Iona, Elgin Highlands Sauvignon Blanc, 2024

€21.99

This beautifully pure, fresh and vibrant wine is one of our favourite Sauvignon Blancs from the last twenty years, and one of our all-time favourite South African wineries. Saline in texture with tropical flavours of lime, gooseberry, blossom and grapefruit with a sensational palate that is mineral, elegant and balanced, with a long, complex finish.

It's also excellent value for money.

The wine is made from grapes grown in nine different plots in the same vineyard, whose soils are made of a fabulous mixture of sandstone, clay, quartz, silica and gravel, each allowing for a broad and complex expression of Sauvignon to be developed in the winery. Fermentation is partially temperature-controlled and the final wine sees the additional blending of a tiny portion of Sémillon, which is aged in old 500-litre barrels, which adds further complexity to the wine and fleshes-out some of the mid-palate. It remains a Sauvignon Blanc (legally, interestingly) in character and execution, but a serious contender for food-pairing and savouring as easily one of the best Sauvignons you'll have the pleasure of drinking.

When Andrew Gunn bought the Iona estate, the land, situated at 420 metres above sea-level, was an apple orchard. He was roundly laughed-at when he started planning for vineyards, as the climate in Elgin, and especially in the sub-zone of the Elgin Highlands, is very cool indeed. Suitable for apples, but surely not serious viticulture? That's where the story started and though it's not fair or accurate to say that the rest is history, the rest certainly did follow-on with exceptionally fine harvests of crisp, saline, focussed and complex grapes, vintage after vintage. In a country where cool vineyard areas are extremely rare and in a global context of increasing temperatures, it seems that Andrew's purchase and plan could not have been better executed.

The vineyards are all organically and biodynamically farmed with a roving flock of geese to operate the pest-control function. Altitude, plenty of sun and the Atlantic Ocean finish the package of perfect conditions in which to practice viticulture - the results are really impressive.

As ever with wines from South Africa, we've found that it is the whites that typically lead the way to success: if you make elegant, balanced, crisp and complex whites, then you have a far better chance of making decent reds. Our opinion. And here, you will find some seriously wonderful whites.

Region: Elgin

Country: South Africa

Grape(s): Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc

Style: Vibrant, Silky, Pure, Organic, Medium Bodied, Iconic, Fresh, Engaging, Elegant, Complex, Biodynamic, Balanced

Best food matches: Trout, Sushi, Soft Cheeses, Shellfish, Seafood, Salads, Oysters, Mature Cheeses, Lobster, Lamb, Hard Cheeses, Fine Dining, Duck, Christmas Dinner, Charcuterie

Alcohol: 13%

Why buy from us?

When you buy wine from The Allotment Wine Co. you're helping a small Irish company that in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers who grow the grapes and make amazing wines. We only work with partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.

Delivery & Returns

You'll get free delivery when you buy 12 x 75cl bottles of wine online from The Allotment, saving you €7.99.

We charge €7.99 per delivery for quantities less than that.

Our hours for processing orders are between 9am - 6pm Monday to Friday.

We pack your online wine order along the following timelines:

Wine orders for delivery in Dublin, received before 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected the next working day.

Wine orders for nationwide delivery, received by 12pm on weekdays are prepared so that delivery should be expected two working days later.

Customer reviews

★★★★★
Great choice and excellent service. Received my delivery the next day.
Paul H.
★★★★★
Amazing service from the get go!
I emailed Chris looking for wine recommendations for a birthday gift. Got a really speedy, helpful reply and not only that but he hand delivered it on time to the birthday girl wishing her a happy birthday. Absolutely bowled over by the service. Cannot recommend highly enough.
Michelle McM.
★★★★★
Could not recommend The Allotment enough. The selection is fantastic and each wine that I've drank from them has been utterly phenomenal. Delivery was no hassle and I had the wine at my door in 2 days. Couldn't have asked for a better experience.
Luke B.
★★★★★
Good range of interesting wines. Good personal attention to their orders. Very customer focused. I would be happy to recommend this company to any prospective customer.
Jim D.
★★★★★
A great experience ordering from The Allotment Wine Company. A wide variety of wines to try something new and at good prices with super quick delivery! Really convenient too as opposed to trying to find parking!
N. Dowling
★★★★★
Delicious and interesting range of wines delivered promptly to my door. Not far off that lovely feeling of coming back laden from a good wine store but without any of the traffic or the worry of breaking the wine en route (very impressive travel wrap).
M. Dorman
★★★★★
Chris fields a fine range of excellent, keenly-priced wines. Orders are safely packaged and dispatched efficiently and promptly. Strongly recommended.
David M.
★★★★★
Great selection of wines, hassle free ordering, payment and delivery. Highly recommended.
Patrick H.
Hi, I'm Chris Gifford.

And you're very welcome to The Allotment Wine Co.

When you wine from me, you're supporting a small Irish business which in turn supports small, sustainable wine producers, as well as other small, dedicated Irish wine importers.

When selecting wines, I look for partners who share a deep respect and connection with the land and its traditions, witnessed in a firm commitment to quality and sustainability. All of which makes for better wines.