Simi Winery
Historic Sonoma County winery known for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and its long-standing connection to Healdsburg and Alexander Valley.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
Simi Winery is a historic California wine producer based in Healdsburg, Sonoma County. Founded in San Francisco in 1876 by Italian immigrant brothers Giuseppe and Pietro Simi, the winery became associated with Sonoma wine after relocating its operations to Healdsburg in 1881. Its history spans the early development of California's commercial wine industry, Prohibition, the post-Prohibition revival of wine tourism, and the consolidation of the American wine business under large international and national beverage groups. The Simi brothers arrived in the United States during the California Gold Rush period and initially established their winery in San Francisco. In 1881 they purchased a winery on Front Street in Healdsburg for $2,250 in gold coins, creating the physical base from which the brand developed. The Healdsburg site and its stone cellars later became central to Simi's identity and survival. During Prohibition, which restricted the commercial production and sale of alcoholic beverages in the United States from 1920 to 1933, the winery was managed by Giuseppe Simi's daughter, Isabelle Simi. She continued making wine and stored it in the winery's cellars. Although Simi had to sell most of its vineyards to remain financially viable, it was among the small number of California wineries able to resume legal sales quickly when Prohibition ended. Simi opened its first tasting room in 1934, placing hospitality and direct consumer engagement at the center of its post-Prohibition business. Isabelle Simi sold the winery to grower Russell Green in 1970 but continued working at the property. The winery subsequently became notable for the influence of women in California wine production. Maryann Graf joined Simi in 1973; she is described in the reference material as the first woman to graduate from an American university with a degree in oenology. In 1979, winemaking responsibility passed to Zelma Long, a prominent California winemaker who modernized production and helped raise the winery's national profile. Long later became president and chief executive, extending her influence beyond cellar operations into the broader direction of the business. Ownership changed again in 1981, when Simi was acquired by Moët-Hennessy, a company that later became part of LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. During the Moët-Hennessy period, the winery began reacquiring vineyards, starting in 1982. This reflected a strategic effort to strengthen control over grape supply and reinforce the relationship between the brand and its Sonoma County growing regions. In 1999, LVMH sold Simi for approximately US$50 million to Canandaigua Brands, a division of Constellation Brands. Simi is now identified with Icon Estates, Constellation's luxury-wine subsidiary. Simi's production is centered on wines made from varieties associated with the Bordeaux tradition and on Chardonnay. The winery owns approximately 600 acres of vineyards in Alexander Valley planted with Bordeaux varieties, as well as the 120-acre Goldfields Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, which is planted with Chardonnay clones. Its market positioning combines heritage, Sonoma County provenance, estate and vineyard ownership, and an accessible premium-wine presentation. The brand's principal identity remains tied to Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay, while its historic Healdsburg property and tasting-room tradition provide a strong tourism and direct-sales dimension.
History
Simi Winery traces its origins to 1876, when Italian immigrant brothers Giuseppe and Pietro Simi founded a winery in San Francisco. The brothers had come to the United States during the California Gold Rush era, when California's population, agriculture, and commercial economy were expanding rapidly. Their early operation was part of the formative period of the state's wine industry. In 1881, the brothers moved the winery to Healdsburg in Sonoma County. They purchased a winery on Front Street for $2,250 in gold coins. This relocation gave Simi a durable connection to the North Coast wine region and established the Healdsburg property as the center of the business. The site's stone cellars later became particularly important during Prohibition. Giuseppe Simi's daughter, Isabelle Simi, began running the winery in 1904. Her tenure included the difficult years of national Prohibition, which lasted from 1920 to 1933. Rather than closing permanently, Simi continued producing wine and stored it in its stone cellars. The winery had to sell most of its vineyards to survive, but its continued operation meant that it could return to the legal market when Prohibition ended. This made Simi one of the relatively small number of California wineries with wine available for sale during the immediate post-Prohibition recovery. In 1934, the winery opened its first tasting room, adding a hospitality and visitor-facing element to its business. Isabelle Simi sold the winery to grower Russell Green in 1970, although she continued working at the property after the sale. The 1970s brought important changes in winemaking and leadership. Maryann Graf joined Simi in 1973. The reference material identifies Graf as the first woman to graduate from an American university with a degree in oenology, making her participation part of the winery's broader association with women in technical and executive wine roles. In 1979, Zelma Long assumed responsibility for winemaking. Long modernized the winery and helped take its wines to a national audience. She eventually became president and chief executive, combining production leadership with overall corporate direction. Moët-Hennessy acquired Simi in 1981. The buyer subsequently became part of LVMH, linking Simi to one of the world's major luxury-goods and beverage groups. From 1982, Simi began reacquiring vineyards. Vineyard ownership allowed the winery to rebuild a direct relationship with its grape-growing resources after the land losses experienced during Prohibition and to support a more consistent estate-oriented identity. In 1999, LVMH sold the winery for approximately US$50 million to Canandaigua Brands, a division of Constellation Brands. Simi subsequently became associated with Icon Estates, Constellation's luxury-wine subsidiary. The ownership changes illustrate the consolidation of established California wineries into larger domestic and international beverage portfolios, while the brand itself retained its historic Healdsburg identity. Simi's vineyard resources include approximately 600 acres in Alexander Valley planted with Bordeaux varieties and the 120-acre Goldfields Vineyard in the Russian River Valley, planted with Chardonnay clones. These properties support the winery's emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and related Sonoma County wines. Its history therefore combines immigrant entrepreneurship, regional relocation, survival through Prohibition, the development of tasting-room culture, prominent winemaking leadership, vineyard redevelopment, and successive acquisitions by larger wine groups.
