Simi Winery

Wine

A Tour of One of California's Oldest Wineries

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to head up to Healdsburg to check out Simi Winery.
A Picture Tour of Simi Winery in Healdsburg

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to head up to Healdsburg to check out Simi Winery. Founded in 1876, Simi is one of the state's oldest wineries and was one of only four to continue production during Prohibition. Although it was established by two Italian brothers, beginning in 1904, a female, Isabelle Simi, the daughter of one of the brothers, took control of the winery.

She is credited with starting the first tasting room in Sonoma County and continued working at the winery until she retired at age 99. Getting a tour of the winery is a fascinating lesson in local history. Here's an inside look at Simi.

summer

Celebrate the Fourth With Grilled Red, White, and Blue Pizzas

Still don't know what to serve on Sunday?

Still don't know what to serve on Sunday? How about grilled red, white, and blue pizzas?! This festive and fabulous idea comes from Chef Eric Lee of Simi Winery's Landslide Terrace Pizza Cafe in Healdsburg, CA. While you could enjoy these pies at the cafe, they are fun to make at home and absolutely delicious.

The red pizza is the most classic, with tomato sauce, mozzarella, and a BLT garnish. The white pizza celebrates the ingredients of the season with a fresh corn, zucchini, and leek topping. The blue is the most exotic, with Peruvian purple potatoes, blue cheese, and caramelized onions.

Get started a day in advance on preparing the toppings, then all you have to do during the barbecue is grill the dough and finish the pies. Serving the pizzas as a trio is an excellent conversation starter; each of my guests were eager to say which was their favorite. I loved them all! For the recipes, keep reading.