Courtesy of the Napa Valley Vintners Association

Dear Friends of Napa Valley,

We are thankful for the outpouring of concern from our friends in the wine trade. Our thoughts and concerns remain with our community and with our neighbors in Sonoma, Solano, Lake and Mendocino Counties affected by the wildfires. Our hearts and condolences go out to the hundreds who have lost their homes, businesses and property. We are most saddened by the news that there has been loss of life and pray that those numbers will remain minimal.

We are grateful to the first responders and crews working their hearts out to protect people and property in these terrible conditions. They are our heroes. The spirit of community in our valley is strong and we are resilient. Neighbors will help neighbors and we will get through this terrible time.  

Several fires continue to burn in and around the Napa Valley, primarily in the surrounding hillsides. We have preliminary reports that at least 4 physical wineries in Napa Valley have suffered total or very significant losses due to the fire. We have yet to hear from some wineries in the most vulnerable areas of the valley. The CalFire Incident Report is the most accurate resource for fire information.

Complicating matters is the fact that it is harvest season in Napa Valley. However, we estimate that 90 percent of the grapes were picked before the fires started on Sunday night. It is too soon to tell how the fires and related challenges will impact this year’s vintage overall. Our winemakers report that what is left on the vine is Cabernet Sauvignon, and that this thick-skinned variety, fully-developed and ready to be picked, is not expected to be impacted by the smoke from the fires. No matter the circumstances, our winemakers remain committed to upholding Napa Valley’s reputation for making some of the world’s finest wines.

We’ve received many inquiries on how individuals and businesses can help. The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund, which the NVV established in 2014, immediately following the South Napa earthquake, has been reactivated. Those wishing to make donations can contribute via the Community Foundation of Napa Valley’s website. The Community Foundation plans to begin distributing funds to those in need in the coming days.

If you wish to stay apprised of the situation, we encourage you to check our wildfire resource page often for updates. We are so grateful to have many friends and supporters in the wine trade.