THIS FRIDAY NIGHT US/SAT LOCAL: Cigar & Wine Masterclass with Ken Gargett. USA Friday 6th June, Saturday 7th June Local

[MrBirdman]

Hey might be able to make it after all, be a little late. 

[El Presidente]

Small tech glitch. Give me 5.

[Nevrknow]

Now THAT was awesome! Thank you @Ken Gargett. Even as someone who hasn't in the past enjoyed riesling, I shall head out tomorrow and explore. Thanks again.

[Habanoschris]

  On 6/6/2025 at 5:56 AM, Ken Gargett said:

i have a question. do i get a mute button? 

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Bravo Ken 👏 learned a lot and what a way to enjoy a glass of wine & a cigar. Thank you. I had been wondering about the screw top vs cork. Been seeing them more often on better bottles of wine - “Screw the Cork!”

[Fuzz]

Thanks Ken and Rob for the masterclass. Was very enjoyable and a great learning experience.

[El Presidente]

What a hoot 

Ken magnificent. What a depth of knowledge. 

Next one (would be a masterclass in) cheese/wine/cigars.

 

[loose_axle]

Thank you very much Ken and Rob, it was brilliant! 

[ha_banos]

I feel like I missed out. So I went on a research tip. And now I feel like I was there 😁 Is this how it went? 

Imagine sitting down at a private tasting with Ken Gargett, whose passion for Riesling and Cuban cigars would make for a memorable evening. Here’s how such a session might unfold, blending deep wine insight, cigar pairing wisdom, and a dash of Ken’s signature humor and storytelling.

## The Riesling Deep Dive

**Overview:**

Ken would start by explaining how Riesling is often underrated, especially in Australia, despite its ability to produce exceptional, age-worthy wines[6]. He’d highlight the variety’s versatility, from bone-dry to lusciously sweet, and its unique ability to reflect terroir.

**Regions and Styles:**

- **Germany:** He’d mention top producers like Dönnhoff, Gunderloch, and Heymann-Löwenstein, praising their dry (Trocken) Rieslings for their minerality, slate notes, grapefruit, and incredible length[2].

- **Australia:** He’d spotlight regions like Clare Valley, Eden Valley, and Frankland River, noting their pristine, citrus-driven, and often steely Rieslings[3][6]. He might mention friends like Neil Pike (of Pike & Joyce, now Limefinger) and their seamless transition between generations, or the Swinney family for their “wine of joy and quality”[4][3].

- **Other Cool Climates:** He’d discuss the rise of cooler sites in Adelaide Hills, Tasmania, and even New Zealand, linking these to the Mosel and Rhine for their delicate, lower-alcohol, high-acid styles[6].

**Tasting Notes and Evolution:**

Ken would pour a range, perhaps starting with a young, vibrant Swinney Riesling—lemon, lime leaf, wet stone, and a chalky, dry finish—then moving to a more mature German GG, revealing peach, cumquat, and a hint of Iced VoVo (an Aussie biscuit he’d joke about, saying it’s a secret ingredient)[2][3]. He’d encourage swirling, sniffing, and letting the wines open up, noting how they evolve in the glass.

## Cigar Pairing Recommendations

Ken, a Cuban cigar aficionado, would match Rieslings with cigars based on their style:

| Riesling Style | Cigar Recommendation | Notes |

|-------------------------------|-------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------|

| Young, Dry, Citrusy | H. Upmann Magnum 46 | Fresh, zesty Riesling pairs with a medium-bodied, creamy cigar. |

| Mineral, Slate, Dry | Partagás Serie D No. 4 | Bold minerality meets the spice and earth of a classic Partagás. |

| Off-Dry, Stonefruit, Honeyed | Cohiba Siglo II | Rich, slightly sweet Riesling complements the smooth, nutty Cohiba. |

| Aged, Complex, Toasty | Montecristo No. 2 | Mature Riesling with toast and nuts finds harmony with this legend. |

Ken might joke, “If the Riesling’s got more acid than a lemon battery, you want a cigar with enough backbone to stand up to it!”

