Brendan Carter is one of the most dynamic voices in Australian wine. Alongside his wife Laura, he’s the co-founder of Unico Zelo in the Adelaide Hills, a label built on sustainability, accessibility and a deep respect for Australian ingredients. Together they also run Applewood Distillery, celebrating native botanicals through spirits and cocktails, and they’ve grown a reputation for pushing boundaries while staying true to their roots.

Brendan is passionate about reimagining what wine can be in this country — not just a product, but a reflection of place, culture, and community. He’s also a fierce advocate for education, innovation and storytelling, drawing on lessons from great wine capitals around the world while championing South Australia as a leader in its own right.

Sneak preview from the Brendan Carter interview. Stay tuned!

PREVIEW for the wonderful interview with Pauly Vandenbergh

Pauly Vandenbergh grew up on the West Coast of South Australia with a strong sense of cultural identity and connection to Country. He went on to play professional basketball in the NBL before building a career spanning sport, community, and enterprise. Today, Pauly wears many hats — from founding Munda Wines, to leading the Tjindu Foundation, establishing the Aboriginal Basketball Academy, running Wanna Mar seafood in Port Lincoln, and serving in leadership roles with Port Adelaide Football Club and the AFL. At the heart of it all is his mission to create opportunities for the next generation, shift the narrative around Indigenous voices, and build the kind of pathways he wished were there when he was growing up. He’s a passionate storyteller, a mentor, a father of four, and makes the time to take care of his health, with the help of his wife’s yoga and breathwork routines.

Kim Longbottom’s story is one of adaptability, resilience, and quiet determination. Originally from New Zealand, she built a life on the Limestone Coast, growing a highly successful wine brand with her husband Mark in Padthaway.

When Mark was diagnosed with cancer in the early 2000s, they faced it with defiance and optimism, always believing he'd make it through. Years later leukaemia tragically claimed his life when their daughter Margo was just ten years old, leaving Kim with the world on her shoulders.

She's never stopped moving forward, balancing single motherhood with the demands of business, thinking ahead and embracing the next challenge. Today, she runs Vintage Longbottom alongside Margo, continuing to adapt to the ever-evolving world of wine.

Sneak peak from the upcoming interview with Kim Longbottom.

James Hook is one of McLaren Vale’s most respected viticulturists and agronomists, known for his practical knowledge, innovative approach, and deep commitment to sustainable grape growing. As co-founder of DJ’s Growers, he works hands-on with vineyards across the region, helping growers restore and improve blocks, adopt new technologies, and prepare for the challenges of climate and market change.

He played a leading role in creating McLaren Vale’s Sustainable Winegrowing program, which became the model for Sustainable Winegrowing Australia, and today supports thousands of growers nationally. Recognised by WSET and IWSC as one of the global wine industry’s Future 50 leaders, James combines science, community, and storytelling to highlight the importance of how grapes are grown in shaping the wines we love.

Sneak preview from the upcoming interview with James Hook.