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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.
Rie High trans

Cooper Burns Emmy Lou Eden Valley Riesling 2023

From a single vineyard in the Eden Valley, this Riesling actually saw partial fermentation in older oak before ageing on...
sterling shiraz

Cooper Burns Sterling Barossa Valley Shiraz 2019

A deep garnet/red hue to this fine Barossa Shiraz. The nose is showing red fruits, coffee grinds, warm earth tones,...

Cooper Burns Museum Release Barossa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

Great buying for those keen to experience older wines and see what they can offer. A fine Barossa style with...
Alternative Series pinot Grigio

Haselgrove Alternative Series Pinot Grigio Adelaide Hills 2024

The Small Batch series represents a Mediterranean nod to varieties that thrive in that climate. This Adelaide Hills Pinot Grigio...
Fiano

Haselgrove Alternative Series McLaren Vale Fiano 2024

Four hours on skins, with the free run juice and pressings kept separate. Fermentation was in a mix of stainless...

Tenafeate Creek Wines Rosé 2024

Made from Sangiovese from a single vineyard in the One Tree Hill region, the wine saw a cool fermentation which...
LakesidePinotGrigio Bottlshot

Bec Hardy Pertaringa Lakeside Pinot Grigio 2024

The quality of the 2024 vintage is evident here, with the wine made in a style to accentuate its freshness...
LakesideChard NV

Bec Hardy Pertaringa Lakeside Chardonnay 2024

The vineyard, the Lower Tintara Vineyard in Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale, which supplies grapes for this wine was originally...

Bec Hardy Garden Series Rose 2024

Made from Shiraz harvested from a vineyard located in the sub-region of Blewitt Springs in McLaren Vale, this Rose saw...

Bec Hardy Garden Series Clare Valley Riesling 2024

A fine Clare Valley Riesling from this exciting vintage, which underwent 100% stainless steel fermentation. A pale straw colour, the...
NV Scarecrow website

Bec Hardy Pertaringa Scarecrow Sauvignon Blanc 2024

From the Adelaide region, a scarecrow is still a necessary part of the armoury to protect the grapes from the...
JLCHJE NV Website Bottle Shot

Jean Loron Jean Chardonnay 2023

From Chardonnay vineyards, found at quite an elevated altitude, grown on the stony hillsides in the south of France, this...
NPCHPC Website Bottle Shot

Nicolas Potel Petit Chablis 2022

Nicolas’s father, Gerard, was a famous name in Burgundy (as is Nicolas) and made some wonderful wines. He had many...
JLPNJE Website Bottle Shot

Jean Loron Pinot Noir 2023

The sibling to the delicious Chardonnay we encountered earlier, this hails from vines planted on clay and limestone soils. Excellent...
NBPNBR NV Website Bottle Shot

Nuiton-Beaunoy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune 2021

From a fine vintage in the Burgundy region, this is a great entry to those keen to explore what Burgundy...
NPCHXX Website Bottle Shot

Nicolas Potel Chablis 2022

This is the step-up in reputation for Nicolas Potel’s Chablis (well, everyone’s Chablis with Petit Chablis sitting the rank below...
FAIWIN NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Inzolia 2023

From Sicily, it seems we rarely see examples from any other maker of this attractive white variety. A bit of...
FAIWGR NV Website Bottle Shot

Feudo Arancio Grillo 2023

Another of those traditional Italian varieties, here from Sicily, that we so rarely encounter down under. For some years, we...
CRCHMA NV Website Bottle Shot

Terres Secrètes Cerço Mâcon-Villages 2020

From the Mâconnais region in the south of Burgundy, this wine is from a co-op moving to a much more...
CFPGXX NV Website Bottle Shot

Castel Firmian Pinot Grigio 2023

The Trentino region in the Italian Alps is a famous destination for those looking for top-notch Pinot Grigio. This wine...
MEPGPR NV Website Bottle Shot

Mezzacorona Pinot Grigio 2023

The team behind this northern Italian Pinot Grigio use the pergola method for trellising their vines, something rarely seen down...
NBCHBB NV Website Bottle Shot

Nuiton-Beaunoy Bourgogne Hautes-Côtes de Beaune Blanc 2022

There was a time when many local drinkers would turn their noses up at a basic Burg such as this....
CB Mason NV

Cooper Burns Mason Barossa Valley Shiraz 2016

A serious value option here with plenty of age already. The colour is a garnet red and this is an...
Paracombe Plateau Pinot Noir NV

Paracombe Plateau Adelaide Hills Pinot Noir 2021

From an Adelaide Hills vineyard planted back in 1983, which sits on a plateau which is 1.7 billion years old....

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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