Unico Zelo - 'Esoterico', Skin Contact, Clare Valley and Riverland, Australia (2022)

 7-21 days of skin contact (variety dependent) until dry. Matured for 12 months in a combination of old oak foudres and stainless steel on the fine lees before racking to stainless for further maturation prior to bottling. No additions of any kind save for sulphur at the time of bottling. Unfined. Unfiltered.

Unico Zelo is an innovative winery located in the Adelaide Hills, established by the dynamic duo Brendan and Laura Carter. The couple launched Unico Zelo fresh from university in 2014, with a focus on producing Italian-inspired, textural, and site-expressive wines. They are known for working with both local grapes and those sourced from further afield, aiming to showcase new varieties and transform less celebrated sites into sources of unique wines.

The Carters are committed to a minimal-intervention approach in their winemaking, emphasizing natural-spectrum, energy-packed wines. They explore lesser-known varieties and regions, notably giving significant attention to Fiano and Nero d’Avola, showcasing distinct vineyard characteristics along with varietal ones. This approach has led them to work with progressive growers in South Australia’s Riverland, highlighting the nuance and individuality of each site. 

The winery employs sustainable farming methods, working closely with growers who practice organic and eco-friendly viticulture. They are a certified B Corporation Winery, dedicating 1% of new product revenue to jungle reforestation efforts. This initiative underlines their commitment not just to winemaking but to broader environmental concerns.