2025 Unico Zelo Slate Farm Fiano

Unico Zelo's 'desert island' Fiano from Polish Hill River slate: their most popular single-vineyard wine, tropical and taut.

Price:
Sale price$35.00
Stock:
In stock, ready to ship
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Description

Brendan and Laura Carter call Slate Farm their 'desert island' wine, and it's no surprise it's also the fastest seller among Unico Zelo's single-vineyard Fianos. The couple made their name championing this southern Italian grape in South Australia. Fighting the Fiano fight and leading the pack, are these two.

It comes from a small, low-yielding patch of Fiano at Polish Hill River in the Clare Valley, about 300 metres up on ironstone schist clay over the region's classic slate. The fruit got six hours on skins straight after picking, then a wild ferment in tank, no malo and six months on fine lees. Clare's hot days give it ripeness and those tropical notes. The cold nights hang on to the acid.

Frangipani and jasmine jump out of the glass, then pineapple, passionfruit, yellow peach and lime juice with a wet slate edge underneath. The texture is the real drawcard - broad and waxy, classic Fiano, with bright acidity running right through it. 12.5% alcohol, too.

A loud, aromatic Fiano with real grip and freshness, from a site so small Unico Zelo never has enough of it. Grab it while it's around.

Customer Reviews

Winemaker's Notes
In love with this variety and this vineyard more than ever after the 2023 vintage. The 'Unico' Block in Polish Hill River and was absolutely SMASHED by botrytis this year. But the Fiano was in perfect nick. Drought hardy and disease-resistant. Exactly why we love the variety.

The wine itself is true to form the most popular of the Single Vineyard Fiano's we make. Bright pineapple, kiwi, custard apple, lime oil - got a bit of a yuzu vibe this year too! A little less intense on that tropical vibe this year thanks to a very cool vintage where this fruit didn't arrive at the winery until the end of April (!!!). But a ripper wine nonetheless.

This is the Unico Zelo "Desert Island" wine.

Details
Variety: Fiano
Region: Polish Hill River, Clare Valley
Soil Type: Red Clay Loam on Shale
Alcohol: 12.5% ABV
Volume: 750ml
Traditional Owners: Ngadjuri Country
Vegan Friendly

Tasting Note
“This Fiano has got all the Polish Hill River hallmarks – plush white stone fruit and that wet slate minerality. Glorious frangipani and jasmine on the nose, along with those lovely tropical notes that have made this our fastest-selling SV Fiano. The texture of this wine is as good as it gets – beautiful, broad, waxy, and classic Fiano. The acidity is full throttle too, working hand in hand with that waxy Fiano nature. The touchstone flavours are here for those who know this wine well. Ripe pineapple, passionfruit, lime juice, yellow peach. It’s a ripper.” – Unico Zelo

Always the most aromatically enticing wine, a real extravert as soon as it’s released.

Vineyard
From the Hill River vineyard, 300 metres above sea level, Continental climate, Ironstone schist clay over the typical slate of the Clare. Higher UV index + hot summers means more ripeness than the Riverland, bordering on tropical aromas however the diurnal temperature switch that is classic Clare Valley (meaning the night’s are cold vs the hot days) means a lot of acid is retained. Loud, delicious tropical tones balanced with that tight acid.

Sadly it’s from a very small portion of plantings of Fiano in the region along with lower yields than the other sites hence we can never have enough to meet the demand in trade.

Winemaking
6 hours of skin contact in the crusher after picking. Pressed then wild fermented in tank. No Malo. 6 months elevage on fine lees.

Price Bracket $31 to $40
Type White
Body Medium Bodied
Variety Fiano
Country Australia
Region Clare Valley
Australian State SA
Feature Vegan
Women in Wine
Alcohol 12.5%
Size 750ml
Vintage 2025
Closure Cork

Unico Zelo

Unico Zelo is the Adelaide Hills winery of Brendan and Laura Carter, one of the most dynamic duos in Australian wine. The name means 'unique zeal', and while it sounds Italian, the Carters are proudly Australian producers out to give Mediterranean grapes a true Australian identity.

They started the business in 2012. Brendan studied oenology and viticulture and made wine with S.C. Pannell, Jacob's Creek and G.D. Vajra. Laura came up through Henschke's lab and cellars after a trip around Italian wineries got her hooked on how food, culture and wine connect.

Grapes are picked to suit the climate - hardy, drought-tolerant varieties that need little water or chemical help - with fruit from the Clare Valley, Riverland and Adelaide Hills. It's all made with a light touch in a 1920s coldstore in Gumeracha, with texture front of mind.

In 2019 they became, by their account, the first Australian winery certified as a B Corp. Brendan was named the 2026 Wine Communicator of the Year for bringing a younger crowd to wine.

Playful, honest and made for drinking, these are wines for the people, and we love them for it.

Founders Brendan & Laura Carter Discover Unico Zelo

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