Bottelary Hills · Stellenbosch · South Africa
Minimal intervention wines, made with patience.
Wines by Clarise Sciocatti
The Winery
A boutique South African winery letting terroir speak through restraint.
IL GECO Wines produces minimal intervention wines from the Bottelary Hills in Stellenbosch, Cape Winelands. Founded by winemaker Clarise Sciocatti, IL GECO (Italian for "the gecko") crafts single-varietal Pinot Gris, Sangiovese and zero-dosage Cap Classique using indigenous yeast fermentation, neutral oak maturation and no fining.
Inspired by the resilient gecko: both the vine and the gecko thrive in demanding environments.
At a Glance
- Winemaker
- Clarise Sciocatti, WSET Diploma
- Region
- Bottelary Hills, Stellenbosch
- Style
- Minimal intervention, indigenous yeast
- Founded
- 2022
- Wines
- Pinot Gris · Sangiovese · Cap Classique
The Range
Three wines. Limited releases.
Pinot Gris
2023 · Single-varietal white
Fresh notes of citrus blossom, gooseberry, lemon, nectarine, peach, melon, and fleshy pear. Dried oregano and sage to garnish. The palate is broad yet elegant with stone fruit notes carrying through from the nose. A bright acidity supports and lengthens a dry yet creamy finish.
View wine02
Sangiovese
2023 · Single-varietal red
Freshly picked tart cherries, strawberries, raspberries, and red plum are well complimented by a savoury Parma like salinity and roasted cherry tomatoes. A bright and vibrant wine with soft textured, powdery tannins.
View wine03
Cap Classique
2019 · Sparkling, zero dosage
Clean mineral lemony freshness. Bruised apple, strawberries and brioche well rounded by a creamy fine-beaded mousse.
View wineHeritage
From silkworm farmers to the forest, to the vine.
In 1881, Italian silkworm farmers were uprooted from Northern Italy to establish a silk industry in Gouna, South Africa. When the silkworms would not feed on the indigenous mulberry trees, these families adapted and became people of the forest: woodcutters and carpenters forging a new existence.
Among them was Domenico Sciocatti, an ancestor of Clarise.
Philosophy
Simplicity, balance and indigenous yeast.
Our wines are made with minimal intervention and patience. High-quality fruit and meticulous handling allow fermentation with indigenous yeasts, the wild strains naturally present on grape skins and in the cellar. Maturation occurs in neutral 500-litre French oak barrels to preserve varietal integrity, with no fining and only light filtration.
These wines are not intended to be Italian. They are South African. Like Clarise, the vineyards are rooted in South Africa.
“Wines shouldn't be complicated or pretentious. Just enjoy them.”
Clarise Sciocatti, Winemaker