- 1999
Sale to Canandaigua Brands
[1]LVMH sells Simi to Canandaigua Brands, a division of Constellation Brands, for approximately US$50 million.
- 1982
Vineyard reacquisition program begins
[1]Simi begins reacquiring vineyards to strengthen its own grape-growing base.
- 1981
Acquisition by Moët-Hennessy
[1]Simi is acquired by Moët-Hennessy, later part of LVMH.
- 1979
Zelma Long assumes winemaking leadership
[1]Zelma Long takes over winemaking, modernizes production, and helps build national recognition for Simi.
- 1973
Maryann Graf joins Simi
[1]Maryann Graf joins the winery as a winemaker.
- 1970
Sale to Russell Green
[1]Isabelle Simi sells the winery to grower Russell Green while continuing to work there.
- 1934
First tasting room opens
[1]Simi opens its first tasting room after the end of Prohibition.
- 1920
Operations continue during Prohibition
[1]Simi continues making and storing wine during the United States Prohibition period, despite selling most of its vineyards to survive.
- 1904
Isabelle Simi takes over management
[1]Giuseppe Simi's daughter begins running the winery.
- 1881
Relocation to Healdsburg
[1]The brothers purchase a winery on Front Street in Healdsburg, Sonoma County, creating the brand's long-term home.
Products and positioning
A premium Sonoma County winery emphasizing historical continuity, Healdsburg heritage, Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley vineyard sources, and wines based on Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other Bordeaux varieties.
Red wine
Cabernet Sauvignon
Cabernet Sauvignon is one of Simi's principal red-wine offerings and is closely aligned with the winery's Alexander Valley vineyard resources. The variety fits the brand's emphasis on Bordeaux grapes and Sonoma County provenance. Simi's Cabernet identity is supported by its ownership of approximately 600 acres in Alexander Valley planted with Bordeaux varieties.
White wine
Chardonnay
Chardonnay is a core Simi offering associated with the Russian River Valley and the winery's 120-acre Goldfields Vineyard. That vineyard is planted with Chardonnay clones, giving the brand a dedicated estate-linked source for one of California's best-known white-wine varieties.
Wine portfolio
Bordeaux-variety wines
Simi produces wines based on Bordeaux grape varieties from its Alexander Valley vineyards. This group supports the winery's premium Sonoma County positioning and extends beyond a single flagship varietal while remaining grounded in the region's established red-wine tradition.
Brand decisions
1999
Sale to Canandaigua BrandsM&ABackground
LVMH decided to sell the winery after owning it for nearly two decades.
Action taken
Simi was sold to Canandaigua Brands, a Constellation Brands division, for approximately US$50 million.
Aftermath
Simi became part of Constellation's luxury-wine portfolio through Icon Estates.
Transaction value. Approximately US$50 million (1999)
1982
Rebuild the winery's vineyard baseStrategyBackground
Simi had sold most of its vineyards during Prohibition in order to remain viable.
Action taken
Beginning in 1982, the winery started reacquiring its own vineyards.
Aftermath
The move strengthened Simi's connection to estate and vineyard ownership and supported its Sonoma County positioning.
1981
Acquisition by Moët-HennessyM&ABackground
Simi changed ownership after a period of modernization and growing national recognition under Zelma Long.
Action taken
Moët-Hennessy acquired the winery.
Aftermath
The winery became connected to the corporate group that later formed part of LVMH.
Sources2 sources
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