv Blanc

Moss Brothers Moses Rock Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2025

A light lemon hue here, the nose reveals notes of citrus, nettles, peaches, spices and lemon curd. There is a...
MossBros Fidium Shiraz

Moss Brothers Fidium Shiraz Margaret River 2023

Margaret River Shiraz from an absolutely stellar vintage, and this wine reflects that quality throughout. Maturation was in French oak...
Rags to Riches Sauv Blanc

Byron & Harold Rags to Riches Margaret River Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Margaret River Savvy can tend to the herbaceous if the makers are not careful, but no fear of that here....
The Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir NV

De Bortoli Cool Climate Pinot Noir 2024

The winemakers for this appealing Yarra Valley Pinot are Webber and Harrop, but it is actually Kate and Jai, respectively....
FOCHXX Website Bottle Shot

Forrest Marlborough Chardonnay 2023

In crafting this thoroughly enjoyable Chardonnay from Marlborough in New Zealand, the team have sourced fruit from two very different...
FORSXX Website Bottle Shot

Forrest Marlborough Riesling 2023

A slightly off-dry style of Riesling from the Southern Valleys district in Marlborough, New Zealand. This is a style that...
HERSMB NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Mt Barker Riesling 2024

Surely this is one of the great bargains, not just for Riesling, in Australian wine. As much as I thoroughly...
HERSFR NV Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Frankland River Riesling 2024

The fruit here is sourced from a single vineyard in the Frankland River sub-region of the Great Southern district in...
HERSDM NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Denmark Riesling 2024

Another very fine Riesling from the Denmark sub-region of the Great Southern, this is also a notch above the previous...
HECHXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Denmark Chardonnay 2024

This is a fine Chardonnay from the Denmark sub-region of the Great Southern in Western Australia. Fermentation was in French...
APPNXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Apricus Hill Denmark Pinot Noir 2024

Pinot Noir from the Denmark sub-region in the Great Southern district in Western Australia, is not one’s first thought when...
HECNRE NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

Compelling evidence that Margaret River is not the only region in Western Australia which can make stunning Cabernet Sauvignon. From...
HEPNFL NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Flux V Denmark Pinot Noir 2024

Striking labels, the Flux series is basically a way for the team at Harewood Estate to push the envelope. And...
HECHFL NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Flux III Denmark Chardonnay 2024

The fruit here is from the Denmark sub-region in Western Australia’s Great Southern district, and it takes advantage of the...
CFPNXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Castel Firmian Pinot Nero 2023

Bottled under Diam, Pinot Nero is the Italian name for the more familiar Pinot Noir, this example is from the...

Stories

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The Barossa Wine Guide 2026

By Ken Gargett, Andrew Caillard MW and Tony Love The Barossa is unquestionably Australia’s most famous wine region. Certainly not...
Penfolds Collection Credit Marten Ascenzo

Penfolds 2025 – Ken Gargett

Penfolds Bin 51 Eden Valley Riesling 2025 ($45)A classic Bin 51. It might be early days but this wine suggests...
MartenAscenzo Penfolds PenfoldsMediaPreview D

Penfolds 2023 – ‘The Aussies’

There is no release more anticipated by winelovers in Australia than the annual Penfold’s Collection and of course, most especially...

Artisans of the Barossa (2021 Grenache Project)

One of the more interesting projects currently afloat in Aussie wine at the moment, especially appropriate given the skyrocketing interest...

Alkina – The Curious Box of Paradoxes

Alkina is a curious box of paradoxes. Seemingly unlimited resources but still tiny; a small local operation yet part of...

Cumulus and Quilty & Gransden

They say that Disneyland is the happiest place on earth. Perhaps, but I would suggest that the Australian wine industry...
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