Simi Winery
Encyclopedia
Simi Winery is one of the oldest and largest superpremium-class boutique wineries in California.
in 1876 by two Italian
brothers, Giuseppe and Pietro Simi, who had immigrated to the United States during the California Gold Rush
. They moved operations to Healdsburg, California
in 1881, paying $2,250 in gold coins to buy a winery on Front Street.
The winery was run by Giuseppe Simi's daughter, Isabel, beginning 1904. After marrying a local banker, Isabel Simi continued to make wine during Prohibition
from 1920 until 1933, which she stored in the winery's stone cellars. One of the few California wineries to survive Prohibition, Simi was forced to sell most of its vineyards to survive, but was also one of the few companies to have wine available when sales were again legal. Simi opened its first tasting room
in 1934. Isabel Simi sold the winery to grower Russell Green in 1970 but continued working there.
In 1973 Maryann Graf, the first woman to graduate from an American university with a degree in oenology
, joined Simi. In 1979 winemaking was taken over by Zelma Long, one of California's most prominent winemakers, who modernized and brought the winery to national prominence. The winery was sold in 1981 to Moët-Hennessy, which in turn became part of LVMH Moët Hennessy. Beginning 1982 the winery began to re-acquire its own vineyards. Long, who continued after the Hennessy sale, eventually became President and CEO.
LMVH sold the winery for approximately US$50 million in 1999 to Canandaigua Brands, a division of Constellation Brands
. It is now owned by Icon Estates, Constellation's luxury wine subsidiary.
, planted in Bordeaux
varietal wines, and the 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) "Goldfields Vineyard" in Russian River Valley, planted to Chardonnay
clones.
History
The winery was founded in San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1876 by two Italian
Italian American
An Italian American , is an American of Italian ancestry. The designation may also refer to someone possessing Italian and American dual citizenship...
brothers, Giuseppe and Pietro Simi, who had immigrated to the United States during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. They moved operations to Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg, California
Healdsburg is a city located in Sonoma County, California, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a population of 11,254...
in 1881, paying $2,250 in gold coins to buy a winery on Front Street.
The winery was run by Giuseppe Simi's daughter, Isabel, beginning 1904. After marrying a local banker, Isabel Simi continued to make wine during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
from 1920 until 1933, which she stored in the winery's stone cellars. One of the few California wineries to survive Prohibition, Simi was forced to sell most of its vineyards to survive, but was also one of the few companies to have wine available when sales were again legal. Simi opened its first tasting room
Tasting room
A tasting room is a part of a winery, typically located on the premises of the winery's production facilities, at which guests may sample the winery's products...
in 1934. Isabel Simi sold the winery to grower Russell Green in 1970 but continued working there.
In 1973 Maryann Graf, the first woman to graduate from an American university with a degree in oenology
Oenology
Oenology,[p] œnology , or enology is the science and study of all aspects of wine and winemaking except vine-growing and grape-harvesting, which is a subfield called viticulture. “Viticulture & oenology” is a common designation for training programmes and research centres that include both the...
, joined Simi. In 1979 winemaking was taken over by Zelma Long, one of California's most prominent winemakers, who modernized and brought the winery to national prominence. The winery was sold in 1981 to Moët-Hennessy, which in turn became part of LVMH Moët Hennessy. Beginning 1982 the winery began to re-acquire its own vineyards. Long, who continued after the Hennessy sale, eventually became President and CEO.
LMVH sold the winery for approximately US$50 million in 1999 to Canandaigua Brands, a division of Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands
Constellation Brands, Inc., headquartered in Victor, New York, is the world’s leading wine company with a broad portfolio of widely admired premium brands across the wine, beer and spirits categories.-History and description:...
. It is now owned by Icon Estates, Constellation's luxury wine subsidiary.
Production
Simi owns 600 acres (2.4 km²) of vineyards in Alexander ValleyAlexander Valley
The Alexander Valley is a Californian American Viticultural Area just north of Healdsburg in Sonoma County. It is home to many wineries and vineyards, as well as the city of Cloverdale. It is the largest and most fully planted wine region in Sonoma. Highway 101 runs through the valley, and the...
, planted in Bordeaux
Bordeaux wine
A Bordeaux wine is any wine produced in the Bordeaux region of France. Average vintages produce over 700 million bottles of Bordeaux wine, ranging from large quantities of everyday table wine, to some of the most expensive and prestigious wines in the world...
varietal wines, and the 120 acre (0.4856232 km²) "Goldfields Vineyard" in Russian River Valley, planted to Chardonnay
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a green-skinned grape variety used to make white wine. It is originated from the Burgundy wine region of eastern France but is now grown wherever wine is produced, from England to New Zealand...
clones.