Iona Solace Syrah is a remarkably elegant, cool-climate red wine produced in the high-altitude Elgin Valley of South Africa. Founded by Andrew Gunn, Iona Vineyard sits over four hundred metres above sea level overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, benefiting from cool maritime breezes that create ideal growing conditions for vibrant, Rhône-style reds. Sourced from a single, south-facing vineyard block planted on stony soils, Solace presents a poised, aromatic, and mineral-driven expression of Syrah that balances succulent fruit with peppered spice.

Why You'll Love It

This wine stands out for its extraordinary freshness, floral elegance, and refined cool-climate energy. Crafted with a gentle, low-intervention hands-off philosophy, the grapes undergo spontaneous natural fermentation with a small percentage of whole bunches to build subtle aromatic complexity and structural fine-grained tension. Aged thoughtfully in seasoned French oak, it avoids heavy wood intervention, allowing pristine notes of wild dark berries, crushed peppercorns, and delicate fynbos herbs to shine through.

Vineyard & Production

The fruit is hand-harvested from a single south-facing vineyard planted on Brocha gravel and stony clay soils in Elgin. The harvested clusters are chilled overnight before careful sorting and partial destemming, retaining ten percent whole clusters. Fermentation occurs spontaneously using indigenous yeasts in open-top fermenters, with gentle manual punch-downs twice daily to extract colour and silky tannins. The wine then matures in large, old French oak barrels for around twelve months to allow the natural fruit and mineral core to integrate gracefully without adding strong wood flavours.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, it displays a bright ruby-purple hue. The nose is lifted and fragrant, opening with enticing scents of ripe brambles, dark cherries, and wild blackberries, seamlessly interwoven with notes of cracked white pepper, lavender, dried rosemary, and subtle cured meat. On the palate, it is medium-bodied, lithe, and succulent, offering concentrated red and dark berry flavours underpinned by powdery, fine-grained tannins and a crisp beam of natural acidity that drives into a long, dry, and mineral-accented finish.

Perfect Pairings

With its bright acidity, savoury spice notes, and supple tannin structure, this cool-climate Syrah is a wonderful match for refined meat dishes and Mediterranean cuisine. It pairs magnificently with braised lamb shanks with rosemary, pan-seared duck breast, grilled venison loin, and slow-cooked pork belly. It is also an excellent partner for wild mushroom ragù, roasted root vegetables, and medium-aged cheeses such as Pecorino, Gouda, or mild blue cheese.

Grape Varieties

100% Syrah

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