12 Aug Please The Palate Wine of the Week: Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F. Riverland, South Australia

When it is hot and humid A.F. outside, you need a wine that is Fresh A.F. And that is exactly what I brought to dinner at a friend’s house in Washington D.C. this week. Friends for more than 30 years, we do not get to see each other as often as we would like, so there was plenty of catching up to do. And as we talked and ate, we enjoyed the Unico Zelo 2024 Fresh A.F., a fresh, juicy, chillable red that was as fun to drink as its name suggests, making it the Please The Palate wine of the week.

About Unico Zelo

Unico Zelo is a family-owned winery based in the Adelaide Hills of South Australia. Founded by Brendan and Laura Carter in 2012, when they were just 20 and 19 years old, respectively, Unico Zelo is Australia’s first Certified B Corp winery (2019), committed to sustainability, regenerative farming, and approachable wines. Brendan and Laura approach making wine with a simple question: What makes sense for where and how Australians live and eat today?

That thinking has led them beyond the Adelaide Hills to the Riverland, a warm, dry region historically associated with high-volume wine production. While many growers have been pulling vines from the region, Brendan sees tremendous potential, particularly in grape varieties that are naturally suited to hot, dry conditions. The Riverland is defined by ancient alluvial soils, with sand over limestone. Brendan and Laura embrace its warm climate and distinctive soils, working with varieties they believe belong there. Unico Zelo has become a champion of varieties such as Fiano and Nero d’Avola, grapes with Mediterranean origins that can thrive with less water while retaining freshness and acidity. The winery describes its goal as making playful wines suited to Australia’s climate, food, and culture.

Tasting Notes

Fresh A.F. is primarily made with Nero d’Avola, a Sicilian grape variety particularly well suited to warm, sun-drenched climates. The Nero d’Avola is co-fermented with a small amount of Zibibbo (Muscat of Alexandria) from old vines, which lifts the aromatics and adds another dimension to the wine. The wine spends a few days on the skins, keeping extraction and tannin in check. The result is not a big, heavy Australian red. It is vibrant and fresh with bright red fruit aromas and juicy acidity. Only 12% alcohol, serve chilled and it is the perfect wine for a summer meal.

Food Pairing

My friends and I enjoyed the Unico Zelo Fresh A.F. with a variety of dishes, including Greek chicken, baked feta and tomatoes, chickpea salad, hummus, and tzatziki. We also enjoyed the wine with a cheese board. The soft tannins and juicy acidity made the wine a perfect addition to the table.

Where To Purchase

Unico Zelo Fresh A.F. retails for $20-$25 depending on where you purchase it. To find the wine from a retailer in the US, check out Wine-Searcher.com 

Meet The Winemaker

In addition to making wine and distilling spirits, Brendan also has a popular YouTube channel about wine called BottleShock.