Napa, Sonoma County Wineries Hit Hard By Raging Wildfires
NAPA COUNTY (CBS SF) -- The huge fires burning throughout Wine Country in Sonoma and Napa counties have damaged or destroyed several wineries, but the full extent of the destruction wasn't yet known Monday afternoon.
KPIX 5 reporter Don Ford visited the remains of the Signorello Estate Winery on Silverado Trail in southeastern Napa Valley. The winery's main building and tasting room were completely reduced to rubble. The winery building was a total loss, but the actual vineyard was not damaged.
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Stag's Leap winery was also destroyed in the blaze.
William Hill winery's sign was burned in the fire, but the winery released a statement describing only minor damage.
"While there have been media reports showing damage to the William Hill sign, we have confirmed that the winery buildings are intact," the statement read. "William Hill sustained only minor cosmetic and landscaping damage, in addition to minimal vineyard damage. Our top priority remains the health and safety of our employees, and members of the community."
The Domaine Carneros, Nicholson Ranch and Gundlach Bundschu wineries were also being reported as possibly damaged, but there was no confirmation available as of Monday afternoon.
"I've been up all night; we were harvesting and had to evacuate," Chimney Rock winemaker and general manager Elizabeth Vianna told Wine Spectator. "The fire came very close to our vineyards before evacuation, but I think the winery is OK."
Restauranteur and chef Mourad Lahlou -- who used to operate the now closed spot Azziza in San Francisco -- told KPIX 5 that both Robert Sinskey Vineyards and Darioush Winery on Silverado Trail suffered some damage, according to their owners.
The Paradise Ridge Winery in Sonoma confirmed with a Facebook post that their winery burned to the ground Monday morning.
"We are heartbroken to share the news that our winery was burned down this morning - we appreciate everyone's well wishes and will give you updates when we have them," the text of the post read.
Winemakers across the region were struggling to check on their wineries amid multiple road closures as smoke and flames engulfed five counties. In Napa, harvest is in full swing, meaning that any wineries that had structures burned may have lost this year's grapes.
The fire burning in the Sonoma Valley near Highway 12 was initially reported to have destroyed the Nicholson Ranch Winery, but according to a post on the winery's Facebook page, the location only suffered minor damages.