Key facts
- Fact 01
The new Kinross bistro extension in Gibbston, The Nevis, takes indoor seating from 60 to 120.
- Fact 02
The Kinross picnic lawn is about 50% larger, with a bigger stage that can host a five-piece band.
- Fact 03
Kinross added parking for about 60 more vehicles, up from only about 20 spaces.
- Fact 04
The extension is the first since the Kinross cellar door opened almost four years ago.
Kinross, the Gibbston winery and cellar door near Queenstown, has finished major upgrades to its indoor and outdoor spaces, the Otago Daily Times reported on Sunday 25 October 2026. We read the report on Tuesday 27 October, and every detail below comes from it.
The biggest change is a bistro extension called The Nevis, built out the front of the existing bistro. It doubles indoor seating from 60 to 120. The lawn used for informal picnic table dining is about 50% larger, and a bigger stage in front of it can now host a five-piece band rather than only solo or duet acts. The wine garden has been slightly extended too.
Visitors will also find a new wine tasting station for a more informal tasting, a new accommodation reception and extra toilets. The old reception office beside the bistro has become a pizza kitchen. Parking has grown by about 60 spaces, up from only about 20, after gewurztraminer vines near the entrance were moved.
Kinross chief executive James Thomas told the paper this is the first extension since the purpose-built cellar door opened almost four years ago, and that general tourism in the area is looking really strong. The report says Kinross is set to become busier still with the opening of the nearby Kawarau Gorge Trail.
Opening hours, menus and prices were not in the report, so check with Kinross before you go. If you would rather taste without driving, our wine tours without driving guide covers the options, and our car-free stay guide helps with the rest of your trip.
Questions visitors are asking
What has changed at Kinross in Gibbston?
Kinross in Gibbston, near Queenstown, has added a bistro extension called The Nevis that takes indoor seating from 60 to 120. The picnic lawn is about 50% larger, a bigger stage can host a five-piece band, and there is a new wine tasting station, a pizza kitchen and a new accommodation reception.
Is there more parking at Kinross now?
Yes. Kinross in Gibbston has created parking for about 60 more vehicles, up from only about 20 spaces before, according to the Otago Daily Times report of 25 October 2026. The extra space came from moving gewurztraminer vines near the entrance. Check with Kinross directly if you plan to arrive at a busy time.
Can I visit Gibbston wineries near Queenstown without driving?
Yes. Our wine tours without driving guide covers ways to reach Gibbston wineries near Queenstown without taking the wheel yourself. The Otago Daily Times report says Kinross is set to become busier with the opening of the nearby Kawarau Gorge Trail. Opening hours, menus and prices were not in the report, so check first.