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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.
WIPGPG NV Website Bottle Shot

Pig in the House Pinot Grigio 2026

Pinot Grigio from the Central Ranges in New South Wales, made organically, this is definitely one of the better releases...
FAIRRR NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Riserva 2022

Made from the Nero d’Avola grape, the fruit for this impressive Sicilian wine is sourced from different regions such as...
WISHEY NV Website Bottle Shot

Windowrie PF Organic Shiraz 2025

Known as the ‘eye chart wine’, you’ll understand why as soon as you see the label, this is preservative free...
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Hardys Thomas Hardy Cabernet Sauvignon 2020

A famous name in Australian wine, this cracking Cabernet Sauvignon uses fruit from the Margaret River, with a 5% inclusion...
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Aramis Vineyards Willunga Creek Reserve Shiraz 2022

From an excellent vintage in McLaren Vale, the colour is a black/maroon. A most alluring Shiraz which will surely appeal...
Henri Rousseau Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay Brut NV

Henri Rousseau Blanc de Blancs Chardonnay Brut NV

An enjoyable and easy drinking sparkler from the Burgundy region, It is 100% Chardonnay. Deep straw in colour, this is...
Allinda Yarra Valley Limited Release Syrah

Allinda Yarra Valley Limited Release Syrah 2018

Quite amazing to see a wine with almost a decade under its belt from a top vintage in a great...
Bodegas Salentein Portillo Malbec ()

Bodegas Salentein Portillo Malbec 2023

From the Uco Valley, Mendoza, in Argentina, this is a good example of why this traditionally Bordeaux variety has made...
Save Our Souls Black Label Yarra Valley Pinot Noir

Save Our Souls Black Label Yarra Valley Pinot Noir 2025

A most impressive and well-priced Pinot Noir from the Yarra Valley. It is always intriguing to check the marketing blurb...
Small Island Enso Coal River Pinot Noir ()

Small Island Enso Coal River Pinot Noir 2025

The Coal River Valley in Tasmania which provided these grapes is located across the road from some of Pooley’s top...
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Heirloom Vineyards King’s Garden Barossa Valley Shiraz 2022

Sourced from selected Barossa Valley vineyards, the wine spends a year and a half maturing in a mix of American...
The Benbournie Cabernet Sauvignon NV Bottle Shot () ()

Jim Barry Benbournie Cabernet Sauvignon 2013

Clare Valley Cabernet with well over a decade under its belt is certainly something that catches the attention. This is...
Serraluna Montepulciano d Abbruzo ()

Serraluna Montepulciano d’Abbruzo 2024

An internationally popular style of red, ideal for drinking in its youth, these wines are known for their approachability and...
Serraluna Toscana Rosso

Serraluna Toscana Rosso 2024

A fresh, delicious and impressive youthful red from Tuscany, the varietal split is 50% Sangiovese, 30% Merlot and the remaining...
Serraluna Costa Toscana Bianco

Serraluna Costa Toscana Bianco 2024

This Tuscan white is made from 100% Trebbiano. If the grape sounds unfamiliar to you, it is one of the...
NonnasTableRose

Wines by Nick & Goe Nonna’s Table Rosé 2026

Made from Nero d’Avola grapes, one of Italy’s finest varieties, which are sourced from the Fleurieu region in McLaren Vale,...
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Biscay Road BV Shiraz 2024

From the Barossa Valley, the wine is matured for a year and a half in French oak puncheons. An opaque...
Jericho Adelaide Hills Fiano

Jericho Wines Fiano 2026

This fabulous southern Italian white variety continues to make waves in Australia, this example being sourced from four vineyards across...
gmw res chard nv

Geoff Merrill Reserve Chardonnay 2024

The fruit here is a blend of Coonawarra (57%) and McLaren Vale (43%). 2024 was an excellent vintage in both...
vin sol fortis shiraz

Vin Sol Wines Fortis Shiraz 2024

The team here have aimed for a more modern style of Shiraz from McLaren Vale, approachable and elegant. Admirable, but...
Claire

O’Leary Walker Claire Reserve Shiraz 2024

The team’s premium Shiraz from the Clare Valley, from an excellent vintage, the fruit hails from a 130-year-old dry grown...
Sleeper Shiraz

O’Leary Walker The Sleeper Shiraz 2024

The team at O’Leary Walker have recently released two prestige examples of their Shiraz. I know that conventional wisdom would...
Riposte Peacemaker PN NV

Riposte Peacemaker Pinot Noir 2025

The Adelaide Hills region in 2025 saw a very dry, warm and early vintage, after several cooler years (everything being...
FOSWBR Website Bottle Shot ()

Forrest Botrytised Riesling 2024

The team look to three different vineyards in the Wairau Valley in Marlborough, a beautiful part of the world better...

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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...
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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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