Iona, Elgin Highlands Pinot Noir, Elgin, South Africa, 2025

Producer Profile

At 420m above sea level, set high above the picturesque Elgin Valley overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, Andrew Gunn founded Iona among some of the coolest vineyards in the Cape.

In a country where cool-climate vineyards are like gold dust, these vineyards are veritable nuggets. The growing season is extremely long, harvesting up to 2 months after Stellenbosch, which allows Andrew to create wines with complex flavours and a fresh, elegant style. The viticultural approach is emphatically hands-off: the land is farmed according to organic and biodynamic principles, with particular focus on ensuring the health of the soil, and pests are kept under control by the resident flock of geese that roam the vineyards.

Viticulture

Iona winery uses organic practices in the cultivation of their wines. Minimal intervention whilst the grapes are growing with hand harvesting to select only the best grapes for the wines.

Winemaking

Grapes were hand‑harvested into small crates, chilled overnight, and carefully sorted by hand before being destemmed without crushing. After a 5–7 day cold soak, fermentation occurred naturally in open‑top fermenters, with gentle punch‑downs and pump‑overs twice daily, reaching a peak of 28°C. The wine was then transferred to 300L French oak barrels (20% new, remainder 2nd–4th fill) for malolactic fermentation and aged on the lees for 15 months. It was racked and blended in stainless steel (50% Kroon, 50% Beeskamp), naturally clarified for two months, and bottled.

Tasting Note

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 savoury finish. Vibrant acidity and fine grained chalky tannins make this a powerful and exceptional age worthy wine. This is classic, focussed Pinot Noir.

Food matching

Beef Bourginon with mushroom or braised lamb shanks.