Thank you for your interest in the state of the Napa Valley and our iconic wine industry, it has been a challenging time due to numerous wildfires burning in our area.

• Our top priorities remain the safety and wellbeing of our colleagues and our neighbors here in Napa County and in the surrounding areas also facing similar challenges.
• Our hearts and condolences go out to the hundreds who have lost their homes, businesses and personal property. We are saddened by the news that there has been loss of life and pray that those numbers will remain small.
• 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. The weather forecast for the next 24-36 hours calls for increased winds and decreased humidity so the situation remains critical and changeable.The CalFire Incident Report is the most accurate resource for fire information.

Here is what we know about the state of the Napa Valley wine industry as of October 11 at 10 a.m.

Wineries Affected:

• Monday we reached out to all members of the Napa Valley Vintners trade association requesting a status report. We have heard from more than 120 of them who shared reports about the condition of their businesses and their operating status.
• We have preliminary reports that at least 5 physical wineries belonging to NVV members in Napa Valley have suffered total or very significant losses due to the fire.
• We have yet to hear from about a dozen NVV members in the most vulnerable areas of the valley, including along the Silverado Trail, in Calistoga and in the Mt. Veeder/Partrick Road/Henry Road areas.
• At least 11 other NVV members reported damage to their winery, outbuildings or vineyards.
• There are still other wineries that are not yet able to access their properties leaving their condition unknown.
• Ongoing power outages, challenges communicating via email, text or phone and the inability for employees to get to their place of work continue. The majority of Napa Valley wineries were closed earlier in the week and we recommend calling to confirm if a winery is open before visiting.
• It is too early to estimate the economic impact of the fires on the Napa Valley wine industry.

Harvest Update:

• 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. Wineries able to assemble crews and safely get to their vineyards are continuing to harvest grapes.
• Power outages and the inability of employees to report to work also have also created challenges for wineries, especially for tasting rooms. However, many wineries have emergency generators, which has helped maintain production capabilities.
• It is too soon to tell how the fires and related challenges will impact this year’s vintage overall. What we do know is that of the grapes remaining on the vine, it is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon. Our winemakers report that this thick-skinned variety, fully-developed and ready to be picked for the 2017 harvest, 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 and they will do everything possible to ensure the highest quality winemaking for the rest of the 2017 vintage.

How to help or get help:

• The Napa Valley Vintners has a list of resources on our website.
• We are in direct communication with our two dozen nonprofit partners who receive funding from Auction Napa Valley to help coordinate relief and recovery efforts. We will share their resources on our website and look forward to helping connect those in need with these helpful agencies.
• 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, or by clicking the link available on the napavintners.com website. The Community Foundation plans to begin distributing funds to those in need in the coming days.

About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners nonprofit trade association has been cultivating excellence since 1944 by inspiring its 550 members to consistently produce wines of the highest quality, to provide environmental leadership and to care for the extraordinary place they call home. Learn more at www.napavintners.com.

Contact:
Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director - pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
Cate Conniff, Communications Manager - cconniff@napavintners.com