As of Monday, the Glass Fire, now recognized as the most destructive fire to ever hit the world-famous Napa Valley region, has destroyed or damaged structures at 23 wineries in the valley, including Spring Mountain, the small, elevated western AVA that had evaded wildfires up until this season.
Late last week, the flames jumped across the valley floor regions and reached into the western hillsides. Despite evacuation orders, some of Spring Mountain’s multi-generation family vintners were forced to stay behind and battle the flames threatening their boutique wineries.
Winemaker Andy Schweiger and his father Fred, both former firefighters, spent 32 hours working alongside a CalFire team to save the property that’s been in the family since the 1960s. Fred planted the vines himself and designed and built the structures on the property. Andy slept in the family’s fire engine cab and eventually watched as the flames consumed an unoccupied house at Schweiger Vineyards, which is located 2,000 feet above St. Helena.
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“It is the home that my dad and grandfather built together and then my grandfather retired and passed away in,” he said. The rest of the property is safe — for now.
Here is a list of damaged or destroyed wineries, in addition to Schweiger Vineyards, that have come to our staff’s attention over the 11 days since the Glass Fire began its descent on Napa Valley. We only include news that has been confirmed by the winery itself or by a member of the Bay Area News Group or other journalists on the ground.
Barnett Vineyards: According to a report from the winery to the Spring Mountain District Association, the fire has approached Barnett Vineyards a few times and damaged the winery’s upper deck, storage shed and vineyards. “We are not out of the clear yet and will continue to save our property,” it said. Barnett Vineyards is owned by Hal and Fiona Barnett; the winemaker is David Tate.
Cain Vineyard & Winery, 3800 Langtry Road, St. Helena: In announcing that the fire had damaged winery buildings, the Cain team sounded a note of poetic optimism. “Though buildings have burned, all that makes Cain what it is — the culture, the wines, the vines, above all, the Place — all that is truly Cain — remain,” the website says. Jim and Nancy Meadlock own this Spring Mountain winery, which was founded in 1980 by Jerry and Joyce Cain; the winemaker is Christopher Howell.
Cornell Vineyards, 8545 St Helena Rd, Santa Rosa: According to the San Francisco Chronicle, this Sonoma County estate, just over the Napa County line on Spring Mountain, lost three houses on its property.
Fantesca Estate & Vineyards, 2920 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena. In a message on its website, proprietors Duane and Susan Hoff proclaimed: “While we lost major equipment and our esteemed outdoor tasting deck — a centerpiece of Fantesca that has been iconic for its illustrious views and celebrations — we know these things can be replaced.” Celebrated winemaker Heidi Barrett is the brains behind Fantesca’s prized chardonnay and cabernet sauvignon wines.
Flying Lady Winery & Estate: The 13-acre Spring Mountain District winery known for cabernet sauvignon was destroyed on Oct. 3. Co-founders David and Zach Nassar had just completed a large renovation of the original winery and residence and were in the process of constructing a new tasting room and production facility.
Juslyn Vineyards, 2900 Spring Mountain Road, St Helena: Outbuildings, landscaping and roughly half of the grapevines at this Spring Mountain winery are gone, according to an email from co-owner Perry Butler. Butler estimates the landscaping and outbuildings damage at least $1 million. “At one stage our house was surrounded by flames,” he said.
Ritchie Creek Vineyard, 4024 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena: According to the Spring Mountain Winery Association, this boutique winery “suffered heavy losses,” including the destruction of the winery building, which sat on 40 acres at the top of Spring Mountain. The vineyard was significantly impacted and the storage building containing much of Ritchie Creek’s library wines was also destroyed. Pete Minor purchased the property in 1966 at a time when the Napa Valley had less than 30 wineries.
Spring Mountain Vineyards, 2805 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena: In a letter explaining the fire’s “raging toll,” the winery’s president Don Yannias said that “flames and intense heat quickly swept through the entire property and essentially vaporized most of our historic buildings that date back over a century, quickly reducing them and our stately forests to ashes.” The main winery, caves and Miravalle mansion were saved, he wrote.
Terra Valentine, 4007 Spring Mountain Rd, St Helena: Winemaker Sam Baxter and wife Angela Baxter said the large fire burned rapidly through their 112-acre property, Spring Summit Ranch, eventually burning the winery’s Lookout House to the ground. Winemaker Sam Baxter and wife and co-proprietor Angela Baxter said that while the vineyards will mostly be unharmed by the fire, the grapes that they had planned to harvest this fall will not be made into wine.
These 11 bring the total to 23 Napa Valley wineries that have been confirmed as destroyed or damaged by the Glass Fire. You’ll find the first 12 below. (This is a developing story. Check back for updates.)
NAPA VALLEY
Behrens Family Winery, 4078 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena. The fire burned this boutique property’s winery building, guest apartment and beloved Westcraft Trailer, according to an Oct. 1 Facebook post from owners Les Behrens and Lisa Drinkward. The winery’s new tasting room and crushpad are still standing and the chickens and their coop have survived.
