BK Wines has always been a little bit rock and roll, and now the cult Adelaide Hills label has finally opened the doors to its very own tasting room.
This is not your typical cellar door. Think turntables spinning vinyl, skateboards hanging on the walls, tattoo‑style art, and a splash of graffiti cool. It is as much a reflection of winemaker Brendon wife Kirstyn Keys as it is of the wines themselves.
BK Wines has never played by the rules, so it makes perfect sense that their brand-new tasting room in the Adelaide Hills does not either.
For 18 years, BK Wines has been a whispered name among collectors and wine lovers who like their bottles with a side of storytelling. Until now, their wines have mostly lived in restaurants, private collections, or the hands of those lucky enough to score a bottle through friends.
That all changes this Friday when Brendon and Kirstyn Keys open the doors to their own tasting room for the first time. It is an intimate space that feels more like dropping in on a friend’s creative studio than a traditional winery visit.
“We wanted it to feel like you are stepping inside the “BK brain”. There is wine, there is art, there is music, and hopefully there is always a little bit of magic,” Brendon says.
The “BK brain” is an eclectic one. The tasting room hums with soft vinyl playing from turntables, and every corner offers a visual surprise.
Although nestled on a hillside the space oozes an urban energy, while colourful wine labels from their collaborations with a young New York artist nod to the brand’s global reach.
It is a place built for moments rather than mass tourism.
“We are not here to line people up at a bar and pour ten wines in ten minutes,” Kirstyn explains.
“We want people to sit down, slow down, and actually connect with the wines. This is for our people, the ones who want to be part of the story.”
Brendon’s passion for wine as an experience is infectious.
Brendon has always approached winemaking with an artist’s eye and a rule‑breaker’s heart. For him, each bottle is a creative expression rather than a product. He leans into small‑batch, hands‑on techniques that allow the vineyard to speak first, letting each vintage tell its own story.
“I do not want to force the wine into a shape that does not suit it,” Brendon says.
“I like to let it find its own rhythm. Wine should taste alive.”
His style is rooted in minimal intervention, but never at the expense of personality. Wild ferments, whole‑bunch pressing, and a fearless approach to blending all feature heavily in the BK Wines playbook.
The result is wine that is multi-layered, energetic, and just a little rebellious.
Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are his calling cards, but Brendon’s portfolio is full of surprises, from adventurous one year skin‑contact whites to bold, expressive reds that often find their way onto the lists of Australia’s most exciting restaurants.
The new tasting room is infused with raw, industrial textures softened by a warm, ski lodge feel, with touches of alpine chalet style that make it feel like an après‑ski hideaway.
One entire wall is crafted from one of their own skateboard half pipes, a nod to the creative, adventurous spirit that runs through everything they do.
One of the most personal touches of the new tasting room is the involvement of their good friend and designer Jason Oaten-Hepworth.
Kirstyn says that Jason didn’t just draw the plans, he helped physically build the space, working alongside them to bring the vision to life.
“Jason is an amazing designer. But he also rolled up his sleeves and helped build it with us,” says Kirstyn.
Adding a tactile element to offering is the work of Jason’s wife, a gifted ceramicist. Her handcrafted ceramic pieces are integrated into the tasting room with custom functional ceramics and art installations.
Other friends and connections who have been a big part of this project are builder Dusty Weatherald, James Brand Knives, Transportation Unit Decks, and US artists Russ Pope and Jocelyn Cova.
The tasting room design draws on Brendon and Kirstyn’s travels around the world, especially Japan, the country they have fallen in love with the most that they plan. to spend more time there.
“Japan has become our strongest international market, and it has influenced so much of how we think about hospitality and design,” says Brendon.
BK Wines’ tasting room will be open from Friday afternoon for happy hours for those special after work knock-offs, Saturdays and Sundays. It is reccomended that you do book for a tasting as the space is intimate, and Kirstyn and Brendan want to keep the vibe relaxed and personal.
It is a place that invites conversation, creativity, and discovery with an intentional and defined focus on the wines that speak for themselves. This is pure BK Wine energy bottled up and ready to pour.
BK Wines Tasting Room
Where: Opposite 90 Knotts Hill Road, Basket Range
When: Friday afternoon/early evening, Saturday & Sunday
Bookings: Please book in advance to avoid disappointment.
Walk-ins are welcome pending capacity. Maximum group size is 12.
For more information, click here.
