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.
HESHXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Harewood Estate Shiraz 2022

Excellent value here for a very fine Shiraz from the Great Southern region in Western Australia, which already has several...
WISHNW NV Website Bottle Shot

The Natural Wine Co Organic Shiraz 2024

This producer aims to provide flavoursome wines made under organic principles, which are also preservative free. They use wild fermentation...
GIMBLETT GRAVELS SYRAH

Craggy Range Syrah, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawke’s Bay 2024

Gimblett Gravels Syrah, Shiraz this side of the ditch, continues to excite and seems to get better vintage after vintage....
GIMBLETT GRAVELS TE KAHU

Craggy Range Te Kahu, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawke’s Bay 2024

The name is Maori for ‘cloak’, referring to the mist which can occasionally be found covering the Giants Estate Winery...
SAUVIGNON BLANC TE MUNA

Craggy Range Sauvignon Blanc, Te Muna, Martinborough 2025

Many years ago, Craggy Range made the decision to plant their Sauvignon Blanc vineyard on the lower terraces of Te...
GIMBLETT GRAVELS CHARDONNAY

Craggy Range Chardonnay, Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawke’s Bay 2024

From the Estate’s Gimblett Gravels vineyard at Hawke’s Bay, this is a rather muscular style of Chardonnay, with a serious...
Mosswoodcabernet

Moss Wood Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

No doubt many winelovers have been eagerly awaiting this wine, one of the last of Margaret River’s big guns from...
Angullong FossilHill Shiraz NV

Angullong Fossil Hill Shiraz 2023

The fruit here is sourced from the Orange region in New South Wales and the team co-ferment a dollop of...
Angullong FossilHill Monte

Angullong Fossil Hill Montepulciano 2023

An Italian variety which is also establishing a good following in this country with some fine local examples available. This...
Angullong FossilHill Tempranillo NV

Angullong Fossil Hill Tempranillo 2023

This famous Spanish variety, most especially at home in the Rioja region, continues to forge a niche here in Australia....
Angullong FossilHill Sangiovese

Angullong Fossil Hill Sangiovese 2023

The team here believe that this release of Sangiovese, from the Orange region in New South Wales, is one of...
Angullong FossilHill Barbera NV

Angullong Fossil Hill Barbera 2024

Barbera continues to be such an underrated variety. Granted that perhaps it will not challenge the great Shiraz, Pinots and...
Angullong FossilHill chardonnay new

Angullong Fossil Hill Chardonnay 2023

Chardonnay from the Orange region in New South Wales, maturation was for eleven months in a mix of new and...
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...

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