Napa & Sonoma wildfires

The Kesslers aren't due here until tomorrow, however the Silverado Country Club, where they live, was evacuated and reports unfortunately show a lot of damage to the hills just East of them. I haven't been able to reach them thus far. I've heard power is out in some parts and I imagine the phone system has been affected. I hope they're safe and have a home to come back to! I know some people that have already lost homes. Just awful what's going on out there!

Has anyone heard from Mark Anisman? He's in Yountville. Allan Bree checked in on Facebook as being safe.
 
Here are the most recent (as of 3:45 and 5:30 this evening) reports
from Michael Stewart, Stewart Vineyards...

REPORT #1 at 3:45

Ok Pete. Was staying at the apartment above the tasting room. Woke
up at about 3 am and saw the fire coming down the mountain from
Atlas peak. Looks like Yountville will be ok.
Daughter in Sonoma may have to evacuate shortly. Looks like three
of my employees may have lost their houses-- hard to tell because
power and cell towers are out. Hard to get news.
Will keep you posted.

REPORT #2 at 5:30

Pete, Caroline's house is probably OK, because she saw the fighters
hanging out and resting by the side of Napa road just south of her
neighborhood in Sonoma. Caroline, her husband Blair, three kids,
two dogs, and Anne are ready to leave on a moment's notice.
The Atlas Peak fire has apparently jumped over Silverado Trail and
is threatening Yountville where our tasting room is located, but I am
fairly sure it won't get us.
Several Atlas peak wineries have burned, including Signorello and
possibly Darioush. The fire causing mass destruction near Santa
Rosa started north of Calistoga, close to the house of Robert
Radovan (developer of Calistoga Ranch) and then raced through
the corridor near Petrified Forest Rd., then down Mark West Rd. to
Santa Rosa. All of our Slingshot production is at Kunde, which
was surrounded by fires at 7 this morning. No word on that yet.
Robert's house burned to the ground as did that of Steve Test, long
term Merryvale winemaker in the early 2000 era.
My position is that so long as my family is OK, the property does
not matter.
Click to expand...

. . . . Pete
 
Here's what a friend just wrote me...

We escaped Healdsburg this morning from our cycling deal
Sunday nite I thought it strange as we saw a dust devil sweep across the Dutchmen Crossing vineyards
Seems to portend winds Sunday night
Wall of fire on Geyser Peak seen from our house--- may have burnt Thad Hill's geothermal plant
Dark orange sun, people wearing surgical masks in their cars
Streams of police and fire trucks coming up 101 with sirens
We cobbled together a caravan and took back roads down to Villejo
Towering nuclear explosion likefire on 37 (one of six major fires)
We had Jeff Mayo at house and his Santa Rosa home burned
Not optimistic about Cam Metzker who brought his dads wines
Glad to get out of Sac
Click to expand...

. . . . Pete
 
Per my friend as of 9:30 last night (Monday night)...

Sister just called
They're ready to evacuate Healdsburg if no containment
geyserville on fire--- fire and ashes raining down on town
Yikes
Click to expand...

. . . . Pete
 
Fatal wildfires scorching eight Northern California counties this week have dealt a devastating blow to the important wine and tourism industries, destroying several historic wineries and threatening the remaining grape harvest in the Napa and Sonoma valleys.

Although the seasonal harvest is nearly complete, the conflagration threatens to disrupt tens of thousands of jobs and destroy valuable stores of grapes and wine in bins, barrels and bottles.
Click to expand...

In Wine Country, Wildfires Take a Toll on Vintages and Tourism

. . . . Pete
 
I heard a very bad general statement about Lee Hudson's majestic 200-acre winery/site/etc.

Does anyone have any details?

. . . . Pete
 
originally posted by Peter Creasey:

I heard a very bad general statement about Lee Hudson's majestic 200-acre winery/site/etc.

Does anyone have any details?

. . . . Pete
Click to expand...

Peter - As of last night it was reported that he lost some trees and a building or two on the property. His vineyards and home are ok as far as I know. It could have been so much worse. It is a beautiful property.
 
A vintner's Wednesday PM report...

Here is an update on the fires in Napa and Sonoma. On Tuesday night the winds started to freshen and the fires started spreading more to the north and east. The "Patrick" fire that hit Carneros, Hudson, and the eastern edges of Sonoma turned a bit north-west and the flames could be seen along the ridge east of Napa and Yountville. Redwood road was closed and Mt. Veeder was evacuated. I don't know whether Hess Winery was affected. The Atlas Peak fire continued to spread east of Yountville, and now east of Napa-- all along the Silverado Trail, and headed over towards the Suisun Valley over by Fairfield in Solano county.

