(SFGate) - This afternoon, the Skalli family announced that they will sell St. Supéry Vineyards & Winery to Chanel, Inc.

“It’s pretty darn exciting,” winery C.E.O. Emma Swain told Inside Scoop. “We’re tickled pink to have a team that understands quality and is investing for the long term.”

St. Supéry began in 1982, when Robert Skalli purchased the 1,531-acre Dollarhide Ranch vineyard on the eastern slopes of Napa, above St. Helena. By 1985, Skalli had purchased more land in Rutherford, where he built the St. Supéry winery. Over the years, the brand has built its reputation on the strong vineyard-designate Cabernets from those two sites.

Chanel, Inc. is best known as a fashion company, but this purchase, which takes effect next month, is not its first foray into the wine business: In 1994, it purchased Château Rauzan-Ségla, a second-growth château in the Margaux region of Bordeaux, and in 1996 purchased Château Canon in St.-Emilion.

This is Chanel’s first purchase of a U.S. wine property. Does it mean they’ll be investing more here? “The intent is not to create a wine group,” Swain said.

They don’t expect any changes in staffing, Swain said, and winemaking operations will continue as usual. “My goal is always to improve the quality of the winemaking, of course,” she said. “It’s still our same team, same philosophy, same vineyards.”

As for Robert Skalli, he’ll likely be spending more time with his grandchildren. “Robert it’s very sad to know that he’s selling this property that he’s founded and created, but he’s so pleased that it’s going into new hands, and the team will be staying in place to continue the new vision,” said Swain. Of Chanel, she added, “I can’t think of anyone else who would have made him so happy.”