Winemaker Profile: Simi Winery

STEVE REEDER

by Millie Howie
“My family worked the land,” states Steve Reeder, vice president/ winemaker at Simi Winery in Healdsburg. “My great grandfather and grandfather both grew citrus and avocadoes in San Bernardino County, but my Dad did not want to be a farmer so he moved as far away from the land as he could, by joining the Air Force.
“I think they were happiest when stationed in Germany.  That was where I was introduced to wine, being allowed “kinderwine” at the dinner table.  Kinderwine was a glass of water with a bit of wine stirred into it. As I grew older the ratio of wine to water was increased.”
In 1973 Steve returned to the United States and worked for a home brewing supply store and helped his uncle make his own beer. “I really enjoyed brewing,” Steve admits, “and my favorite academic studies were always chemistry and physics. I applied to several universities, but I still had no idea what career path I wanted to follow.”         
What happened next was right out of a story book. Steve had been helping man an information booth at the Middleburg Wine Festival, and after the show closed he was sitting on a porch enjoying a glass of wine with a gentleman named Dinsmoor Webb.  “Webb told me he was the chairman of the viticulture and enology department at the University of California at Davis.  I had never heard of Davis or such courses of study, but Professor Webb said that if I wanted to transfer to UCD he would see that I got into his department, so in my junior year I made the move, aiming for a degree in Fermentation Science. I worked my first crush at Alexander Valley Vineyards in 1978 then returned to school and graduated in 1979.
“My first full-time winery job was at Kirigin Cellars in Gilroy, followed by eight years in the Finger Lakes District. By then my wife, Donna, and I decided it was time to return to California.”
He worked in Lake County at Konocti Winery and for Jess Jackson before taking a winemaking post at Chateau St. Jean. A call from an old friend lured him away and he became winemaker at Simi Winery in August 2003. The vintage of 2007 marks Steve’s 30th harvest. 
“In 2005 we created a new appellation series,” he mentions. “We took the word ‘Reserve’ off the labels, and began highlighting the appellations with a new label.  We also introduced a dry Rosé of Syrah in 2006. Our assistant winemaker, Brian Wavernek gets all the credit for this beautiful wine, and associate winemaker Susan Lueker, who loves Zinfandel shows her talents with our lower-alcohol, food-friendly Zins.”
To taste the wines, visit the Simi Winery Tasting Room, 16275 Healdsburg Avenue, Healdsburg, any day between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. For more information, call (707) 433-6981 or visit the website at www.simiwinery.com.

Related Information

• Simi Winery