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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.
Max Pinot Grigio

Ross Hill Max Pinot Grigio 2025

From the Orange region in New South Wales, and made in accordance with carbon neutral procedures, this thoroughly enjoyable Pinot...
JACK Shiraz

Ross Hill Jack Shiraz 2024

A cooler climate style of Shiraz, this represents excellent value. From the Orange region in New South Wales, maturation was...
SHWSSSHMV

Silver Sands McLaren Vale Shiraz 2020

A change of pace from these guys, the Shiraz here is sourced from McLaren Vale and the wine given extra...
NV Evergreen Riesling

Shanahan’s Wines Evergreen Eden Valley Riesling 2026

A single vineyard Riesling from the Eden Valley, from what is looking like an exciting vintage, this is excellent value....
NV The Old Dog BV Shiraz

Shanahan’s Wines The Old Dog Barossa Valley Shiraz 2025

Barossa Valley Shiraz, which is the absolute epitome of cracking value, the fruit hails from two vineyards in the Greenock...
NVSilence is Golden BV Shiraz

Shanahan’s Wines Barossa Valley Silence is Golden 2025

To be honest, I had to check the price of this twice. Stunning value, especially if you like full throttle...
NV If Forever Exists Shiraz wax

Shanahan’s Wines If Forever Exists Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

The fruit here is sourced from a single vineyard in the Marananga sub-region of the Barossa Valley, the vines planted...
NV The Reaper

Shanahan’s Wines The Reaper Barossa Valley Shiraz 2024

Definitely a contender for the heavy bottle Olympics, the wine is sealed under vinc cork. The fruit is sourced from...
NV The Barking Dog BV GSM

Shanahan’s Wines The Barking Dog GSM 2025

Grenache dominant perhaps, but there is a significant contribution from both Shiraz and Mataro. Maturation is in seasoned 500-litre puncheons...
Apple Betty Chardonnay

Zonte’s Footstep Apple Betty Chardonnay 2025

The team have named this wine after the much-loved apple dessert, sometimes known as apple cobbler or crumble, and have...
Peacock's Tail Cabernet Malbec

Zonte’s Footstep Peacock’s Tail Cabernet Malbec 2020

The description of a peacock’s tail in respect of wine was, quite possibly, initiated by Len Evans or James Halliday,...
Super Trooper

Zonte’s Footstep Super Trooper Shiraz Cabernet 2023

Hands up anyone who didn’t start humming ABBA to themselves on saying, or even simply seeing, the name of this...
Pertaringa Rifle & Hunt Cab Sauvignon

Pertaringa Rifle & Hunt Cabernet Sauvignon McLaren Vale 2024

Warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon? Not something that should really be exciting us too much, but this wine impresses me vintage...
Learnings Watervale Riesling

Limefinger Watervale Learnings Riesling 2026

While his Polish Hill River vineyard suffered badly from frost and drought, Neil Pike’s Watervale source, a local grower, was...
Solace Polish Hill River Riesling

Limefinger Polish Hill River Solace Riesling 2026

After retiring from the family’s Clare Valley operation, with a long string of some of Australia’s greatest Rieslings under his...
Nightfall Perseus Cab Sav

Brand Nightfall Perseus Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

The Nightfall series is Sam Brand’s flagship collection. Pretty sure that Sam only releases them from the best vintages as...
BS Yates CW Cab Sav

Brand Yates Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Those who have spent late nights concerning themselves over whether or not Coonawarra still deserves a position at the top...
Wood Crampton Pinot Noir Vintage

Woods Crampton Martin Hill Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023

 Two low-yielding vineyards on Martin Hill in the Adelaide Hills provided the fruit for this fine Pinot Noir. The team...
WC White Label Riesling high res

Woods Crampton White Label Eden Valley Riesling 2025

The fruit is sourced from a trio of Eden Valley vineyards, which sit around 600 metres above sea level. Whole...
Woods Crampton Black Label Chardonnay NV

Woods Crampton Black Label Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Chardonnay 2023

From a single vineyard at Foreston, which is in the northern reaches of the Adelaide Hills, this was 100% whole...
Wood Crampton Flaxman Chardonnay Vintage

Woods Crampton Flaxman Eden Valley Chardonnay 2023

From the Flaxman Valley, part of Eden Valley, the fruit came from two sites. Fermentation was with native yeasts in...
Woods Crampton Pinot Noir Vintage ()

Woods Crampton Black Label Single Vineyard Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2023

A single vineyard at Foreston in the north of the Adelaide Hills provided the fruit. 15% whole bunches were included...
woods crampton light pass

Woods Crampton Light Pass Barossa Shiraz 2023

The Light Pass region in the Barossa Valley is very much on the way to the Eden Valley and the...
Little Giant Cabernet NV

Little Giant Coonawarra Cabernet 2024

The fruit is from an excellent vintage for the region and comes from two vineyards, one planted on the famous...

Stories

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...
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...
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