The festive season is one of our favourite times of year here at Kies Family Wines, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you to the Barossa over Christmas and New Year.

Whether you’re catching up with family, showing visitors around the region, or popping in to stock up on wine (or last-minute gifts), we’ll be here to help you make the most of the holidays.

Kies Family Wines – Cellar Door Hours

Open daily from 9 am – 4 pm, except for the following public holidays:

Christmas Day – Closed
Boxing Day – Closed
New Year’s Day – Closed

✨ Yes! We are open on:
Christmas Eve – 9 am to 4 pm
New Year’s Eve – 9 am to 4 pm
These days are perfect for a relaxed tasting, a catch-up with friends, or grabbing something special to take to festive gatherings.

We’re thrilled to be ranked the #1 Attraction on TripAdvisor for the Barossa Valley — a reflection of the incredible support from our guests, so pop in and say g'day over the festive season.

The Marquee at Kies — Festive Season Vibes

While you’re here in the Barossa, don’t miss The Marquee at Kies — our vibrant outdoor wine bar and live-music space, perched beside the vines with sweeping views of the Barossa Ranges. It’s quickly become one of the region’s favourite new experiences for locals and visitors alike. kieswines.com.au

Under canvas, you can relax with a glass (or two!) of your favourite Kies wine, enjoy great company, and soak up the atmosphere with regular live music, food, and local flavours. Barossa

THE LINE UP

SATURDAY 27TH OF DECEMBER

MOE WALKER X Sugbahan

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SUNDAY 28 DECEMBER

JR ACOUSTIC X K FOODIE ADELAIDE

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MONDAY 29 DECEMBER

O'NE MUSIC X K ASIAN TUCKER

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TUESDAY 30 DECEMBER

CLOUDY DAVEY X K ASIAN TUCKER

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Monkey Nut Cafe – Holiday Hours

The Monkey Nut Cafe will continue its current opening hours throughout the festive period:

• Open 7 days | 11 am – 4 pm

The cafe will be closed on:

• Christmas Day - Closed
• Boxing Day - Closed
• New Year’s Day - Closed

All other days, you can enjoy your favourite coffee, meals, and treats in our relaxed Barossa setting.

BOOK YOUR TABLE NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT...

We can’t wait to share the festive season with you — whether it’s a quick visit or a long, lazy afternoon at Kies.

From our family to yours, we wish you a safe, happy, and joy-filled Christmas and New Year 🎄🍷

— The Kies Family

We’re incredibly proud to announce that Kies Family Wines and the Monkey Nut Café have both been named finalists in the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards!

“To be recognised in two categories at the highest level of tourism in South Australia is mind blowing,” said Jesseca Rosé Kies, Marketing Manager and sixth-generation family member. “Our team truly do the impossible every day… they are the real finalists.”

A Proud Barossa Legacy

The Kies family has called the Barossa home since the 1860s, and we remain proudly family-run to this day. From our vineyard and cellar door, to the Monkey Nut Café and Kies Teas, we welcome over 60,000 visitors each year with a focus on sustainability, accessibility, and authentic Barossa hospitality.

We’re also thrilled to be ranked the #1 Attraction on TripAdvisor for the Barossa Valley — a reflection of the incredible support from our guests.

What’s Next?

The winners of the 2025 South Australian Tourism Awards will be announced later this year, and we’re honoured to be in such great company.

Thank you to our amazing team and loyal visitors — this recognition is yours as much as ours!

—
The Kies Family

At Kies Family Wines, we’ve always believed that great wine, beautiful views, and warm hospitality should be accessible to everyone — and we’re proud to share that our efforts have just been formally recognised.

We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve received Limited Mobility and Wheelchair Friendly accreditations from the Tourism Industry Council South Australia (TiCSA) under their new Accessible Tourism Accreditation categories.

These accreditations affirm that Kies Family Wines is:

• Accessible for people with limited mobility
• Friendly and suitable for those using wheelchairs and mobility scooters

What This Means for Our Visitors

Whether you're visiting our historic cellar door, enjoying a long lunch at the Monkey Nut Café, or taking in the view of the vineyards, you can expect a welcoming and accessible experience throughout your time with us.

Our facilities include:

• Smooth and step-free pathways
• Designated accessible parking close to entry points
• A wheelchair-accessible entrance to both the cellar door and café
• Spacious, accessible bathroom facilities
• Friendly staff who are always happy to assist

We’re also continually working on ways to enhance the experience for all of our guests, because inclusivity is part of who we are.

Creating an Inclusive Wine Experience

The Barossa is for everyone — and at Kies Family Wines, we’re committed to doing our part to make sure no one is left out of the experience. These accreditations are just one step in our ongoing journey to become more inclusive and welcoming for all.

As a family-owned business, we take pride in offering genuine hospitality, and we want every guest to feel comfortable, cared for, and at home — whether you're here for a quick tasting or a long afternoon enjoying wine and food among the vines.

This year’s Gather Round Barossa brought thousands of footy fans to the heart of our beautiful region — and right to our doorstep at Kies Family Wines.

Located just across the road from Barossa Park, where two AFL matches were held during the 2025 Gather Round weekend, we had a front-row seat to all the excitement. It was a fantastic weekend for our cellar door, with new faces, returning visitors, and a genuine buzz across the Valley. But along with the festivities came a responsibility we take seriously — protecting our vines.

Biosecurity at the Forefront

With visitors parking on our property and using land next to our vineyard, we knew we had to take extra precautions to keep our vines safe from potential biosecurity risks.

