November 14, 2017
Flames Among the Vines
In October 2017, from out of nowhere it seemed, on the tail end of the grape harvest, real-time posts to social media illustrated a multiple-wildfire situation had erupted in Napa and Sonoma wine country. Thousands of people were evacuated from their homes. Some of the area’s most storied wineries and vineyards were threatened by fire, as the flames ripped their way through the area. A few wineries lost buildings, wine inventory, and experienced landscape damage.
I have precious-to-me wine friends that live and work in the area, and I found myself glued to Facebook, in a helpless, worried state as I watched the updates come in. Watching from Canada, I had no idea how much damage there truly was, but watched in shock as images were uploaded. Friends were made suddenly homeless or faring slightly better, evicted until it was safe to return and survey the damage.
Knowing I would be travelling to the region for the 10th Annual Wine Bloggers Conference, I both dreaded and anticipated the chance to visit Napa Valley and Sonoma County, to see firsthand what the situation is.
A group of delegates was scheduled to see area wineries during our Wine Bloggers Conference pre-conference excursion. Our group loaded onto a bus hosted by Treasury Wine Estates for the drive from Sonoma to Napa Valley (more on this in a future post). Enroute we took in the scenes of the fire aftermath from our windows.
I could not get any good photos from my vantage point on the bus. My photo is taken from a moving bus, and shows the crews cleaning up debris after the fires. The roadsides had multiple crews like this. If you do not know the incredibly talented George Rose, Google North Bay Fire photos and you will discover hundreds of images, like this one I found and have used, that shows the burned-out cars, ashy outlines where there were once homes, and pile after pile of rubble.
This photo was taken by Gabrielle Lurie for SF Gate and it poignantly illustrates what remains
In many housing subdivisions, the only part of the homes still standing are the brick chimneys. Given the number of burned and fallen trees, and the expansive damage to personal property, it made me catch my breath. It was shocking and heart-wrenching to see, and I can’t even imagine how scary it must have been for those who had to flee, and what those same people who have now lost their homes are feeling. Even those whose homes were damaged, but still standing, are traumatized.
The scarred charcoal landscape cut a strange and indiscriminate path. Despite the destruction, where the hillside, trees, and landscape burned, patches of vegetation are still green, houses stand untouched, and businesses remain open. From the winery side, many vineyards behaved like fire breaks so surprisingly, few sustained major damage.
And the fact that the very heart of the destroyed homes, the hearth, is what remains, offers a metaphor for the people of the area and their strength. The hearts of the communities in Sonoma and Napa remain strong. Strangers are treated like family as the community rallies, offering places to sleep, clothing, and foods to keep bellies full. The hash tags #NapaStrong and #SonomaStrong are completely appropriate.
It was reassuring to see that most parts of Napa and Sonoma are hopping. The community is happy to see visitors, and restaurants are busy again. The area is definitely open for business.
Now that the first responders have packed up, and people are doing their best to return to a new normal, there is still much cleanup and trauma to recover from. Word needs to get out that this area wants your business, and if you can’t visit, please provide some support.
Help Fire Victims
A helpful website has been created with a list of all the places where you can help with a North Bay fire donation list.
And as everyone thanks the heroic efforts of the firefighters and first responders, the primary message is: get out, buy Sonoma and Napa wine, and try to behave as normally as possible.
For those who do not live in the area, buy a bottle of Sonoma or Napa wine, and hold these people in your hearts.