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.
V

Greenock Creek Third Estate Shiraz 2021

The fruit for this gorgeous Barossa Shiraz, from one of the truly great vintages, is sourced from what is known...
ShirazUngraftedBottle

Hewitson UNGRAFTED Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

From aged dry-grown vines, ungrafted of course, fermentation is with whole berries in open vats, before maturation in old French...
StrawberryHillShirazBottle

Hewitson Strawberry Hill Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

Always a joy to see the latest from Hewitson in the Barossa. Inevitably, they will be quintessential representations of the...
CaskShirazBottle

Hewitson CASK 66 Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

Hewitson is located at 66 Seppeltsfield Road, hence the reference in this name. The final blend here can be a...
Paracombe Gamay NV

Paracombe Gamay 2025

Beaujolais in France is currently enjoying an exciting revival, no longer just seen as cheap, cheerful and forgettable. What does...
Paracombe Pinot Gris NV

Paracombe Pinot Gris 2025

The Adelaide Hills continues to provide some of Australia’s most impressive Pinot Gris. Quite a deep lemon/grey hue, which might...
Paracombe Gruner V NV

Paracombe Grüner V5 2023

An intriguing blend if ever there was one, and a very well-priced one, as well. The V5 refers to a...
Reschke Reserve CabSauv

Reschke Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

A very fine and quite powerful style of Cabernet Sauvignon from Coonawarra, this is definitely a wine which is designed...
Indomitus Rutilus

Gundog Indomitus Rutilus Shiraz Tempranillo Grenache Hilltops 2024

With this wine, the team have been looking to step outside their comfort zone and explore what they can do...
Indomitus Albus

Gundog Indomitus Albus Hunter Semillon 2025

No one is ever going to convince me that this wine was not named by a movie fan. Jurassic Park...
Indomitus Rosa

Gundog Indomitus Rosa Hilltops Sangiovese 2025

This is the second version the team has made of their Sangiovese Rosé, from the Freeman vineyards in the Hilltops...
Leeuwin Estate Prelude Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Margaret River Prelude Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Do not hesitate to take any opportunity afforded to stock the cellar with both reds and whites from the brilliant...
Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay Bottle Shot

Leeuwin Estate Art Series Chardonnay 2023

This brilliant Chardonnay will surely come to be ranked, not only amongst the best ever from this legendary estate, not...
First Ridge UnoBella Fiano Vermentino

First Ridge Uova Bella Fiano Vermentino 2025

An intriguing Mudgee blend here of two emerging Italian varieties, Fiano and Vermentino, which was fermented in an imported terracotta...
ISA PIN bottle shot

Russell & Suitor Isabella Pinot Noir 2025

A delicious Tasmanian Pinot Noir which benefits from the Island’s cool climate. There is an attractive elegance running throughout this...
ISA CHA bottle shot

Russell & Suitor Isabella Chardonnay 2025

A considerable percentage of the quality Chardonnay grown in Tasmania finds its way into the Island’s wonderful sparkling wines, so...
Elderton Sixfold Shiraz NV

Elderton Sixfold Shiraz 2024

A new wine from the team at Elderton is certain to elicit serious interest from wine lovers. The fruit comes...
Churchview Bart Chardonnay

Churchview The Bartondale Chardonnay 2025

A fresh and vibrant style of Margaret River Chardonnay, the wine spent a short period of time in French oak...
Churchview Limited Release Viognier

Churchview Limited Release Wild Fermented Viognier 2024

West Aussie Viognier is not a variety we commonly encounter, but this is a thoroughly enjoyable one, and hopefully this...
Churchview Limited Release Grenache

Churchview Limited Release Grenache 2025

Margaret River Grenache? Whether this is a result of the onset of climate change or an opportunistic offering taking advantage...
Churchview SOLI Cabernet Sauvignon

Churchview Soli Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A delicious and cracking value Cabernet from the superb 2023 vintage in Margaret River. The colour is a deep maroon/magenta....
Churchview Limited Release Zinfandel

Churchview Limited Release Zinfandel 2023

Zinfandel tends to be more of a curio than anything else in this country, but if you are serious about...
Churchview Estate The Bartondale Cabernet Sauvignon

Churchview The Bartondale Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

If you will forgive the broken record, 2023 again serves up an absolutely stunning Cabernet Sauvignon from the Margaret River...
Churchview Estate The Bartondale Cabernet Sauvignon

Churchview The Bartondale Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

A superb example of Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon from the 2024 vintage. Dark magenta in colour, this is bold and...

Stories

PEN NV SpeRel CabShiraz SouthAus Superblend B Duo Cork

Penfolds Superblend

Every Australian winelover will surely be aware of just how much Penfolds love to release special wines, whether they have...
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...
winepilot