## Stories, Jokes, and Anecdotes

- **On Aussie Riesling:** “Riesling’s the quiet achiever—like the bloke at the pub who turns out to be a rocket scientist. Everyone’s surprised when they taste it!”[6]

- **On Friends in the Industry:** He’d mention Neil Pike (“Pikey”) and his recent return to winemaking with Limefinger, or the Swinney family for their Frankland River gems. “Pikey’s supposed to be retired, but you can’t keep a good winemaker down!”[4]

- **On Cigars:** “A good cigar is like a great Riesling—complex, evolving, and best enjoyed with good company and plenty of time.”

- **On Wine Critics:** “I once gave a wine 100 points and my editor said, ‘Are you sure you didn’t spill some on your notes?’”

## Ken’s Favourite Riesling

Ken has praised many Rieslings, but he’s given top marks to the 2022 Penfolds Riesling, calling it “a glorious Riesling… a truly magnificent wine, on its way to becoming a legend. My wine of the year. 100.”[1] However, he’s also a huge fan of German dry Rieslings like Gunderloch Rothenberg GG, which he’s scored 97 and described as “pristine, pure and with great focus… a wonderful wine.”[2]

## What Else Might the Tasting Include?

- **Food Pairings:** Oysters, smoked salmon, or a simple cheese platter to highlight the wine’s acidity and minerality.

- **Discussion on Ageing:** Ken would talk about how Riesling can age gracefully for decades, developing toasty, honeyed notes.

- **Industry Trends:** He’d discuss the “Riesling Revival,” lower alcohol trends, and the influence of cooler climates[6].

- **Personal Cellar Stories:** He’d share tales of aged bottles and memorable tastings, perhaps recalling a legendary Krug champagne or a rare vintage cigar[5].

## Closing

Ken would leave you with a glass in hand, a cigar lit, and a new appreciation for Riesling’s depth and versatility. “Remember,” he’d say, “the best wine is the one you enjoy with good friends—and a great cigar never hurts!”

[Fuzz]

Close. You left out the bit where Rob and Ken were bickering like an old married couple. 

[Chas.Alpha]

  On 6/7/2025 at 3:38 PM, Fuzz said:

Close. You left out the bit where Rob and Ken were bickering like an old married couple. 

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That’s always the best part. It’s like watching Laurel & Hardy, with cigars!

[ha_banos]

  On 6/7/2025 at 3:38 PM, Fuzz said:

Close. You left out the bit where Rob and Ken were bickering like an old married couple. 

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I'll include that in the prompt for the next one! 👍🏼

[MrBirdman]

Fantastic masterclass - I can’t believe I’ve never tried this pairing before. Other than champagne, I had not found a table wine that pairs well on my palate. Now, an off-dry to off-dry+ Riesling will be one of my go-to’s. Mosel Riesling is one of the great values in wine, especially if you have the ability to cellar it for a few years.

Big thanks to @Ken Gargett for his unparalleled knowledge (and anecdotes) as well as to @El Presidente for organizing. Looking forward to the next class! I love Rob’s suggestion of doing fortified wine - it is one of my favorite options for cigar pairings, especially after a good meal. 

[ha_banos]

  On 6/8/2025 at 10:25 PM, MrBirdman said:

Fantastic masterclass - I can’t believe I’ve never tried this pairing before. Other than champagne, I had not found a table wine that pairs well on my palate. Now, an off-dry to off-dry+ Riesling will be one of my go-to’s. Mosel Riesling is one of the great values in wine, especially if you have the ability to cellar it for a few years.

Big thanks to @Ken Gargett for his unparalleled knowledge (and anecdotes) as well as to @El Presidente for organizing. Looking forward to the next class! I love Rob’s suggestion of doing fortified wine - it is one of my favorite options for cigar pairings, especially after a good meal.

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Flashback! MD 2020

[MrBirdman]

  On 6/8/2025 at 10:37 PM, ha_banos said:

Flashback! MD 2020

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Fortunately I’ve never tried pairing cigars with mouthwash — which is the only liquid that color that should ever go in your mouth!

[Chas.Alpha]

I purposely skipped bottles that had screw caps in favor of corked bottles. I assumed the use of screw caps indicated a cheaper, inferior wine.

I didn’t want my FOH brethren to make fun of me…😔

[El Presidente]

  On 6/8/2025 at 11:15 PM, Chas.Alpha said:

I didn’t want my FOH brethren to make fun of me…😔

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....as if that would ever occur