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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.
Allegiance Wines Fortuity Sparkling Shiraz NV low res

Allegiance Wines Fortuity Sparkling Shiraz NV

Who doesn’t love a good Sparkling Shiraz? Apparently there are some people, but we only have to look at the...
Allegiance Wines Fortuity Sparkling Cuvee Chardonnay Pinot Noir NV low res

Allegiance Wines Fortuity Sparkling Cuvée NV

A blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from South Australia, this is a thoroughly enjoyable sparkler. Lemon/yellow, there is good...
Allegiance Wines Fortuity Prosecco NV low res

Allegiance Wines Fortuity Prosecco NV

The team behind this Prosecco from South Australia have used it to celebrate such occasions as not being crushed by...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Rosé 2025

Rosé from a single vineyard in the Wrattonbully region in South Australia, the grape used here is Cabernet Sauvignon. The...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Pinot Gris 2025

A Pinot Gris made very much in a clean, fresh and youthful style, the fruit here is sourced from a...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2024

Wrattonbully Chardonnay from a single vineyard which does not see any oak. Deep lemon/straw, the nose exhibits notes of stewed...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Chardonnay 2025

A blast from the past as this Wrattonbully Chardonnay is made in the unoaked style, which was so popular a...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Shiraz 2022

The concept behind this single vineyard Shiraz from Wrattonbully is a wine destined for a barbecue with friends or Friday...
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Eight at the Gate Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Wrattonbully Cabernet from a single vineyard which has the benefit of several years’ maturation by the team, before release, making...
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Eight at the Gate Family Selection Chardonnay 2024

The Family Selection range is the team’s prestige collection. This is an impressive Chardonnay from Wrattonbully from a single vineyard,...
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Eight at the Gate Family Selection Cabernet Sauvignon 2022

Cabernet from Wrattonbully has proved an ideal match, especially when it is given a few years’ maturation and is from...
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Eight at the Gate Sparkling Blanc NV

Sparkling wines from the Wrattonbully region may not be all that common, but on the basis of this, we may...
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Eight at the Gate Family Selection Shiraz 2022

Any vintage following the brilliant 2021 harvest was always going to have a hard time, but 2022 proved to be...
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Eight at the Gate Family Selection Shiraz 2021

Wonderful to see wines from the superb 2021 vintage still available, especially when they represent such good value. From Wrattonbully,...
Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc

Paracombe Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Good value Sauvignon Blanc from the Adelaide Hills, the wine exhibits a mix of slate/minerally notes together with some rather...
Paracombe Reserve Chardonnay NV

Paracombe Chardonnay 2026

Unoaked Chardonnay had its moment in the sun a couple of decades ago but, when done well, remains a legitimate...
Paracombe Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Pinot Noir 2025

Good value Pinot Noir is a most curious beast. On one hand, rarer than an honest politician, but on the...
Paracombe Shiraz NV

Paracombe Shiraz 2019

Fabulous to see wines of this age released, saving the consumer the worry and effort of doing the cellaring themselves....
Swinney Mourvedre NV

Swinney Mourvèdre Frankland River 2025

Frankland River Mourvedre from bush vines which were dry grown, the fruit underwent fermentation with native yeasts after time on...
Swinney Frankland River Grenache NV Low Res

Swinney Grenache Frankland River 2025

The team’s Grenache has certainly proven to be the surprise card in their pack. In the early days, one doubts...
Swinney Frankland River Riesling NV Low Res

Swinney Riesling Frankland River 2026

 If ever a producer was evidence that it really does not take long to become a cult favourite, if you...
Cooks Lot Handpicked Lot Chardonnay NV

Cook’s Lot Handpicked Chardonnay Allotment 3 2025

Sourced from the Orange region in New South Wales, this impressive Chardonnay is barrel fermented with the inclusion of partial...
Cooks Lot Pinot Noir NV

Cook’s Lot Handpicked Pinot Noir Allotment 9 2025

The fruit here is sourced from vineyards which sit at an average elevation of over 900 metres, located in the...
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...

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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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