California Wildfire Sees Early Pre-Summer Start

A quickly spreading wildfire in Sonoma County’s Dry Creek Valley forced the evacuation of at least nine wineries on Sunday.

Depending to how the fire develops, a warning to evacuate 13 more wineries is in effect.

Just 20% of the 1,200 acres that the Point Fire had burned by Monday afternoon had been contained. The fire is in a rural area that is well-known for its 100-year-old Zinfandel homes, wineries, and vineyards. It is uncertain how the other buildings are doing, but at least one barn has been completely demolished. Using fixed-wing aircraft during the day and helicopters at night, CalFire has been fighting the fire with great intensity.

Cal Fire Assistant Chief Mike Wink stated, “This Dry Creek Valley area has residential, industrial, commercial, and recreational values at risk.” “All of those are of great concern.”

Rafanelli Winery, Capo Creek Winery, Martorana Family Winery, Michel-Schlumberger Wine Estate, Quivira Vineyards, Ferrari-Carano Vineyards and Winery, Bella Vineyards & Wine Caves, and Dutcher Crossing Winery are among the wineries that were evacuated.

According to winery spokesperson Nora Feeley, “thankfully, our Ferrari-Carano team, vineyards, and winery are currently safe,” Wine-Searcher was informed. “We evacuated yesterday and, as a precaution, will remain closed through Tuesday, June 18.”

With a reputation for Zinfandel, Dry Creek Valley has more than 9,000 acres of vineyards held by 150 distinct winegrowers. 32 vineyards in the region, 18 of which are over 100 years old and five of which were planted in the 1800s, are included in the Old Vine Registry and have been around for at least 69 years. Two vineyards at Teldeschi Ranch, planted in 1885, are the oldest.

Because of their increased water content, vineyards are typically more fire-resistant than open grasslands or woodlands. But since many of the oldest vineyards are dry farmed, their resilience to fire may be diminished.

El Molino and Laguna high schools have become evacuation centres for Sonoma County. Over 300 residents are under an evacuation order, while 400 more are under a warning to leave. In the burning region, power has been turned off, and the source of the fire is still under investigation.

Since 2016, the Point Fire is the first significant wildfire to strike Sonoma County. Even nevertheless, the circumstances were ideal for it to happen because of a fantastic rainy season that not only filled reservoirs after years of drought but also produced an abundance of vegetation that is now used as fuel for fires.

With the 60-acre Crystal Fire that started two weeks earlier, Napa County saw an even earlier start to wildfire season. Due to warm, dry, windy conditions that hasten the spread of fire, a red-flag fire warning was in effect for a large portion of northern California’s wine country on Monday. On Monday afternoon, the relative humidity in Healdsburg, close to the Point Fire, was only 10%, while it was 37% and 42% in San Francisco and Oakland, respectively. Relative humidity was significantly lower in Napa and Sonoma, at 6%.

Residents who must go outside are advised to use N-95 masks by the American Red Cross, which issued a poor air quality warning for the North Bay, which is located north of San Francisco. On Monday afternoon, the air quality in Napa and San Francisco was still good despite the heavy winds.

California wildfires are significantly impacting wineries, causing both immediate and long-term damage. Flames can directly scorch vines, destroy trellises, and damage irrigation systems, leading to immediate crop losses. Even if the fire doesn’t reach the vineyards, smoke taint is a major concern, as smoke can permeate grape skins and impart off-flavors, rendering the wine unsellable. Additionally, the destruction of infrastructure, including tasting rooms and production facilities, disrupts business operations. The financial strain from these damages is compounded by the loss of tourism revenue, as evacuations and safety concerns deter visitors. Overall, the recurring wildfires pose a severe threat to the sustainability and profitability of California’s wine industry.