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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.
HotelSola Rose

Hotel Sola Limestone Coast Rosé 2026

The fruit, Pinot Noir, used for this pleasing Rosé was sourced from a block in the Padthaway region. Fermentation was...
Howard Park Scotsdale Cabernet Sauvignon x

Howard Park Scotsdale Great Southern Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

From the Abercrombie Vineyard in the Mount Barker sub-region, part of the Great Southern region, the fruit came from selected...
Howard Park Leston Cabernet Sauvignon x

Howard Park Leston Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Margaret River Cabernet from the Leston Vineyard, which sits in the Wilyabrup sub-region, and from a very good vintage. Maturation...
Howard Park Scotsdale Shiraz x

Howard Park Scotsdale Great Southern Shiraz 2024

The fruit here was harvested from a selection of the best parcels throughout the team’s vineyards in the Frankland River...
Howard Park Leston Shiraz x

Howard Park Leston Margaret River Shiraz 2024

The Leston Vineyard is located in the famed Wilyabrup sub-region of Margaret River, from where many of the region’s greatest...
Gudilly Pinot Noir nv lowres

Gudilly Single Vineyard Pinot Noir 2025

As with the Pinot Gris, the fruit for this wine comes from the Kirriemuir Vineyard at Waikerie, in the Riverland....
Gudilly Pinot Gris nv lowres

Gudilly Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2026

The McPherson family are well known grape growers and the fifth generation has provided the fruit for this single vineyard...
gibson the prospect shiraz montepulciano nv

Gibson The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023

This Barossa wine may not be the only Shiraz Montepulciano blend in the world, but it surely must be one...

Frederick BLK 398 Old Vine Shiraz Grenache 2023

An enticing Barossa Valley blend, which spent time maturing in a mix of French and American oak. Opaque maroon with...
BiscayRoad Riesling NV

Biscay Road Barossa Valley Riesling 2026

Barossa Valley Riesling from the latest vintage, the vines are grown in the renowned Biscay soils. Straw/pale gold in colour,...
Ron Thorn Barrel Select NV

Thorn Clarke Barrel Select Shiraz 2022

As the name indicates, the estate’s flagship wine is a barrel selection. Maturation was for twenty months in 300-litre American...
coeurdessages

Coeur des Sages Bourgogne Blanc de Blancs NV

A sparkler from Burgundy made by the Charmat process, this is good value and pleasant drinking. Made as a Blanc...
Days & Daze Sunswill Pinot Gris NV

Days & Daze Sunswill Pinot Gris 2025

An easy drinking style destined to provide immediate gratification, the colour is a deep yellow/pale orange. To be honest, most...
Days & Daze Sunchaser Rose NV

Days & Daze Sunchaser Rosé 2025

The team behind this pleasing Rosé use organic farming methods. Their unashamed aim is to “capture the essence of Australian...
Days & Daze Freethinker Shiraz NV

Days & Daze Freethinker Shiraz 2023

If there is one thing that this wine is not, it is the proverbial shrinking violet. This is a full...
Barry & Sons Cab NV ()

Jim Barry Barry and Sons Clare Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The never-ending debate over whether Shiraz or Cabernet is the Clare Valley’s premium red is unlikely to be resolved any...
KOO CHD EST NV MED TN Horizontal

Kooyong Estate Chardonnay 2025

The Estate’s Faultline and Farrago blocks provided the fruit here, which was subsequently blended. The grapes underwent a gentle whole...
KOO PIN EST NV MED

Kooyong Estate Pinot Noir 2025

The Estate Pinot Noir is a combination of fruit from a number of blocks – Meres, Haven, Ferrous and Nord....
PPE CHD Estate BLN NV MED TN

Port Phillip Estate Balnarring Chardonnay 2025

The Balnarring Vineyard enjoys considerable maritime influence from the Western Port Bay. The Vineyard was established in 1997 and the...
PPE CHD Estate RHL NV MED TN

Port Phillip Estate Red Hill Chardonnay 2025

The Estate’s vineyard at Red Hill has three parcels of Chardonnay, the largest, which is 1.3 hectares, is the oldest...
PPE CHD SV Morillon NV MED TN

Port Phillip Estate Morillon Chardonnay 2024

The fruit for this flagship Chardonnay comes from a parcel which is just 0.1 hectares, situated within the oldest Chardonnay...
PPE PIN Estate BLN NV MED

Port Phillip Estate Balnarring Pinot Noir 2025

Planted in 1997, the original Pinot Noir vines were added to, by the inclusion of a higher density planting in...
Chardonnay D'Aloisio's Vineyard Burton McMahon

Burton McMahon Yarra Valley D’Aloisio Chardonnay 2024

The D’Aloisio Vineyard is to be found in the Seville township in the Yarra Valley, on red volcanic soil. It...
Pinot Noir Syme on Yarra Vineyard Burton McMahon

Burton McMahon Yarra Valley Syme Pinot Noir 2024

The Syme on Yarra Vineyard is located in the Upper Yarra Valley, on the red volcanic soils of Seville. The...

Stories

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...
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...
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