Iona

With the focus initially on Sauvignon Blanc, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, the first vineyards were planted in 1998, followed by Chardonnay and Semillon, and Pinot Noir.

Grapes are picked up to 2 months later than in other wine-producing areas of South Africa and in a short space of time from the first vintage in 2001, Iona, renamed after the island off the West Coast of Scotland, where the owner and producer Andrew Gunn’s ancestors hail from, became one of South Africa’s top producers of Sauvignon Blanc.

In 2003, Andrew married Rozy, a sculptor by profession and fellow converted farmer. The result is an extraordinary partnership between husband and wife, combining art, personified by Rozy, and science, through Andrew. Rozy is committed to sustainable farming and has made her farm biodynamic.

Proceeding with care and gratitude in all that they do, Iona does in no way profess to be all things all people, and in the endeavor to produce a fine glass of wine from this stunning farm, focuses on four quality wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the One Man Band, an estate blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre, and Viognier.

The philosophy at Iona is to make wine that expresses the soils and climate as closely as possible, making use of sustainable farming methods and maximizing the use of natural products in farming and winemaking. Everything is done in-house. From the vineyard to the wine distribution, for Andrew and Rozy, Iona is the sole source of their focus, passion, and great joy.

Highlands

Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc

Beautiful purity of limes and ripe gooseberry, with tropical, floral, and fine herbal notes, ruby grapefruit, and white pear drop on the finish. This is cool climate Sauvignon Blanc – vibrant, mineral, elegant, balanced and delicate, with a long, layered, and complex finish.

They aim for elegance, and balance and to express the unique terroir of the Elgin Highlands. Grapes were hand-picked into crates early in the morning to ensure that the grapes stayed cool. Each of the 9 blocks is harvested and vinified separately.

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Highlands

Elgin Highlands Chardonnay

The 2021 vintage experienced a typical cold Elgin winter, with snow on the high mountain peaks and high winter rainfall, after 5 years of very dry and unusually warm winter conditions. This enabled good vine dormancy. Bud break took place in ideal warm and sunny conditions. The impact of below than average winter rains in the previous years and windy conditions during October and November resulted in very uneven flowering. As a result, the berry set was uneven leading to smaller berries that have a good concentration of flavors. Cool-weather conditions during December and January slowed down ripening. The 2021 vintage was characterized by late rainfall and an increased risk of disease. Sorting was again crucial this year and the fruit that remained shows wonderful intensity and fruit concentration. The late rain helped nourish the soils and more importantly, helped the vine focus on grape ripening rather than foliage growth, resulting in concentrated berries with low pH and lower sugar levels. The net result of the later vintage and very cool weather conditions in 2021, is that the grapes had high natural acidity, achieved steady phenolic ripeness, and plenty of intense and concentrated fruit flavors.

Stylish and Burgundian with bright citrus, white stone fruit, oyster shell minerality, and a hint of brioche. The purity of fruit combined with well-judged oak and bright fresh acidity results in a wine that is layered and complex with a lingering finish.

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Highlands

Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir

Perfumed with a floral nose of rose petals, black and red cherries, strawberries, and underlying spice notes. The palate is textured, succulent, and complex, with a long savory finish. Vibrant acidity and fine-grained chalky tannins make this a powerful and exceptional age-worthy wine. This is a classic, focused Pinot Noir.

Grapes were hand harvested into small crates and spent overnight in a cold room. Extensive bunch sorting by hand prior to destemming occurred.

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