K1 Wines

K1 by Geoff Hardy, the cellar door most people just call K1 Wines, sits on Tynan Road at Kuitpo on the southern edge of the Adelaide Hills. The tasting room is built around a man-made lake, and dogs are genuinely welcome here, on the deck, the lawns and even inside, which makes it a natural pairing with a walk in Kuitpo Forest.

The dog setup

Leashed dogs are welcome across the outdoor areas, including the front deck of the Lakehouse and the lawn that runs down toward the water, and staff are comfortable with dogs inside the cellar door too. Water bowls are usually on hand, but bring your own treats and a long line if you want to give your dog a little more reach on the grass while you taste.

The vibe

The lake setting is the headline, with steep vine rows rising behind the water. The wines lean cool climate, with chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, pinot noir and cabernet across the K1 and Hand Crafted ranges, and cheese and charcuterie platters cover you if tasting turns into lunch.

Standard tastings run $15 a person for a flight of four wines, redeemable against a three-bottle purchase or a Cru Club membership, and seated tastings are capped at 90 minutes. Book ahead on weekends because tables fill quickly, and keep your dog on lead at all times, as this is a working winery with roads and machinery moving through.

Getting there and parking

The address is 159 Tynan Road, Kuitpo, roughly 45 minutes to an hour from the Adelaide CBD. Parking is free and ample on site, with a short, flat walk from the car park to the deck, and the cellar door opens 11am to 4pm every day.

Pair it with

Kuitpo Forest is minutes away, and dogs are welcome on its pine and native trails on lead, including the loops around Kuitpo Forest Reserve and the Forest Trail in Kuitpo Forest. If you want to make a weekend of it, CABN Kuitpo Forest and Woodcutter's Cottage are pet-friendly stays close by. Note the forest closes on catastrophic fire danger days, so check conditions in summer.

Find more options in the South Australian wineries guide or on the Kuitpo destination page.

Pepsi: a lake, a lawn and a platter. I hold the long line, look noble, and the tasting lasts twice as long.