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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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Eight at the Gate Sparkling Blanc NV

Sparkling wines from the Wrattonbully region may not be all that common, but on the basis of this, we may...
EATGFSSHZ HD

Eight at the Gate Family Selection Shiraz 2022

Any vintage following the brilliant 2021 harvest was always going to have a hard time, but 2022 proved to be...
EATGFSSHZ HD

Eight at the Gate Family Selection Shiraz 2021

Wonderful to see wines from the superb 2021 vintage still available, especially when they represent such good value. From Wrattonbully,...
Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc

Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Good value Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills, the wine exhibits a mix of slate/minerally notes together with some rather...
Paracombe Reserve Chardonnay NV

Paracombe Chardonnay 2026

Unoaked Chardonnay had its moment in the sun a couple of decades ago but, when done well, remains a legitimate...
Paracombe Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Pinot Noir 2025

Good value Pinot Noir is a most curious beast. On one hand, rarer than an honest politician, but on the...
Paracombe Shiraz NV

Paracombe Shiraz 2019

Fabulous to see wines of this age released, saving the consumer the worry and effort of doing the cellaring themselves....
Swinney Mourvedre NV

Swinney Mourvèdre Frankland River 2025

Frankland River Mourvedre from bush vines which were dry grown, the fruit underwent fermentation with native yeasts after time on...
Swinney Frankland River Grenache NV Low Res

Swinney Grenache Frankland River 2025

The team’s Grenache has certainly proven to be the surprise card in their pack. In the early days, one doubts...
Swinney Frankland River Riesling NV Low Res

Swinney Riesling Frankland River 2026

 If ever a producer was evidence that it really does not take long to become a cult favourite, if you...
Cooks Lot Handpicked Lot Chardonnay NV

Cook’s Lot Handpicked Chardonnay Allotment 3 2025

Sourced from the Orange region in New South Wales, this impressive Chardonnay is barrel fermented with the inclusion of partial...
Cooks Lot Pinot Noir NV

Cook’s Lot Handpicked Pinot Noir Allotment 9 2025

The fruit here is sourced from vineyards which sit at an average elevation of over 900 metres, located in the...
Max Pinot Grigio

Ross Hill Max Pinot Grigio 2025

From the Orange region in New South Wales, and made in accordance with carbon neutral procedures, this thoroughly enjoyable Pinot...
JACK Shiraz

Ross Hill Jack Shiraz 2024

A cooler climate style of Shiraz, this represents excellent value. From the Orange region in New South Wales, maturation was...
SHWSSSHMV

Silver Sands McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020

A change of pace from these guys, the Shiraz here is sourced from McLaren Vale and the wine given extra...
NV Evergreen Riesling

Shanahan’s Wines Evergreen Eden Valley Riesling 2026

A single vineyard Riesling from the Eden Valley, from what is looking like an exciting vintage, this is excellent value....
NV The Old Dog BV Shiraz

Shanahan’s Wines The Old Dog Barossa Valley Shiraz 2025

Barossa Valley Shiraz, which is the absolute epitome of cracking value, the fruit hails from two vineyards in the Greenock...
NVSilence is Golden BV Shiraz

Shanahan’s Wines Barossa Valley Silence is Golden 2025

To be honest, I had to check the price of this twice. Stunning value, especially if you like full throttle...
NV If Forever Exists Shiraz wax

Shanahan’s Wines If Forever Exists Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

The fruit here is sourced from a single vineyard in the Marananga sub-region of the Barossa Valley, the vines planted...
NV The Reaper

Shanahan’s Wines The Reaper Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

Definitely a contender for the heavy bottle Olympics, the wine is sealed under vinc cork. The fruit is sourced from...
NV The Barking Dog BV GSM

Shanahan’s Wines The Barking Dog GSM 2025

Grenache dominant perhaps, but there is a significant contribution from both Shiraz and Mataro. Maturation is in seasoned 500-litre puncheons...
Apple Betty Chardonnay

Zonte’s Footstep Apple Betty Chardonnay 2025

The team have named this wine after the much-loved apple dessert, sometimes known as apple cobbler or crumble, and have...
Peacock's Tail Cabernet Malbec

Zonte’s Footstep Peacock’s Tail Cabernet Malbec 2020

The description of a peacock’s tail in respect of wine was, quite possibly, initiated by Len Evans or James Halliday,...
Super Trooper

Zonte’s Footstep Super Trooper Shiraz Cabernet 2023

Hands up anyone who didn’t start humming ABBA to themselves on saying, or even simply seeing, the name of this...

Stories

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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