Wildfires raging through northern California’s wine region have already taken 200,000 acres of land and affected 22 wineries.
Still, while California reaps nearly $58 billion annually from its winemaking activities, only about 10 percent of the fire-damaged land is where grapes grow.
Napa and Sonoma counties have about 1,900 licensed wineries and cellars. The wineries caught up in the wildfire, while tragic, comprise less than 1 percent of the region’s production. That said, it may take months to assess the total damage done to vines from heat. Damaged vines take at least five years to replace, not to mention the damage wrought from fire-scarred soil or tainted water runoff.
The majority (85 percent) of this year’s wine crop had already been harvested by the time the fire broke out. But premium wines are expected to rise in price--some by as much as 50 percent, according to reports and estimates. Fire damage curtailed supplies overall as bottling and shipping activities became hindered.
Local officials say one of the ways people can help is to travel to the region. Tim Zahner, interim CEO of Sonoma County Tourism, says, “We’re going to need our visitors now more than ever.”
The wildfire, fueled by excessive heat, drought and winds, is the deadliest in U.S. history, claiming more than 40 lives. Thousands of people have been displaced and hundreds are still among the missing. The catastrophic tolls are still being examined. Likewise, the wineries affected are still being tallied, but here are those known to date that have been damaged or destroyed:
Ahh Winery
Ancient Oak Cellars
Backbone Vineyard & Winery
Domaine Carneros
Frey Vineyards
Hagafen Cellars
Helena View Johnston Vineyards
Jarivs Estate
Mayacamas Vineyards
Paradise Ridge Winery
Oster Cellars
Paras Vineyard
Patland Estate Vineyards
Pulido-Walker’s Estate Vineyard
Roy Estate
Segassia Vineyard
Signorello Estate Vineyards
Sill Family Vineyards
Sky Vineyards
Storybook Mountain Vineyards
VinRoc
White Rock Vineyards