iOTA Cellars

Don and Johanna Sandberg moved from Minnesota to Oregon in 1999, bought land the following year, and started making wine non-commercially in 2002 — first from purchased fruit, then from their own beginning in 2004. The commercial winery followed in 2006.

The name refers to a very small quantity, which is the whole operating principle: small yields, small lots, small case production. Everything stays under 1,500 cases.

Johanna learned winemaking at the Northwest Viticulture Center in Salem, in the same cohort as Tina Hammond of Privé and Laura Volkman. She interned with the Casteel family at Bethel Heights and with Bryce Bagnall during his time at Witness Tree.

The estate is Pelos Sandberg Vineyard, 11.5 acres in the Eola-Amity Hills planted to Dijon 667 and 777, Pommard, and Wädenswil clones. Everything is 100% estate grown and sustainably farmed, made at the onsite winery. The range is Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Rosé of Pinot Noir.

Visits are private and by appointment, arranged directly. They also run a Thanksgiving-weekend open house that regulars build their year around — one of the few chances to taste through a vertical of older vintages here.