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.
Red Hut Pinot Gris Front Deep Etched NV HR ()

Red Hut Marlborough Pinot Gris 2025

Pinot Gris from the Awatere Valley sub-district of Marlborough in New Zealand, the fruit was destemmed before a cool fermentation...
Little Giant Hairy Nose Pinot Noir D NV S

Little Giant Hairy Nose Pinot Noir 2025

Wombats are the overall theme with these wines. This is an excellent value Pinot Noir from South Australian fruit. Crimson/cerise...
Little Giant Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir NV

Little Giant Pinot Noir 2025

Again with the wombats, little giant is a name given to them. Apparently. Also, the southern hairy nosed wombat is...
Little Giant Merlot AH Front NS NV

Little Giant Merlot 2025

Maturation for this Merlot, made from fruit from the Barossa Valley and Eden Valley, is in large format French and...
Little Giant Unearthed

Little Giant The Unearthed Barossa Shiraz 2023

A fine Barossa Shiraz, this is an opaque magenta hue. Plums, blackberries, aniseed, warm earth, florals, coffee grinds, licorice and...
Little Giant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay NV No Shadow D

Little Giant Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2025

Part of the squat bot range, these are becoming more than a curiosity. Adelaide Hills Chardonnay from a range of...
DallianceBVMShiraz BS

Dalliance Marananga Shiraz 2021

A cracking Barossa Shiraz from a sensational vintage, many consider the Marananga sub-region to be the very heart of the...
The Pursuit NV Jim Brand

Jim Brand The Pursuit Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A wine reflecting the much missed Jim Brand’s pursuit of great Cabernet from the Coonawarra region and a very fine...
x Mt Bera AH AMPHITHEATRE Blaufrankish

Mt Bera Amphitheatre Blaufrankish 2024

An Austrian variety which we do not see a lot of in Australia, but it is known in Europe for...
MtB W&F Pinot Noir

Mt Bera Wild & Free Pinot Noir 2024

A thoroughly enjoyable Pinot Noir from the Adelaide Hills, from a good vintage. The colour is a pale crimson/garnet. We...
MMROXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Meso di Mezzo Pinot Grigio Rosé 2024

It is well known that the Pinot Grigio/Gris grape can provide more colour than we normally see with traditional white...
TamarRidge NV SingleBlock PinotNoir mL NV ()

Tamar Ridge Single Block Rosevears Vineyard Pinot Noir 2024

The team have fashioned a stunning Pinot Noir from a single block in the Rosevears Vineyard, which is located by...
TamarRidge NV ResearchSeries PinotNoir mL ()

Tamar Ridge Research Series Pinot Noir 2022

Superb Pinot Noir from the team at Tamar Ridge, this is part of their research programme. The fruit comes from...
Stonehaven LVR Coonawarra CabSauv NV

Stonehaven Limited Vineyard Release Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2021

A fine Cabernet from the Coonawarra region, hailing from that very special vintage of 2021. The vines are entering their...
OH Founders Shiraz

Organic Hill Founders Release Shiraz 2023

Opaque maroon in colour, again we are down the preservative free, organic path. Slightly savoury in character, the nose gives...
OH Founders Shiraz

Organic Hill Founders Release Shiraz 2021

Organic and preservative free, this Shiraz is from the excellent 2021 vintage. Much to like here. Vibrant purple/maroon in hue,...
OH Founders Shiraz

Organic Hill Founders Release Shiraz 2020

As one might expect from the name, organics and biodynamics are in play here. From McLaren Vale, we are also...
OH Founders Grenache

Organic Hill Founders Release McLaren Vale Grenache 2024

For me, this is a step up on the previous vintage, quite a considerable one. No doubt that can be...
OH Founders Grenache

Organic Hill Founders Release McLaren Vale Grenache 2023

A finely crafted McLaren Vale Grenache, grown and made according to biodynamic principles. Deep magenta purple in colour, this is...
COPReserveChardonnay

Chain of Ponds Reserve Chardonnay 2025

Maturation for this fine Adelaide Hills Chardonnay was in a mix of new and older French oak puncheons and hogsheads....
COPReservePinotNoir

Chain of Ponds Reserve Pinot Noir 2025

The fruit here came from a number of vineyards across the Kuitpo, Lenswood and Hahndorf sub-regions of the Adelaide Hills....
HR running creek pinot noir

Gioiello Running Creek Pinot Noir 2024

From the Upper Goulburn region, this is a most impressive Pinot Noir. Pale crimson in colour, the nose gives us...
Mt Concord Syrah HR

Gioiello Mt Concord Syrah 2021

A most appealing Syrah from the 2021 vintage, meaning it has already had some time to develop complexity and secondary...
Syrah HR

Gioiello Estate Syrah 2021

This may not sit on the same level as the Mt Concord Syrah the team offer but at the moment,...

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...
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...
winepilot