Avatar photo

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.
Fetherston Magnolia NV

Fetherston Magnolia King Valley Albarino 2024

Part of a range of attractively packaged Victorian wines, this is an impressive Albarino. From the Bettio vineyard in King...
Fetherston Iris NV

Fetherston Iris Yarra Chardonnay 2023

Chardonnay from the Yarra Valley, picked from four different vineyards. The grapes were whole bunch pressed with native fermentation in...
Fetherston Camellia NV

Fetherston Camellia Yarra Cabernet Malbec 2023

The fruit here is sourced from Yering Grange in the Yarra Valley for the Cabernet, 33-year-old vines, and the Sunshine...
Fetherston Pyrenees Syrah NV

Fetherston Pyrenees Syrah 2021

From the Malakoff Estate in the sub-region of Landsborough in the Pyrenees, the clone used is the Best’s Old Block...
Fetherston Yarra Chard NV

Fetherston Yarra Chardonnay Yarra 2022

The team’s flagship Chardonnay is sourced from vineyards throughout the Yarra Valley, in particular the sub-regions of Gembrook, Healesville, Coldstream...
Fetherston Fungi NV

Fetherston Fungi Yarra Pinot Noir 2024

While 15% of this wine is sourced from the Seville sub-region in the Yarra Valley, the majority comes from the...
Fetherston Yarra Pinot NV

Fetherston Yarra Pinot Noir 2023

This Yarra Valley Pinot Noir was sourced from the Yarra Glen sub-region (55%), with the remainder from the Gembrook sub-region....
Fetherston Sakura NV

Fetherston Sakura Pyrenees Syrah/Nebbiolo 2023

A single vineyard blend from the Pyrenees, with Syrah marginally dominant over the Nebbiolo. Both components were wild fermented, and...
Credaro Crowns Cab Sauv

Credaro 1000 Crowns Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Yet more compelling evidence as to the glories from the 2023 vintage in Margaret River, the colour here is a...
Credaro Kinship Cab Sauv

Credaro Kinship Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The colour here is a dark maroon with a vibrant mauve rim. The nose reveals aromas of blackcurrants, leather, licorice,...
Credaro Crowns Shiraz

Credaro 1000 Crowns Shiraz 2023

2023 in the Margaret River region has given us some of the most thrilling wines we’ve seen in ages. Add...
Credaro Crowns Shiraz

Credaro 1000 Crowns Shiraz 2022

A most impressive Margaret River Shiraz, the colour is a dark maroon with a purple rim. On the nose, we...
Credaro Kinship Chard

Credaro Kinship Chardonnay 2025

Early days for the 2025 vintage from Margaret River, but the signs are very promising (aren’t they always). Lemon/straw in...
Cook's Lot Sauvignon Blanc NV

Cook’s Lot Sauvignon Blanc Allotment 689 2025

Sauvignon Blanc from the Orange region in New South Wales, this has proved exceptionally popular in wine shows with a...
Cooks Lot Pinot Noir Orange NV

Cook’s Lot Pinot Noir Allotment 1111 2025

Pinot Noir has already proven itself in the Orange region and this will simply add to its lustre. Pale russet/garnet...
Cooks Lot Riesling NV

Cook’s Lot Riesling Allotment 333 2025

 Another fine wine from the Orange region with a swag of bling already. The colour offers just the vaguest hint...
Cook's Lot Pinot Griz NV

Cook’s Lot Pinot Gris Allotment 666 2025

Another wine from this portfolio which impressed the show judges. Pinot Gris from Orange, the colour here is that of...
WICNSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Dark maroon with a ruby rim, there is a little more austerity to this wine than might be expected at...
WIROSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Rosé 2024

An easy drinking style of Rosé with an orange pink hue, this is pleasingly fresh. Made by way of organic...
WICHSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Chardonnay 2024

Organic Chardonnay from the Central Ranges in New South Wales, the colour is a deep straw. The nose reveals notes...
WISHSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Shiraz 2024

For me, this is the pick of the Sakura range. Organic Shiraz from the Central Ranges in New South Wales,...
WIPCSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Picpoul Blanc 2025

This intriguing variety continues to impress. This example is from the Central Ranges in New South Wales and made in...
WISBSK NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie Sakura Organic Central Ranges Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Sakura refers to the cherry blossom festival held in Cowra every year which acknowledges the links between the local community...
ONE

Heartland One Cabernet Shiraz 2019

Under cork, this Cabernet Shiraz blend, a 54/46 split, from Langhorne Creek fruit, is an inky maroon colour. Plush and...

Stories

PEN La Chapelle Grange winemakers barrels

La Chapelle Grange 2022

The second release of this extraordinary Rhone/Aussie blend, crafted by two of the world’s great wineries, Jaboulet and Penfolds, has...
AMW Collection

Appellation Marlborough Wine Announces 2025 Annual Collection

A benchmark selection of certified Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc. Appellation Marlborough Wine (AMW) has announced its highly anticipated Annual Collection for...
Webicon

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...
winepilot