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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.
Near & Far Chardonnay lowres

Welland Near & Far South Australian Chardonnay 2024

As the name suggests, the vineyards which provide the fruit for this excellent value and thoroughly enjoyable Chardy, come from...
Fiano ()

Haselgrove McLaren Vale Fiano 2025

A single vineyard wine from the Tatachilla sub-region in the south of McLaren Vale with fermentation in a mix of...
Bella Vigna Reserve Parcel Shiraz

HaselGrove Bella Vigna McLaren Vale Reserve Parcel Shiraz 2022

A year and a half maturing in a mix of new and older French oak for this barrel selection, from...
Wildlight Shiraz

Altus Rise Wildlight Shiraz 2024

Excellent value Margaret River Shiraz, the wine is a vibrant dark purple hue. The nose reveals notes of chocolate, plums,...
Wildlight Sauvignon Blanc

Altus Rise Wildlight Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Margaret river Savvy, the colour here is pale lemon with flecks of green. Alluring aromas throughout, it is quite lifted...
Coeur des Sages Macon ()

Coeur des Sages Mâcon-Villages 2023

The price of top level White Burgundy has gone to Russian oligarch levels in recent years, but that doesn’t mean...
Coeur des Sages Beaujolais ()

Coeur des Sages Beaujolais Villages 2023

Whether wine lovers have been forced to look to Beaujolais thanks to the stratospheric prices achieved in neighbouring Burgundy, or...
Rameau D'or Rose Cotes De Provence ()

Rameau d’Or Rosé Provence 2024

Rosé from the Côtes de Provence is exactly the wine that so many of us think of when we think...
Chardonnay

Five Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Time in older French oak for maturation aids in providing this Victorian Chardonnay with enhanced texture and complexity. The fruit...
pinotnoir

Five Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir 2024

From a single vineyard, the colour here is an attractive russet red. The nose provides hints of savouriness, with aromas...
Chardonnay Reserve ()

Five Vineyard Reserve Chardonnay 2024

A step up here, part of the oak regime includes new French barrels. Again, the fruit is sourced from a...
Bento Grenache NV LR

Bento Grenache McLaren Vale 2025

An easy drinking, fresh and flavoursome style of Grenache, more youthful than some, which is terrific value. A bright crimson...
Little Giant Coonawarra Cabernet Shiraz FOP LR

Little Giants Cabernet Shiraz Coonawarra 2023

The hairy nosed wombat is apparently the state emblem of South Australia. This somehow leads to the Little Giants label....
Little Giant Mount B Pinot Gris FOP LR

Little Giants Pinot Gris Mt Benson 2025

Single vineyard Pinot Gris from the Mt Benson region, this is pale straw in colour. The wine has good concentration...
Arras Museum Release Blanc de Blancs ()

Arras Museum Release Blanc de Blancs 2006

Granted that much of the attention for this wine will focus on what surely must be a record price for...
ARRAS EJ Carr th Late Disgorged HR S ()

Arras 30th Anniversary EJ Carr Late Disgorged 2006

Released to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Arras, just 1,566 bottles available. The blend is 66% Chardonnay and 34% Pinot...
ARRAS Blanc de Blancs HR S

Arras Blanc de Blancs 2017

The 2017 vintage in Tasmania is proving to be a superb one for sparkling wine. This Blanc de Blancs is...
Chardonnay

Tomich Hill Chardonnay 2024

From an Adelaide Hills vineyard sitting around 400 metres above sea level, wild yeast is used for the ferment and...
Pinot Grigio

Tomich Hill Pinot Grigio 2025

A bright, fresh and quite delightful Pinot Grigio from the Adelaide Hills, the colour is a pale but gleaming lemon....
WoodsideVineyard Chardonnay

Tomich Adelaide Hills Woodside Chardonnay 2023

Also from the Woodside sub-region in the Adelaide Hills, this is pale yellow in colour with flecks of green. Youthful...
Sauvignon Blanc

Tomich Hill Sauvignon Blanc Adelaide Hills 2025

The fruit for this Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc comes from a vineyard which has the Onkaparinga River running through it....
Chardonnay ()

Tomich Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2024

Quite expressive, this very fine Chardonnay from the Adelaide Hills is a pale lemon hue. The nose gives us an...
The Partners Cab Sauv

Byron & Harold The Partners Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

A very fine Cabernet, certainly one for the long haul, from the Great Southern region. The colour is a gleaming...
Gravity Cab Sauv

Byron & Harold Gravity Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

The final wine is a barrel selection, with maturation being over an extended period in French barriques, around one quarter...

Stories

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...
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...
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