With the focus initially on Sauvignon Blanc, with some Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, Iona‘s first vineyards were planted in 1998, followed by Chardonnay and Semillon, and Pinot Noir.

Grapes are picked up to 2 months later than other wine-producing areas of South Africa and in a short space of time from the first vintage in 2001, Iona, renamed after the island off the West Coast of Scotland, where the owner and producer Andrew Gunn’s ancestors hail from, became one of South Africa’s top producers of Sauvignon Blanc.

In 2003, Andrew married Rozy, a sculptor by profession and fellow converted farmer. The result, an extraordinary partnership between husband and wife, combining art, personified by Rozy, and science, through Andrew. Rozy is committed to sustainable farming and has made her farm biodynamic. 

Proceeding with care and gratitude in all that they do, Iona does in no way profess to be all things all people, and in the endeavor to produce a fine glass of wine from this stunning farm, focuses on four quality wines; Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and the One Man Band, an estate blend of Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, Mourvedre, and Viognier.

The philosophy at Iona is to make wine that expresses the soils and climate as closely as possible, making use of sustainable farming methods and maximizing the use of natural products in farming and winemaking. Everything is done in-house. From the vineyard to the wine distribution, for Andrew and Rozy, Iona is the sole source of their focus, passion, and great joy.