As we enter into another fire season, I hear from family and friends asking how The Nest is, how the grapes are affected and if it’s safe to visit. As we enter each year, the fires are an inevitable part of life in wine country.

It’s no longer an issue on whether we will get the fires or not, but when. I’ve heard residents talk about moving out of the area too since no one ever knows where the fires will happen next. As our neighborhood remains unaffected, they’re not without rain of ash or dark clouds that make the day seem as if it’s night. In most areas affected by weather, one must think to himself why people don’t just pick up and leave. 

We are now becoming a part of a growing community around the country affected every year by the weather. California always seemed immune but not anymore as we face mother earth’s warming pains. 

As I write this, it seems that the Shady and Boysen fire have now joined together as one big fire called the Glass Fire in Saint Helena in the Napa Valley. I look at this map as the fires are burning in areas that have already burned in the past few years. The fires are now overlapping in the same areas. These are in the hills of valleys.

Towns that have always been salvaged are being confronted with walls of fire in excessive heat, wind and dry conditions. For example, Saint Helena which is part of Napa’s treasured towns, is now making national news as century old vineyards are being ravaged by a fast growing fire - in the middle of the night. Where no airplanes are flying, residents are sleeping and nothing but mountains that are lighting up the skies are seen, the fires show no mercy for anything in its path. 

Some areas were not even covered as the fire grew. Our handyman is one local resident who quickly jumps in his truck when he hears about a fire raging and with the use of a media pass, he drives through the area and shares his experience here with the media. He’s one that knows the valleys so well that he does not need a map and can maneuver in and out quickly if needed. He goes out and reports the news on his facebook feed, talks to the media, and maybe be help for anyone in need. That’s just how he is and why we like him so much.

He told me that he was already on 3 channels before any news media was able to report on these fires. That’s how quickly these fires spread overnight. 

We are saddened by the losses of Glass Mountain Inn, Black Rock Inn, and Chateau Boswell Winery. A place where we rang in the New Year has had significant damage as well as I’m learning the famous Castello di Amarosa’s farmhouse (although the castle has been left intact), has suffered severe damage. 

Tofanelli Vineyards has also been destroyed as their vineyard that was established in 1929 according to their website. One of the best articles is this one so far on the latest news.   

More news is breaking as I just got more news on the national news networks. 

Here is what I know now. 

The fires are spreading quickly but by the time you read this, they will have spread a lot more. However, even though the fire seasons are rough, you can still visit when the fires are over.  Older vintages are typically tasted from vintages 2-3 years ago, restaurants are still serving outdoors and will continue to serve outdoors when it cools down when fires out. Harvest season continues, and the town is never more welcoming for visitors as resilient as they are. 

The only signs of these fires are sometimes just the smell of smoke if you’re there within days of the fires being put out. Other than that, the valleys in both Sonoma and Napa are so vast and spread out that you can drive for miles before typically seeing any damage. At least that’s what I reported after the last fire.

As we hold our breath not just for one season but several times in one season, I can be sure of this. There is no place like it. 

God Speed,

Claudia