The Start of SIMI

Having immigrated from Montepulciano, Italy to California in the 1840s, Isabelle Simi’s father Giuseppe, along with his brother Pietro, produce the first wines
under the Simi name in Sonoma County.

Isabelle Steps In

Just as SIMI is starting to expand, Giuseppe and Pietro both die suddenly, within weeks of each other. At the age of 18, Isabelle takes over management of the winery, beginning a long history of strong female leadership at the SIMI Winery. The storied tenure of THAT BOSS — starts here.

Prohibition Begins

In one of her many acts of resistance and resilience, Isabelle takes advantage of a loophole that allows for the sale of sacramental wine to churches.

Prohibition Repealed

Thanks to Isabelle’s good sense and business savvy, when Prohibition is repealed in December, SIMI is stocked with 500,000 gallons of perfectly-cellared wines, ready to sell to the thirsty public. Like her grapes, she crushes the competition, and starts to solidify the SIMI name in the world of wine.

First Tasting Room

Tapping into her entrepreneurial spirit, Isabelle launches SIMI’s first tasting room, fashioned from a 25,000-gallon cask installed in front of the winery’s stone cellars. Adding to her long list of clever boss moves, she places a payphone outside the tasting room (a novelty at the time), drawing patrons from far and wide that drink wine while they wait.

Isabelle Simi Retires

At the age of 84, Isabelle sells the winery to a local grape grower. Still full of passion and hustle, and not one to rest on her laurels, she continues to work and maintain a presence in the tasting room well into her 90s.

SIMI Welcomes Maryann Graf

SIMI’s legacy of female winemakers continues with Maryann Graf, the country’s first female enology graduate.

SIMI Welcomes Zelma Long

Considered a boss in the world of California wine, Zelma joins SIMI as president, and becomes the first woman to assume senior management of a Californian winery.

Isabelle Simi Dies

Having spent most of her life rolling up her sleeves, transforming the world of wine, and leading the way for female bosses the world over, Isabelle dies at the age of 95. The winery pushes forward, inspired by the original boss, and determined to continue making space for future generations of female winemakers.

Celebrating a Century

SIMI celebrates 100 years of winemaking in the stone cellars.

SIMI Welcomes Lisa Evich

Lisa Evich is named senior winemaker, continuing a long tradition of female leadership at the winery, and infusing her own boss energy. Lisa later becomes Director of Winemaking.

SIMI Welcomes Rebecca Valls

Rebecca Valls joins SIMI as winemaker, working alongside an incredible team of female winemakers and producing great wines.

The Wine for Bosses

Isabelle Simi began what would be a long line of successful female winemakers at SIMI. Then and now, success is diluted when we highlight gender before profession. So to honor Isabelle’s work and the work of so many others, we’re going to drop the caveat — a basic privilege Isabelle never had, but always deserved. Cheers to trailblazers everywhere. Bring out that boss.