Five-star winery Gibson Wines’ iconic Australian Shiraz scores high in New Zealand

Read on for the rich history of this world-class winery and its renowned winemaker, Rob Gibson; the story behind these spectacular wines; and the importer bringing top drops such as Gibson Wines to our New Zealand shores.

With more than 45 years of experience in the wine industry under his belt, viticulturist, geologist, winemaker, and founder of Gibson Wines Rob Gibson knows what he’s doing – and it shows. Or rather, you can taste it.

Gibson – known to many as ‘The Dirtman’, an apt nickname dating back to his time studying at Roseworthy College and nodding to his passion for wine growing and geology – is one of Australia’s foremost winemakers. Previously the senior viticulturist at celebrated winery Penfolds, where he spent many years, Gibson now showcases the nuances of South Australia’s famous Barossa region through his Gibson Wines.

Leaving Penfolds, Rob launched Gibson Wines in 1996. The Gibson range of wines features a diverse selection of varieties and styles sourced from the winery’s own vineyards in Light Pass and Eden Valley as well as from select growers.

White wines include fresh, crisp Eden Valley Riesling and fruit-forward, supple Adelaide Hills Pinot Gris. Among the reds are Rob’s signature ‘The Dirtman’ Shiraz and the Gibson Reserve Barossa Shiraz, which was recently named among dish Magazine’s Top 10 Australian Shirazes. (It also scored 95 points from Wine Orbit and 94 points from The Wine Front.) Undoubtedly, the red wines showcase Rob’s winemaking style for high-quality, good-value wines that maximise flavour.

Today, Gibson Wines is a Halliday Wine Companion five-star-rated winery whose Old Vine Barossa Shiraz also boasts the Barossa Trust Mark, a designation that recognises and celebrates excellence in food, wine, and tourism offerings from across the Barossa region.

To try these wines in New Zealand, look no further than United Cellars, a personalised and dedicated wine brokerage that imports some of the world’s finest wines. Established in 2004, United Cellars is a family-owned business that works directly with leading wineries around the world. Like Gibson Wines, United Cellars prides itself on the flavours of the wines – meticulously tasting stock and drawing on the expertise of Masters of Wine Alistair Cooper and Andrea Pritzker before selling it. What’s more, the company also focuses on the stories behind the wines it sells – not just scores and tasting notes. With Gibson Wines’ rich and storied history and reputation for first-rate wines, it’s easy to see how this winery’s story fits so well alongside United Cellars objectives and values.  

Visit United Cellars’ Gibson Wines page to see all available wines.

Facebook: @UnitedCellarsNZ

Instagram: @unitedcellarsnz