Gibson sees an Italian accent as the way forward for the Barossa

Experienced Barossa viticulturist and wine producer Rob Gibson knows the industry needs to change.

For Gibson that means incorporating grapes more suited to increasingly warm regions to the usual varietals in Australia.

Gibson Wines has just released The Prospect, a shiraz montepulciano blend from the 2023 vintage.

It is a deliberate response to a rapidly warming Barossa - and contemporary tastes.

“The future comes every new vintage… challenging our skills and adaptability,” says Gibson.

"Warmer seasons and compressed harvests are no longer outliers. They are the working conditions."

For Gibson, blending has become a practical tool for resilience.

“As a viticulturist we try and predict the unpredictable," he said. "There is no crystal ball for the future. Gut instinct and experience lead the way.

"Montepulciano plays a central role. It holds structure and freshness through heat, bringing lift and savoury tension to shiraz’s depth and familiarity.

"Together, the varieties deliver clarity and balance without excess weight. The blend of shiraz and montepulciano reflects the cooler style of Barossa.

“The Prospect was born from a restless curiosity, seeking continued improvement in what we do and what we produce. 

”This is not experimentation for novelty’s sake. It is refinement. A wine built with the realities of climate in mind and with confidence in where the region is heading."

I've asked to try it, and will report back. 

The Prospect Shiraz Montepulciano 2023 is available now for $40 through Gibson Wines at https://gibsonwines.com.au/