Korbel Owner and Daughter Fight Over Estate

The owner of Korbel, Gary Heck, and his daughter, Richie Ann Samii, are involved in a legal dispute over the family’s estate.

• Heck fired Samii in 2006 and evicted her from a ranch on Korbel property following a questionable scandal and a resulting civil suit.
• Samii has since sued her father, alleging that he has withheld millions of dollars left for her in trust by her grandmother and canceled life insurance policies she was supposed to benefit from. 
• Heck essentially claims that Samii is spoiled and doesn’t appreciate what she has. 
• Samii is supposed to inherit ownership in Korbel at the age of 45 and additional money after Heck dies.   

For more information, see Kevin Fagan, Family squabble tarnishes Korbel wine empire, SF Chronicle, Aug. 30, 2009.

Special thanks to Joel Dobris (Professor of Law, UC Davis School of Law) for bringing this article to my attention.