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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.
Stepping Stone Chardonnay

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Chardonnay 2026

Cracking value here for this Limestone Coast Chardonnay. From a trio of vineyards spread across the region, Mundulla, Padthaway and...
MRcabsauv [][]

Swinney Cabernet Sauvignon Margaret River 2025

The other half of the Swinney’s new Margaret River project, the Cabernet Sauvignon. The fruit comes from winemaker Robert Mann’s...
MRchard []

Swinney Margaret River Chardonnay 2025

From the Swinney’s new project in Margaret River, the fruit comes from their vineyard, purchased in 2022, which sits on...
HuntMrsOliver USE

Oliver’s Taranga Hunt for Mrs Oliver Sparkling Fiano 2023

I think it is fairly safe to say that I had never before experienced a sparkling Fiano. Not sure I...
ChicaMenciaRose

Oliver’s Taranga Chica Mencía Rosé 2026

Always fascinating to see what wineries, and presumably their marketing departments, come up with to differentiate themselves with their labels....
GRENACHE BLANC WEB

Oliver’s Taranga Grenache Blanc 2026

If Grenache works so well in the McLaren Vale region, then why not Grenache Blanc? Unsurprisingly, it seems that it...
Vermentino

Oliver’s Taranga Vermentino 2026

Another Italian white variety, this one from the island of Sardinia originally, which is really making a splash in this...
Fiano

Oliver’s Taranga Fiano 2026

No one does Fiano quite like, or indeed quite as well, as Corrina Wright and her team in McLaren Vale....
AnforeFiano

Oliver’s Taranga Anfore Fiano 2025

Anfore is Italian for amphorae. The team age a small quantity of Fiano in those terracotta clay pots – three...
New Beresford Estate Shiraz

Beresford Blewett Springs Estate Shiraz 2024

Blewitt Springs has certainly earned its reputation as one of, if not the leading sub-regions in McLaren Vale and this...
Beresford Shiraz Render

Beresford McLaren Vale Shiraz 2024

An absolutely cracking McLaren Vale Shiraz which saw fourteen to sixteen months maturation in a mix of French and American...
Beresford Estate CabSauv NV ()

Beresford McLaren Vale Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The wine spent twelve months maturing in a mix of French and American oak. It is a timely reminder that...
Beresford Classic GSM NV

Beresford Barrel Select McLaren Vale GSM 2024

The famous blend from an excellent vintage, just the sort of thing McLaren Vale does so well. Dark garnet with...
Grenache ()

Beresford Grenache 2025

McLaren Vale Grenache from aged vineyards, the colour is a pale crimson. The aromas move through notes of wet earth,...
Beresford Rose

Beresford Rosé 2025

A cracking Rosé which is 100% McLaren Vale Grenache, a variation from the previous vintage which included a significant percentage...
Reschke BullTrader Merlot NV

Reschke Bull Trader Merlot 2025

From the Coonawarra region, this is wonderful value for Merlot. The colour is a dark mauve/purple. Plums, Christmas cake, cassis,...
Reschke R Series Riesling NV

Reschke R-Series Limestone Coast Riesling 2026

Another Riesling from the broadly delineated Limestone Coast and the increasingly impressive 2026 vintage. Pale lemon in hue, the nose...
Stonehaven Stepping Stone Riesling

Stonehaven Stepping Stone Limestone Coast Riesling 2026

An appealing style of Riesling from the Limestone Coast, the colour is a pale lemon/lime, while the wine offers bright,...
MagareyLane LC SauvBlanc

Magarey Lane Single Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc 2026

Limestone Coast Savvy from a single vineyard, the colour here is a pale lemon/yellow. Quite lifted aromas on the nose,...
SchildEstate MerlotNV

Schild Estate Barossa Valley Merlot 2024

Barossa Valley Merlot, the colour is a blood red with a dark russet rim. On the nose we have notes...
Traeger Wines BV Shiraz MocknoBKGRD

Traeger Family Shiraz 2023

A traditional Barossa Valley Shiraz, bold and ripe, and very much a crowd pleaser. The colour here is a dark...
Stonehaven LVR Coonawarra CabSauv NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Padthaway Cabernet Sauvignon 2025

From Padthaway in South Australia, this Cabernet is quite delicious and for those who have not banished this classic grape...
Stonefish SingleVineyard MR CabSav NV

Stonefish Single Vineyard Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

It might not quite be the same as winning the lottery but a thoroughly enjoyable Cabernet Sauvignon from Margaret River...
Devitt&Moore Captain D Bruce CW Cabernet Sauvignon NV

Devitt & Moore Coonawarra Cabernet 2018

Coonawarra Cabernet from a brilliant vintage which has been given an extensive period of maturation in winery cellars – what...

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James&Nat

Main Ridge Estate

Main Ridge Estate is a rather curious winery. Essential to the history of Mornington Peninsula and responsible for decades of...
winery door open bright x
There is surely no wine region in this country which has more elite wineries than Margaret River. The advantage for...
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...
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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...
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