Sauvignon Wild Ferment Iona, Elgin Highlands 2024

Andrew Gunn, Elgin Highlands 

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.

The Elgin Highlands, where Iona’s Wild Ferment Sauvignon Blanc is grown, is South Africa’s coolest winegrowing region—thanks to its elevation (420–450 m), proximity to the Atlantic (just 4 km away), and constant maritime breezes and cloud cover. Nestled in the Overberg’s Elgin Valley and surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, this plateau benefits from a long, slow ripening season—grapes often mature up to two months later than in warmer zones. The soils are a well-draining mix of gravel, sandstone, silica/quartz, and underlying clay, which gently stress the vines and concentrate flavour. This combination of cool climate, long hang time, and complex soils contributes to the wine’s signature tension, purity, and mineral drive.

Perfectly ripe Sauvignon Blanc grapes fermented with wild yeast in large wood format results in an array of complexity: textured, multi-layered with minerality, salinity, blackcurrant, white stone fruits, a rich palate and a long zesty finish.

Grapes: 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 10% Sémillon

Organic