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.”
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.
