The winery was founded in
San Francisco, 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,
Isabelle Simi, beginning in 1904. 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. LVMH 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. ==Production==