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Unico Zelo 'Fresh A.F.'
Grapes — Nero d'Avola, Zibibbo
Region — Riverland, South Australia, Australia
Tasting Notes — Vivid, juicy, and unabashedly fun. Red cherry, ripe plum, and blood orange on the nose, with a floral lift from the ancient-vine Zibibbo that gives the whole thing an aromatic brightness. The palate is succulent and energetic — light on its feet, bursting with fresh fruit, and finishing clean and dry. Exactly as advertised: Fresh. A.F.
The Wine — A blend of Nero d'Avola with a splash of ancient-vine Zibibbo (the Sicilian name for Muscat of Alexandria), sourced from the sun-drenched Riverland of South Australia. Nero d'Avola is one of the most water-efficient varieties on earth — a crucial quality in Australia's increasingly arid growing conditions — and here it channels the heat of the Riverland into something bright and refreshing rather than heavy and extracted. No additions in vineyard or winery, save for a small addition of sulfur at bottling.
Farming — Sustainable farming with organic and eco-friendly practices throughout. Unico Zelo's grape selection is itself a farming philosophy: by focusing on Mediterranean drought-resistant varieties that thrive in Australia's climate, they dramatically reduce the need for irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Australia's first certified B Corporation winery, with 1% of new product revenue dedicated to reforestation.
Winemaking — Minimal intervention from start to finish. No additions in the vineyard or winery beyond a small sulfur component at bottling. The winemaking gets out of the way and lets the variety and the site do the talking — which, in the case of Nero d'Avola in the Riverland, is a very good conversation.
The Producer — Brendan and Laura Carter founded Unico Zelo in 2012, fresh out of university, with a mission to make wines that were unashamedly Australian — built for this climate, honest about this land, and made for people who actually want to drink them. Laura Carter is the winemaker, bringing a background in agricultural science and a deep commitment to terroir-driven, minimal-intervention winemaking to every bottle. Together, the Carters have built one of the most exciting and genuinely principled small wineries in Australia — championing drought-resistant varieties, transparent sustainability practices, and the kind of irreverent energy that makes wine feel accessible without dumbing it down. Fresh A.F. started as a collaboration, became a cult favorite, and never looked back.
Drink It With — Grilled lamb skewers, arancini, antipasto, a backyard barbecue, or the kind of Tuesday where you just need something delicious and zero fuss.
Unico Zelo 'Fresh A.F.'
Grapes — Nero d'Avola, Zibibbo
Region — Riverland, South Australia, Australia
Tasting Notes — Vivid, juicy, and unabashedly fun. Red cherry, ripe plum, and blood orange on the nose, with a floral lift from the ancient-vine Zibibbo that gives the whole thing an aromatic brightness. The palate is succulent and energetic — light on its feet, bursting with fresh fruit, and finishing clean and dry. Exactly as advertised: Fresh. A.F.
The Wine — A blend of Nero d'Avola with a splash of ancient-vine Zibibbo (the Sicilian name for Muscat of Alexandria), sourced from the sun-drenched Riverland of South Australia. Nero d'Avola is one of the most water-efficient varieties on earth — a crucial quality in Australia's increasingly arid growing conditions — and here it channels the heat of the Riverland into something bright and refreshing rather than heavy and extracted. No additions in vineyard or winery, save for a small addition of sulfur at bottling.
Farming — Sustainable farming with organic and eco-friendly practices throughout. Unico Zelo's grape selection is itself a farming philosophy: by focusing on Mediterranean drought-resistant varieties that thrive in Australia's climate, they dramatically reduce the need for irrigation, synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, and fungicides. Australia's first certified B Corporation winery, with 1% of new product revenue dedicated to reforestation.
Winemaking — Minimal intervention from start to finish. No additions in the vineyard or winery beyond a small sulfur component at bottling. The winemaking gets out of the way and lets the variety and the site do the talking — which, in the case of Nero d'Avola in the Riverland, is a very good conversation.
The Producer — Brendan and Laura Carter founded Unico Zelo in 2012, fresh out of university, with a mission to make wines that were unashamedly Australian — built for this climate, honest about this land, and made for people who actually want to drink them. Laura Carter is the winemaker, bringing a background in agricultural science and a deep commitment to terroir-driven, minimal-intervention winemaking to every bottle. Together, the Carters have built one of the most exciting and genuinely principled small wineries in Australia — championing drought-resistant varieties, transparent sustainability practices, and the kind of irreverent energy that makes wine feel accessible without dumbing it down. Fresh A.F. started as a collaboration, became a cult favorite, and never looked back.
Drink It With — Grilled lamb skewers, arancini, antipasto, a backyard barbecue, or the kind of Tuesday where you just need something delicious and zero fuss.