Bremer Family Winery, 975 Deer Park Road, St. Helena: The fire charred at least one vineyard at this Howell Mountain property, photos from our Bay Area News Group photojournalist Jane Tyska showed. According to Tyska, the historic buildings on the property appeared to be unaffected. That includes the winery building constructed in 1891 by John & Jacob Sutter — the original home of Sutter Home — and a 1922 farmhouse that serves as offices.
Burgess Cellars, 1108 Deer Park Road, Deer Park: The winery was destroyed in the fire, but the full extent of losses are unknown, according to representatives for the owners. Founded by Tom and Linda Burgess in 1972, the winery — the original Souverain — was acquired earlier this year by the Lawrence family, owners of Heitz Cellar, and CEO/ Master Sommelier Carlton McCoy Jr. “While we are devastated by the loss of these great heritage structures, we were heartened to hear that the vineyards were mainly spared. We look forward to many more great vintages once we can rebuild the winery,” McCoy Jr. said in a statement
Castello di Amorosa, 4045 St. Helena Highway, Calistoga: The blaze devoured the farmhouse building at Castello di Amorosa, the massive Tuscan-style castle and winery built by vintner Darryl Sattui, confirmed Jim Sullivan, vice president of marketing and public relations for the winery. However, the castle itself, 200 yards away, did not sustain any damage. The building that was destroyed was a production facility, so the loss includes Castello bottling operations, fermentation tanks, a laboratory and some, but not all, of the bottled wine inventory. Read more about the losses and how the $30 million-plus castle emerged unscathed.
Chateau Boswell, 3468 Silverado Trail, St Helena: The fire destroyed this boutique winery that was founded in 1979 by Richard Thornton Boswell and remains in Boswell family hands. Photojournalist Jose Carlos Fajardo from the Bay Area News Group, as well as photographers from Getty Images and the Associated Press, chronicled the destruction.
Eeden Vineyards, 3505 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena: This winery, which has a rich history dating back to the 1930s, when the Beringer family expanded their vineyard holdings to the Spring Mountain area, has been destroyed, Bay Area News Group photojournalist Jane Tyska reports.
Fairwinds Estate Winery, 4550 Silverado Trail North, Calistoga: According to a message on the winery’s website, most of the Fairwinds Winery and its tasting room has been “very seriously damaged.” Fairwinds, formerly Cuvaison Estate, is known for its award-winning carmenère and cabernet sauvignon.
Hourglass Wine, St. Helena and Calistoga: “Our Blueline Estate was unfortunately in nature’s furious path,” reads a post on the winery’s Facebook and Instagram pages. An email and voicemail to determine what was lost at the Calistoga estate were sent to the winery Tuesday, but a photo posted on Instagram confirms a decimated building. Owner Jeff Smith told the San Francisco Chronicle that the winery facility and a 162-year-old guest house “were demolished.”
Hunnicutt Winery, 3524 Silverado Trail North, St. Helena: While the winery’s main building, tasting room and administration and production offices sustained minimal damage, the family reports on Facebook that they lost the Stafford house, a residence on the property, and that their landscaping is “toast.”
Marston Family Vineyards, Spring Mountain Road (closed to the public): On Oct.7, owner Elizabeth Marston posted an update on the Spring Mountain District Assocation blog, stating that the property suffered extensive loss including several residences and its historic Ghost Winery. The 40-acre vineyard planted to cabernet sauvignon survived with minimal impact.
Sherwin Family Vineyards, 4060 Spring Mountain Road, St. Helena: The fire destroyed this Spring Mountain district winery founded in 1996. “We are heartbroken to share the news that our winery burned to the ground yesterday,” the Sherwin family said in an email statement. “But, rest assured, we will rebuild and be there for you. We still have wine and we are still in business, so all is not lost. Thank you all for your loyalty and incredible support. It means the world to us, especially at a time like this.
Sterling Vineyards, 1111 W Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga: “There has been much speculation and reports on the damage to our winery but thankfully, we can confirm that our beautiful Sterling Vineyards is still standing and our beloved gondola is still intact,” Sterling’s senior director of public relations says. “However, the property was not unscathed by the Glass Fire and received fire damage. We won’t know the full extent of the damage until we are authorized to access the winery and it’s safe to do so.” An email requesting details was not immediately returned but photographs published in the SF Chronicle show charred fermentation tanks.
Tofanelli Family Vineyards, Dunaweal Lane, Calistoga: In a phone interview, third-generation owner-winemaker Vincent Tofanelli confirmed that a 120-year-old barn and a family home, which was built by his grandparents but not currently occupied by residents, burned. Tofanelli also said that vines on the property’s 25-acre vineyard sustained heat damage but will survive. “Visiting the site, it’s devastating,” he said. “I’ve got my work cut out for me. But the vines will be around for another harvest.”
This is a developing story. Come back for updates.