To help guide and educate visitors, we:

• Installed hundreds of metres of bunting along vineyard headlands
• Put up clear signage asking guests not to enter vineyard areas
• Had staff on-site reminding visitors to stay out of the vines

These simple measures made a real difference. We noticed people respecting the signs and following directions — something we truly appreciated. It’s great to see that with a little communication, awareness goes a long way.

A Shared Effort

We weren’t alone in our efforts. The Barossa Council, in collaboration with Vinehealth Australia, installed Wine Tourism Biosecurity signs along the Barossa Trail, helping spread awareness to visitors on foot and bike. It’s encouraging to see our local community, tourism bodies, and wine industry working together to protect what makes this region so special.

“Kies Family Wines showcased how major events and vineyard protection can go hand in hand,” said Sam Scarratt, CEO of Vinehealth Australia.

More Than Just Footy

While biosecurity was top of mind, we also wanted to make the most of this exciting event. We set up a big screen, bought the rights to televise the games, and kept our cellar door buzzing all weekend. It was a big effort — but well worth it.

Visitors also had access to the Bounce Around the Barossa hop-on hop-off bus service, which brought nearly 4,000 people through the region, supporting local businesses like ours.

Barossa Mayor Bim Lange summed it up beautifully:

“We’ve seen a real buzz in our towns and a genuine sense of excitement from both locals and visitors, plus it’s provided a great economic boost for our regional economy.”

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Thank You

To everyone who visited Kies Family Wines during Gather Round Barossa 2025 — thank you! Your respect for our vines, your love for wine, and your passion for footy helped make the weekend a success.

As a family-owned winery, we’re proud to be part of a region that can host world-class events while still protecting the land we love. Here’s to many more Gather Rounds — and many more safe, successful vintages.

At Kies Family Wines, every decision we make in the vineyard is driven by one goal — to craft wines that reflect the beauty of the Barossa and deliver an unforgettable experience for every guest.

That’s why we’re excited to share the news: we’ve recently planted 1.206 hectares of Chardonnay, a significant step in strengthening our white wine program.

Why Chardonnay?

The decision to plant Chardonnay wasn’t made lightly. In September 2024, a severe frost event hit the Barossa, significantly damaging our Frontignac and Riesling crops. As a family-owned winery, we’ve always taken a proactive approach in responding to the challenges of nature, and this was no exception.

Rather than simply replacing what was lost, we saw an opportunity to diversify our white wine offering — and Chardonnay was the natural choice.

Versatile, elegant, and loved by wine drinkers around the world, Chardonnay allows us to expand our range while continuing to focus on quality and balance.

A Long-Term Vision

This isn't just about one vintage — it's about the future. By investing in our vineyard today, we’re laying the groundwork for the next decade of Kies Family Wines. These new vines are more than just plants in the soil; they’re a reflection of our commitment to innovation, resilience, and above all, to our guests.

What’s Next?

As these Chardonnay vines mature over the coming seasons, we’ll be sharing updates from the vineyard, insights into our winemaking process, and — when the time comes — the first release of our new Chardonnay.

We can’t wait for you to taste what’s coming.

Thank you for being part of the journey.
Stay tuned for more updates from the vineyard, and in the meantime, explore our current white wine range online or at the cellar door.

Step into a world of colour, creativity, and pure joy as we welcome the incredible Sonya Batten to the Monkey Nut Café as part of this year’s SALA Festival.

Sonya’s whimsical, floral and food-inspired artworks are bursting with personality. From vibrant blooms to mouth-watering treats that look almost too good to be true, her pieces bring a sense of fun and wonder to the walls of our café.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of the Barossa, with sweeping vineyard views, it’s the perfect setting to enjoy her playful work. Whether you're popping in for a quick coffee, a long lunch, or a glass of wine in the sunshine, this exhibition adds another layer of delight to your visit.

Art. Food. Wine. Sunshine.
We believe life is better when you make time for all four.

Details:

• Free entry
• Open daily
• Location: Monkey Nut Café, Kies Family Wines

Make a day of it, bring your friends, and come soak up the creativity. We can’t wait to share this joyful experience with you.

Well, it turns out the wine judges do, in fact, like the Deer Stalker Merlot — and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Massive congratulations to Bronson for crafting something that’s getting serious recognition.

We’re also big fans of the under the sea themed bottle photo that’s been doing the rounds — let’s just say it’s not every day you see a Merlot floating among fish and coral, but somehow it works.

What Young Gun of Wine Had to Say

The Deer Stalker Merlot was recently featured in a blind tasting panel by Young Gun of Wine, where it stood out in a field of Australian Merlots, earning praise from three industry experts: Johansson, Luker, and Strong.

Here’s what they had to say:

“Fresh and lively,” driven by red fruits – sour cherry, rhubarb and red plum – with amaro-like bitterness, spicy red liquorice and zippy acidity: “A new generation of merlot … fun and youthful with great food pairing versatility.” — Johansson

“Lifted aromatics of violets and red jubes (not cloying), with a juicy, raspberry-driven palate and a touch of strawberry jam.” — Luker

“A refreshing, nouveau-style wine, full of kirsch, confectionery and Red Ripper-like aromas, with a fleshy, high-acid palate that makes it an approachable, friendly introduction to merlot.” — Strong

The wines were tasted blind, meaning the panel had no idea who made what. Each judge selected the wines that truly stood out, and to have Deer Stalker land in their top six is a huge honour.

How Far Back Do You Go?

Now, here’s a fun challenge: I’ve got a 2012 Deer Stalker Merlot sitting in my wine rack at home — can anyone beat that?

Thank you to everyone who’s been part of the Deer Stalker journey so far — whether you discovered it last week or back in the early days, we’re so glad you’re on this ride with us.

Let us know if you’ve got a vintage worth bragging about!

Here's a link to the original article:

https://younggunofwine.com/australias-best-merlot