Iona, Sophie Le Rouge 2020

Imagine an area surrounded by hills and forest, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, and filled with works of art. This is the setting where Iona’s excellent white, rosé and red wines are produced. For Andrew Gunn, the owner, it was love at first sight. He identified that Geelbeksvlei Farm has a unique climate in South Africa, something of a cross between Bordeaux and Sancerre (France), but with the advantage of less rainfall in the summer and warmer springs and autumns. Iona’s unique character also comes from the partnership between Gunn and his wife Rozy. He, an engineer, she, a sculptor. The creative combination between these two visionaries has transformed them into producers of high-quality wines.

VM sommelier Ana Júlia sums up the relationship between art and winemaking at Iona this way: “Certain wines are works of art. Like sculpture, they express their complexity, character and richness. Iona knows this very well. It sees art as an inspiration for wines, and wines as an inspiration for art.”

Iona’s philosophy is to express the individuality of the site in its products. From the vineyard to the distribution, everything is done in-house. Using sustainable agricultural methods, it maximizes the use of natural products in agriculture and wine production. “We want to make living wine,” say the owners. For this reason, they do not use synthetic fertilizers or insecticides.

The company’s vineyard is located in the highest and coldest region of the Elgin Valley in South Africa, surrounded by the Kogelberg Biosphere. The combination of the 450-meter altitude and the proximity of the freezing Atlantic Ocean means that the prevailing wind from the southeast blows through the vines, forming misty clouds that cover the farm on hot days. This unique phenomenon protects the grapes from the African sun, allowing filtered sunlight to enter, regulating the growth and ripening of the fruit. In this way, it contributes to the production of wines with ideal acidity, smooth, elegant, balanced and with a complex but delicate aromatic profile.