Unico Zelo
JULY 2024
Get ready to be wowed! About a month ago, one of our local importers made an appointment for me to meet with winemaker Laura Carter, who was visiting Seattle from Australia's Adelaide Hills. She and her husband, Brendan, work with local co-ops that they've migrated to Italian varietals – ancient grapes that they cultivated in Australian soil. I'm here to tell you, it's a fun combo! They gave us a deal, and I bought your July wine club on the spot. I don't think these wines are anywhere else in Seattle yet, and they may be too obscure to ever get traction. But you have access to them. And be glad. They are killer!
The 2-bottle club is a Nero d'Avola blend and an orange wine – both from Riverland vineyards with Adelaide Hills and Clare Valley grapes blended in. For our 3-bottle club members, you'll get a terrific Fiano, just from Riverland.
About Unico Zelo
Founded in 2012, husband/wife team Laura & Brendan Carter have a fun thing going. With $5000 to their name and some impressive charisma, they kicked off this idea: crafting wine from ancient grapes grown in Australian soil... a totally different concept than what the world thinks of when they think of Australian wine.
Brendan is more interested in the dirt. Laura has developed into the more skilled winemaker, so they complement each other nicely. They work with about 20-25 growers who are now growing Italian varietals. It was no small feat to get them to rip out their Shiraz and plant Nero d'Avola, Fiano & more, but Shiraz is susceptible to smoke taint which (with repeated fires) growers were having problems with. In talking to them you have the feeling that they're hard-working, excited, a little clueless, but smart. In an interview, Brendan said that they have no baggage of legacy but no wisdom from experience either. It's all a learning process.
The Riverland
Riverland is a large grape growing region about 2 hours northeast of Adelaide. Located inland, it has more variation between day and night temperatures with hot days and cooler nights than more coastal regions. They have a long growing season where grapes can fully ripen and relatively low moisture so grape diseases are held to a minimum. Soils in the lower river valley are loams & clay. Higher up the valley changes to sand, lime & clay. The growers cultivate the traditional Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Chardonnay, but it has proven to be a versatile area, and winemakers (like Laura & Brendan) are trying out lots of new varietals. –Wine Australia
2-BOTTLE CLUB
Unico Zelo 2022 Esoterico • Riverland & Clare Valley, Australia • Reg $23.99 | Mixed Case $19.19
This is an Amber wine (what we call an orange wine) made from Zibibbo (also called Muscat of Alexandria and grown in Sicily) & Gewürztraminer (grown in northern Italy, Germany & France). Rosé is wine made from short skin contact with red grapes. Orange/Amber wine is made from extended skin contact with darker-skinned white grapes.
And yes, it's amber in color with floral, kind of earthy aromas of citrus, white peach, ginger and other Asian spices. (As it opens, the ginger becomes more prominent.) Flavors of citrus, nectarines, blood oranges and orange peel. Tingly, spicy acidity with a great, long herbal finish. Crazy-fun wine. Enjoy as a refreshing warm weather sipper or serve with seafood dishes, rotisserie chicken, chickpea curry, roasted curried cauliflower & more. Drink now to 2 years.
Unico Zelo 2023 Fresh A.F. • Riverland & Adelaide Hills • Reg $35.99 | WINE CLUB $30.99 | Mixed Case $24.79
When Jules saw the name of this wine, she said: You can't buy that!! But I already had: a) because it's amazing and b) because I had no idea what the label meant. So we'll cut our 2 Gen Z winemakers some slack, and just quote them for a better understanding:
If anywhere in the world could make the freshest, zippiest style of Red - you'd expect it to be in the middle of the desert. Hailing from some of the most ancient soils on earth - The Riverland, is a complete underdog region that epitomises what it is to craft fine wine on the edge. Rich red earth, sandy soils covering limestone. Challenging, avant-garde - and one of the most exciting wines we've crafted to date. We're intensely passionate about Nero d'Avola and it's clear potential in the warm, sun-drenched spots of Australia. The insane water-efficiency of this variety coupled with no additions in the vineyard or winery (save for a small component of SO2 at bottling) displays the potential for this variety to craft succulent, juicy, aromatic and supremely refreshing wine. A touch of ancient vine Zibibbo lifts the aroma into supreme smashability. Fresh. A.F. You've been warned." –winemakers' notes.
The blend is 97% Nero d'Avola & 3% Zibibbo from ancient, sandy, limestone soils. Fresh, big aromas of strawberries & roses. Orange peel & red fruits on the palate. Light & smooth. In summer, it would be best slightly chilled. Bright and fresh as it gets. Summer in a bottle! Soft acidity and soft tannins make this a great sipper. Would also be tasty with a burger, cobb salad, pizza, charcuterie, and grilled salmon. Per the winemaker's instructions, drink now!
3-BOTTLE CLUB
Unico Zelo 2021 River Sand Fiano • Riverland, Australia • Reg $35.99 | Mixed Case $28.79
100% Fiano (a grape normally grown in southern Italy: Campania, Puglia & Sicily) from iron-rich sandy soils with limestone. Wonderful nose of green mango, papaya and somewhat exotic, smoky notes. Luscious with flavors of pineapple, kiwi, apples and nectarines. Great acidity all the way to a long, full, lingering finish. Absolutely amazing wine in my opinion. Sip and savor or enjoy with Salt & Pepper Squid, scallops, salmon, tuna. Has seafood written all over it! Drink now to 1 year. Give it a little time open if you can to let the flavors come out.
I am beyond stoked with these wines! They are a crazy-fun find & perfect for summer!
Cheers,
Jens Strecker, Owner
Portalis Wine Shop