SIMI Winery

Giuseppe and Pietro Simi left Montepulciano, Tuscany, and made their way to California during the Gold Rush, founding their winery in 1876 before relocating operations to Healdsburg in 1881. When both brothers died suddenly within weeks of each other, Giuseppe's daughter Isabelle stepped in at just 18 years old and took full management of the estate. Her determination proved extraordinary: during Prohibition, she kept the winery solvent through bulk and sacramental wine sales, and when Repeal came, Simi emerged with more than 500,000 gallons of aged wine ready for market. That continuity across one of American history's most disruptive periods cements Simi's place as one of California's genuinely historic wine estates.

• Founded 1876 by Tuscan brothers Giuseppe and Pietro Simi, immigrants from Montepulciano; moved to Healdsburg in 1881
• Isabelle Simi assumed management at age 18 after both brothers died suddenly within weeks of each other
• Survived Prohibition through sacramental and bulk wine sales, stockpiling over 500,000 gallons of aged wine by Repeal
• One of the few California wine brands operating continuously since the 19th century

Simi's modern ownership story is one of corporate transitions culminating in a 2025 brand acquisition. The Wine Group purchased Simi as part of a broader deal finalized on June 2, 2025, with net cash proceeds of $857.6 million across the transaction. Just months later, in November 2025, WarRoom Cellars, a brand acquisition company founded in 2018, purchased the Simi wine brand specifically from The Wine Group. Notably, the physical Healdsburg estate remains with The Wine Group, while the brand and winemaking responsibilities transfer to WarRoom. Nicole Walsh, WarRoom Cellars Director of Winemaking, now leads winemaking for Simi. WarRoom's model typically involves outsourcing production and sourcing grapes rather than owning vineyards outright, signaling a shift in operational structure for the brand.

• The Wine Group acquired Simi in a deal closed June 2, 2025, generating net cash proceeds of $857.6 million across multiple brands
• WarRoom Cellars, founded 2018 and specializing in older brand acquisitions, purchased the Simi brand from The Wine Group in November 2025
• Physical Healdsburg estate retained by The Wine Group; only the brand transferred to WarRoom Cellars
• Nicole Walsh, WarRoom Cellars Director of Winemaking, now oversees Simi winemaking

Simi's vineyard holdings are concentrated in two of Sonoma County's most distinguished appellations: Alexander Valley for Cabernet Sauvignon and Russian River Valley for Chardonnay. The estate farms approximately 160 hectares of Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley and 40 hectares of Chardonnay in Russian River Valley across five distinct named vineyard sites, each with meaningfully different soils and microclimates. Landslide Vineyard takes its name from a historic volcanic landslide off Mount St. Helena, resulting in five distinct soil types across three sections with multiple microclimates. Goldfields Vineyard in Russian River Valley spans 100 acres planted with Chardonnay field selections and clones. Los Amigos Vineyard covers 96 acres dedicated to Cabernet Sauvignon production, while Del Rio Vineyard's 44 acres feature sandy loam soils and Red Fan Vineyard offers a combination of clay loam at the base and shallow red volcanic gravel on the upper bench.

• Approximately 160 hectares (395 acres) of Cabernet Sauvignon in Alexander Valley and 40 hectares (100 acres) of Chardonnay in Russian River Valley
• Landslide Vineyard features five distinct soil types formed by a volcanic landslide from Mount St. Helena, with three sections and several microclimates
• Goldfields Vineyard: 100 acres in Russian River Valley planted with Chardonnay field selections and clones
• Los Amigos Vineyard (96 acres) and Del Rio Vineyard (44 acres, sandy loam) anchor Cabernet Sauvignon production alongside Red Fan Vineyard with its red volcanic gravel upper bench

Simi built its modern reputation on a succession of pioneering women winemakers. Mary Ann Graf, the first woman to graduate from UC Davis with an oenology degree, became head winemaker in 1973, the same year the Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve program launched. Zelma Long arrived in 1979 and elevated Simi to national prominence through a modernizing approach that leveraged the estate's Alexander Valley and Russian River Valley fruit. The winery sources additional grapes from grower relationships across Sonoma County appellations including Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley. On the sustainability side, Simi developed an on-site wastewater treatment system in the mid-2000s that allows process water to be treated and reused for vineyard irrigation, complemented by drip irrigation techniques throughout the estate. The winery holds green certification for its eco-friendly practices.

• Mary Ann Graf, first woman to earn a UC Davis oenology degree, became head winemaker in 1973; Zelma Long followed in 1979 and drove national recognition
• Cabernet Sauvignon Reserve produced continuously since 1973, representing the winery's flagship premium offering
• On-site wastewater treatment system developed mid-2000s allows process water reuse for vineyard irrigation; drip irrigation used throughout
• Green certified producer sourcing additional fruit from Sonoma Coast, Carneros, Dry Creek Valley, and Alexander Valley grower relationships

Simi Winery occupies a genuinely rare position in American wine history: a brand founded in 1876 that has operated with meaningful continuity through the Gold Rush era, Prohibition, postwar modernization, and the rise of California as a global fine wine region. Its history of female leadership, from Isabelle Simi's teenage takeover through Mary Ann Graf's groundbreaking credentials and Zelma Long's winemaking legacy, makes it a defining story in California wine's social history. The reserve Cabernet program stretching back to 1973 predates much of what is now considered the Napa and Sonoma fine wine establishment. For students of American wine, Simi illustrates how a small immigrant enterprise can survive seismic historical disruptions and remain relevant across nearly 150 years, while also tracing the arc from family estate to corporate brand and back to specialist ownership.

• Founded 1876, one of California's longest-continuously-operating wine estates, surviving Prohibition through sacramental wine production
• Defined by successive pioneering female winemakers: Isabelle Simi, Mary Ann Graf (first UC Davis oenology female graduate), and Zelma Long
• Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon program running since 1973 places it among California's earliest consistent reserve-tier red wine producers
• Annual production of roughly 150,000 cases across Alexander Valley Cabernet and Russian River Valley Chardonnay anchors Sonoma County's premium commercial tier