Status Report: California Wine Country Fire Damage

Fires are cutting a path of destruction and leaving burned out hotels, wineries and restaurants in their wake. 

More than 150,000 acres have burned in Sonoma County as the result of a number of different fires, the largest of which are the Atlas and Tubbs blazes. 

As of about 7:30 p.m. Monday, the 16 fires had destroyed at least 1,500 homes, businesses and other structures with a number of hotels, restaurants and wineries burned to the ground. Fifteen people have been killed and more than 200 people have been listed as missing. 

Tuesday a.m. #winecountryfires latest: At least 8 fires burning across NorCal with little to no containment https://t.co/wuhbq3i9WU pic.twitter.com/hYj4P8Vacb

— SFGate (@SFGate) October 10, 2017

Those traveling in the area or planning to visit should note that poor air quality and visibility are major issues, in addition to the fires. Smoke and ash from the blaze have traveled as far south as San Francisco.

Visit Napa Valley posted a notice to travelers on its website: ”Due to road passage difficulty and poor air quality, please consider making alternate travel plans until the fires in Napa Valley have been contained.”

The Mercury News has been keeping track of restaurants, wineries and hotels that have been taken by the fires and those that are reporting stories of heroism and survival. 

Napa’s Fontanella Family Winery thanked Engine Number 7 in a Facebook post, crediting the crew for saving the winery and house. It was a close call, however, as a video shows how close the flames came to the property. 

White Rock Vineyards was not so lucky. The Stag’s Leap winery—one of the oldest in the area, established in 1870—was lost to the fire. 

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Stag’s Leap and the area west of Soda Canyon Road was one of the hardest hit. Early reports suggested that Chimney Rock, Darioush, and Stag’s Leap Winery had been lost. However, social media reports suggest they just suffered damage during the blaze. 

Signorello Estate Winery, Frey Vineyards and Paradise Ridge Winery were also destroyed, according to Wine Spectator.

Before and after photos of the blaze show the destruction of Signorello. 

Before & after. Signorello Vineyards in Napa #napafire #calfires #winecountry pic.twitter.com/EMdn64nz3z

— Suzanne Espinosa (@suzyesp) October 9, 2017

As TravelPulse previously reported, fire burned the Hilton Sonoma Wine Country as well as the Fountaingrove Inn. Willi’s Wine Bar and Cricklewood restaurant on Old Redwood Highway in Santa Rosa both were lost to the blaze as well. 

In Kenwood, reports suggest that Chateau St. Jean was damaged by the fire. The winery website says that it is currently closed. William Hill Winery was also widely reported to have burned to the ground, but the winery confirmed that it only had landscaping and cosmetic damage to its sign. 

Other area attractions are also under siege from the blaze. Safari West wildlife preserve posted on Facebook that “The status on the ground at Safari West remains much the same as reported last evening. The preserve remains intact and the animals safe and contained. However, fires continue to burn nearby and the situation is far from stabilized.”

Peanuts’ Charles M. Schulz Museum was evacuated and is currently closed but remains standing. 

For the most up-to-date vineyard, hotel, attractions and activities update, check in with Visit Napa Valley. The website is publishing a daily list of what is open for visitors and current closures. 

Many businesses in the area have been evacuated or are closed due to the fires.