Fynbos Chardonnay

Perfect with light and delicate food such as raw and lightly cooked shellfish like crab and prawns.

After below-average winter rainfall, an unusually wet spring ensued. Warmer and drier weather during November, December and January accelerated the ripening process and at this stage we expected harvest to be a week or two earlier than in 2022. February and March were characterised by very cool temperatures and unusually high rainfall. Increase in disease pressure necessitated that we monitor the vineyards more carefully and do more precise canopy work. The cooler conditions during February and March slowed down the ripening process of the vines. The resulting wines are showing beautiful expressive fruit, with lovely fruit concentration and bright acidities, giving the wine great vibrancy and tension.

The wine remained on the lees for a total of 12 months with 20% malolactic fermentation and no battonage. Thereafter, the wines were racked and blended. The wine was ned and stabilised naturally for a period of 3 months before bottling.

Grapes were hand-picked and spent overnight in a cold room before being whole bunch pressed. No settling enzymes were used, resulting in juice containing more solids. This wine was 100% wild fermented in a selection of 228L and 300L French oak barrels (20% new, the rest in 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill barrels).

Iona is a cool-climate Elgin wine estate focused on expressing its distinctive soils and maritime-influenced vineyards through sustainable farming and minimal intervention. Best known for Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay, Iona produces precise South African wines defined by freshness, purity and a strong sense of place.