Our Story
rickety bridge – franschhoek
Eikendal – Stellenbosch
A Love is Born
Fíon — meaning wine in Gaelic — is a specialty wine import business born out of a love of wine and Africa.
Michael Tallon’s love affair with Africa began as a child growing up in Ireland. His mother was a huge fan of author Wilbur Smith and his novels chronicling the adventures of the Courtney family and others starting new lives in South Africa.
Once she shared those books with Michael, he was enthralled; his imagination ran wild while reading on during the cold winter nights in Ireland. Nearly 40 years after the infatuation began, Michael finally made his way to Africa and fell in love with South Africa and the wine country of The Western Cape — from Constantia to Elgin, Franschhoek to Stellenbosch, Tulbagh and beyond.
Today, Michael and his partners, John Gibbons are happy to introduce America to some of the wonderful wines of South Africa, primarily from small, family-owned vineyards. The wines that Fíon imports are from small-yield, small-growth, sustainable farms that are committed to the rich history of the region and their territory.
Giving Back to Mother Africa
In his many travels in South Africa, Michael met and became close friends with safari guide Brad Hansen of Hansen Safaris. Through his friendship with Brad, he met Kingsley Holgate and discovered the beauty and wonder of Africa and learned about the struggles as well.
In an effort to support and sustain “Mother Africa,” Fíon Importers is happy and proud to donate a portion of the revenues from wine imported to the US, back to Africa via the Kingsley Holgate Foundation. This money will help support the ongoing struggle to provide fresh drinking water and curb the spread of malaria across the many tribes of Africa.
Eikenhof – Franschhoek
Our People
Eikehof – Franschhoek
Michael Tallon, Founder
Michael has spent 40 years in the food and beverage industry, beginning with soaking in the atmosphere of his family’s hotels in Tipperary, Ireland.
After moving to Boston in the nineties, Michael worked for various bars before opening The Kendall Café, his first bar/restaurant in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He is currently the co-owner and operator of Oscar’s, located in Dedham, MA.
Michael has had a lifelong love affair with wine and craft brewing. Fíon is the culmination of many trips to Africa and many hours of delicious and illuminating wine tastings.
John Gibbons, Founder
John comes from a long line of restaurateurs and bar owners — beginning with his great grandmother’s restaurants The Martinique I & II, his grandmother’s restaurant the Pizza Palace, and his grandfather’s bar, Bob’s Tavern as well as his mother Kathy’s catering business and farmers’ market following. In the spirit of his family’s love of food, drinks, and hospitality, he is the co-owner of Oscar’s, a cozy pub located in Dedham, Massachusetts.
A life-long entrepreneur, John has worked in the financial sector for most of his career. In addition to his endeavors in the food and wine industry, he also works full time in finance and real estate development.
He studied wine at The University of Örebro in Sweden through the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and holds a wine certificate from the University of Adelaide (Australia).
Eikehof – Franschhoek