Iona - the unique terroir of southern Africa

At the southern tip of Africa, along the southern coast of the Cape, is South Africa's coolest wine region, the Elgin Valley, and in it, the Iona winery. which has gotten not only us, but a lot of the world's critics. Their Chardonnay won "Best in show" in the UK's Decanter magazine, which is considered the best in the world. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, unique vineyards planted with Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir varieties lie along the southern ridge at an altitude of 420m. The combination of the short distance from the freezing Atlantic Ocean and the rapid rise in altitude causes clouds to form on summer days. This protects the grapes from the African sun - filtered sunlight penetrates the treetops - and results in slow ripening with perfect acidity, moderate alcohol and beautifully developed flavours.

The winery owns and manages all of its vineyards, believing that great wines are grown in the vineyard. Their deep trust in the way they farm allows them to adopt natural winemaking practices in the cellar with minimal use of sulfur, commercial yeasts, enzymes and filtration. The goal is to produce wines that represent the uniqueness of each vintage and celebrate a true sense of terroir.