The winds are expected to shift to come out of the north a couple of hours from now, and the "Tubbs" fire will be on the move. The town of Calistoga has been completely evacuated. Anguin and all of Howell Mountain are also threatened. Parts of the north-east side of Napa near Trancas-at-Soscol are being evacuated, and some parts of Solano county are affected as well. Parts of Coombsville have burned.

On the Sonoma side, the north side of Sonoma has been evacuated, and all of Boyes Hot Springs. Parts of Healdsburg and Geyserville and under an "advisory " evacuation.

So as of this moment (10:19 pacific), there is almost no wind at all, but the forecast is dire.
Click to expand...

. . . . Pete
 
10-12, 2:50pm PST:
I can only speak to Sonoma:
Sunday night, the winds were 50 mph and above and a fire started near Calistoga. The winds drove it toward Santa Rosa and it was funneled into Rincon Valley. The fire moved 16 Miles in 15 minutes. Funneled into to Rincon Valley it gained speed and came down the mountain, jumped US 101 and destroyed over 1,000 homes in a matter of minutes.
Several other fires started in the mountains between Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley, most likely by tree branches downing live power lines. They have spread rapidly throughout those mountains.
As of date and time above, there are mandatory evacuations for large areas of Sonoma Valley, and voluntary evacuations for most of it.
The winds have calmed but many of the disparate fires have joined making fighting them significantly harder.
Personally, our winery is safe but without power, our warehouse is safe with power but my house is in harm’s way and without power since Sunday night. Fortunately, Diane has been in NC this whole time visiting family and friends. I am living in Tiburon now and returning daily to Sonoma to check on house and friends.
Sonoma and the surrounding area is full of smoke and ash is falling like snow. Virtually everything is closed and most folks have left.
There are a large number of firefighters doing what they can but this will take weeks to resolve.
Over 2,000 structures burned to the ground. At last count, 25 dead but that number is expected to rise as many more are missing.
And Napa Valley has, from what I’m told, a similar tale of woe.
Wine country is a war zone.
Best, jim
 
Update: 29 known dead, 3,000 homes destroyed in Santa Rosa alone - many more elsewhere.
And the fires continue virtually uncontained.
Best, jim
 
Jim, I saw a drone video of the total devastation in Santa Rosa, an example of what is happening all over.

So sad!

Stay safe!

. . . . Pete
 
Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief
Needs your help!

Dear friends,

As you may know, California is currently experiencing devastating wildfires, specifically in Napa, Sonoma & Mendocino. The effect on the local families and these areas’ wine regions is going to be cataclysmic.

As a response, Patrick Cappiello, Pax Mahle & Sara Morgenstern have established the Winemakers & Sommeliers for California Wildfire Relief (WSCWR) group. The goal is to rally wine professionals and wine lovers everywhere to support those affected by these terrible fires.

WSCWR will be hosting three events (see below) on the East and West Coasts late October in order to raise money for the relief efforts of the Napa Valley Community Foundation.

Here’s what we’d like from you: we are accepting donations of wine from collectors, sommeliers, and/or distributors. This wine will be sold at each event at their respective retail prices, with 100% of the profits going to NVCF.

Wednesday, October 25: Bergamont Alley in Healdsburg, CA (tickets: $50)
Thursday, October 26: Bluxome Street Winery in San Francisco, CA (tickets: $100 general admission; $25 for members of the wine industry)
Friday, October 27: Corkbuzz in Union Square, NYC on October 27(tickets: $50)


In order to stoke interest, we ask that the wines have a retail value of at least $100. There is no limit to the number of bottles we can receive; any leftover wine will remain on the wine list there and their sale will continue to feed the fund.

Please share this letter with as many wine collectors, enthusiasts, winemakers, and sommeliers as you can. Our goal is to get as much wine donated as possible!

Shipping instructions are below. Wine donations can be sent to a hub on the East Coast or West Coast.

Thank you and please don't hesitate to reach out with any questions.

With gratitude,

Patrick, Pax, Sara


SHIPPING ADDRESSES:

East Coast:
Manhattan Wine Company
C/O Wildfire Relief
610 River Road
Clifton, NJ 07014
*email matt@mwcwine.com for any shipping questions or concerns

West Coast:
Somm Picks
C/O Wildfire Relief
440 Talbert St.
Daly City, CA 94014
*email mike@sommpicks.com for for any shipping questions or concerns
 
I drove into Sonoma today - the sun rose yellow, instead of red, the sky was blue instead of obscured, the air smelled more like a cookout than a catastrophe and the ash had stopped falling. Twenty-four hours previous, the entire eastern mountains outside the town were visibly aflame. Today, not even a cloud of smoke.
There are still fires up valley and surely there will be flare-ups but, for the moment, the place I love looks like it used to. Kind of.
And rain is expected Thursday.

I should be able to go back home on Tuesday.
I’m one of the lucky ones.
Best, jim
 
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