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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.
DiFabioCab ()

Di Fabio Cabernets McLaren Vale 2019

A fine McLaren Vale Cabernet (and friends) from a single vineyard, it has the benefit of a number of years...
NV

Hare’s Chase Mataro Rosé 2025

Mataro, or Mourvèdre if one wants to be a little more trendy, has proved itself a most versatile variety, largely...
Hare and Hound NV

Hare’s Chase Hare and Hound Cabernet Shiraz 2022

The famous Aussie red blend of Cabernet and Shiraz from Barossa Valley, red wine in this country hardly gets more...
Old Bastard

Kaesler Old Bastard Shiraz 2022

An iconic Barossa Valley Shiraz from an excellent vintage, maturation is in French oak for around a year and a...
Alte Reben NV High Res

Kaesler Alte Reben 2023

From a single vineyard at the Kaesler Estate in Marananga, which was planted back in 1899, the name is actually...
kaesler age of light cabernet sauvignon nv hr

Kaesler Age of Light Cabernet Sauvignon 2023

Purists may turn their noses up at warm climate Cabernet Sauvignon, but lovers of wine which offers endless flavour know...
kaesler old vine shiraz nv hr ()

Kaesler Old Vine Shiraz 2023

The team source their fruit for this wine from three older estate vineyards situated around the winery. Maturation is for...
Love Symbol

Zonte’s Footsteps Love Symbol McLaren Vale Grenache 2024

I can’t honestly explain to you why McLaren Vale Grenache equates to a love symbol, but it hardly matters. The...
Blackberry Patch

Zonte’s Footsteps Blackberry Patch Fleurieu Cabernet 2023

I’m all for a little power of suggestion when it comes to selling wine, but even I think this is...
Hills are Alive Shiraz

Zonte’s Footsteps Hills are Alive Adelaide Hills Shiraz 2023

Just how many awards this wine will eventually tally, I have no idea, but I can tell you that the...
Baron Von Nemesis Shiraz

Zonte’s Footsteps Baron von Nemesis Barossa Shiraz 2024

Not even Ian Fleming came up with the name of a villain so absurdly wonderful as Baron von Nemesis. Quite...
Chocolate Factory

Zonte’s Footsteps Chocolate Factory McLaren Vale Shiraz 2023

Never having seen Willy Wonka, I am a little out of my depth here, but one suspects that this is...
Scarlet Ladybird

Zonte’s Footsteps Scarlett Ladybird Rosé 2025

Curiously, the team don’t reveal the variety or varieties involved in this fine Rosé. It is named in honour of...
Bleasdale River Vineyards Sauvignon Blanc

Bleasdale River Vineyards Adelaide Hills Sauvignon Blanc 2025

Adelaide Hills Savvy which was fermented largely in stainless steel, 10% in oak, French oak puncheons, to add a little...
Bottle Shot MRSHI

Jack Estate M-R Series Shiraz 2024

The M-R Series wines are sourced from South Eastern Australia and designed to provide wines which are full of flavour...
Bottle Shot MRCHA

Jack Estate M-R Series Chardonnay 2024

A pure fruit example of Chardonnay where flavour is key, supported by a touch of oak. The colour is straw/gold....
Bottle Shot MRMER

Jack Estate M-R Series Merlot 2024

 A simple but rather delicious version of Merlot from the Limestone Coast, the colour of the wine is blood red...
Bottle Shot MRCAS

Jack Estate M-R Series Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Sourced from various vineyards throughout the Limestone Coast region, the colour of the wine is a deep blood red with...
Bottle Shot JECAS

Jack Estate Cabernet Sauvignon 2024

Coonawarra Cabernet which has been sourced from selected growers, this is from an excellent vintage for the region and represents...
Pirie NV mL

Pirie Traditional Method Sparkling 2021

Named after one of the pioneers of the Tasmanian wine industry, Andrew Pirie, this wine has always ranked amongst Australia’s...
BrownBrothers NV Classic PinotNoir mL FRONT

Brown Brothers Pinot Noir 2025

Victorian Pinot Noir, including fruit from the King Valley, this is terrific value for anyone looking for an easy drinking,...

Oakridge Blanc de Blancs 2019

Yarra Valley sparkling which spent almost six years on lees, this is a most impressive bottle of Aussie fizz. 100%...
NV Oakridge Horst Riesling ()

Oakridge Horst Riesling 2025

A very slightly off-dry Riesling from the Yarra Valley, named in honour of the man who planted the Estate’s first...
VS Hazeldene Chardonnay

Oakridge Hazeldene Chardonnay 2024

This wine is part of the Oakridge Vineyard Series. It should be noted at the outset that the Vineyard Series...

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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