IRA Wines

Ira Wines

Ira Wines was born from a labour of love.... In our personal capacity as wine lovers and the born urge of adventure; we always tried to source wines from "off the beaten track" destinations. A particular love was that of trying to avoid the real commercial cellars that make wine from every grape that was produced on the farm as this was the only source of income. The result of this practise sometimes results in wine being produced using inferior quality grapes for whatever reason.

We developed a particular love for "co-op type" wines where wines are being produced in a business minded manner but not "at all cost". Only the best grapes are selected for this process and often significantly less wine is produced to avoid quality being compromised just for the sake of commercial gain.

We have started this journey 3 years ago by stumbling across a unique part of the Western Cape Wine producing region in South Africa, namely the little town called McGregor. This town is often called the place situated on a road to 'no-where' due to the road from Robertson physically ends at McGregor. You can go no further as this little town ends in a 'cul de sac' against the northern slopes of the Riviersonderend (directly translated 'river without end') Mountains. A well know phrase to describe the place is: There is a special place... at the end of a road that leads nowhere else...

An area of serene beauty with an ideal terroir for producing exceptional wines. The move to vineyards from traditionally being a fruit producing region specifically apricots has taken place over a few decades resulting in wines being produced from relatively young vineyard stock. The Colombard variety is ideally suited and popular in the region and the accolades prove that some of the best is produced in this area.

Please follow this link to read more about the McGregor Village www.tourismmcgregor.co.za/

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McGregor Wine Company

The McGregor Winery is situated next to the serene town and started to produce wine in 1950.

In May 2004, the McGregor Wine Company was established, and its aim is to promote The McGregor brand nationally and internationally. Integral to that is a move from more than half a century of bulk trading to bottled sales. There are 35 producers who are the main shareholders of the McGregor Wine Company. At this point only 10% of the grapes harvested is bottled but the aim is to move this to 30% within the next five years.

The slogan of the wines produced is absolutely descriptive: "In every bottle there is a story of a very special place"

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Barton Vinyards

Barton, in South Africa's Western Cape province, is located off the R43 road leading to Hermanus. Lying at the foot of the Hottentot Hollands mountain range in the Botriver valley it borders the Kogelberg National Eco Park on the one side and looks across the valley to the Bablionsberg mountains on the other. It is just one hour's drive from Cape Town International Airport and twenty minutes from Hermanus and the beaches of the South Atlantic ocean.

Barton's vineyards at latitude 34 degrees south are some eleven kilometres from the South Atlantic coast in the wine ward of Walker Bay. Planted on the south slopes of the Kogelberg mountains 190 metres above sea level they absorb the cooling sea breezes from Walker Bay. The frost free, cool climate and southerly aspect induces a slow and extended grape ripening period and consequent good colour and tannin formation for the red wines and concentrated fruit and acidity for the white wines. The sub soil is gravelly sandstone interspersed with quartz, ironstone and clay.

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Org de Rac Swartland Estate Organic Winery (Internationally Certified)

This imposing organic wine estate just outside Piketberg is well worth a visit to experience the healthier alternative they are offering wine lovers.

The name "Org de Rac" means "organic off the shelf" and their superior wines are indeed full of the goodness of sun, healthy soil and water.

Org de Rac is the only South African wine producer certified by the Soil Association of Bristol in the UK, a certification which is only awarded after extremely strict investigation of organic production methods. Grapes are harvested by hand, not only to ensure quality, but also to secure jobs for the local community. Development and training is furthermore offered to the staff, to empower them in organic farming practices.

Only three cultivars are grown on the estate, being Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot & Shiraz. There are two product ranges: the Org de Rac range that has had 3 months wood contact and the Family Reserve range which underwent 12 months barrel ageing.

What is Organic?
Organic means that no chemicals, pesticides or herbicides were used in the cultivating of the grapes. Only compost and organic materials are used, with indigenous vegetation for mulching. A tremendous health benefit of organically certified wine is that only half the sulphur content of conventional wine is allowed and other chemical additives not at all.

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