LAKEPORT >> Just 60 days after the outbreak of the devastating Valley Fire, Lake County’s tasting rooms are seeing visitor traffic increase and business getting back to normal. Last Friday, Langtry Estate & Vineyards on Butts Canyon Road in Middletown completed the list of tasting rooms to reopen. Wineries have resumed club and event activities. Tasters are returning to Lake County’s 30 wineries to taste the wines and enjoy the hospitality.
Lake County’s wineries are preparing for their annual holiday open house weekend Dec. 4 through 6. Twenty-six wineries will be decorated in their holiday finest and offer wine specials and gifts to tempt shoppers looking for just the right gift for that special person. For a list of participating wineries, visit www.lakecountywineries.org/holiday.
Out of county visitors started to come back soon after the roads into the County opened and were surprised at how much of the area was unscathed and still green. Cheryl Lucido, winemaker and owner of Laujor Estates said, “We had two couples come to stay with us soon after the Valley fire. Both of them were expecting to find nothing but charred landscape and were amazed to see the beautiful views of vineyards and Mt. Konocti looking out from our tasting room.”
Terry Dereniuk, Executive Director, Lake County Winery Association reports that she toured a number of wineries a couple of weekends ago. “I was thrilled to see the traffic in the tasting rooms,” she said. “Two cars of visitors arrived in the short time that I was at Gregory Graham’s winery. Steele Wines tasting room was teaming with visitors, enjoying a leisurely Saturday afternoon wine tasting. Lake County is back in operation. We are hanging out the ‘Open’ sign for people to come for a visit!”
Shed Horn Winery owners Mike and Adawn Wood lost both their home and small production facility in the fire. Their tasting room, located on Calistoga Road in downtown Middletown survived, as did most of their wine inventory. Owner Adawn Wood noted, “Like a phoenix we have risen from the ashes of the fire. Our tasting room is open for business. We are seeing old friends and making new ones as people stop in to see us and enjoy our wines.”
Winemakers who were still in the middle of crush had to be creative as they dealt with loss of power, road closures, and evacuations. Six Sigma Ranch got the order to evacuate three times during the fires in 2015. Owner Christian Ahlmann shared their triumph over the challenges. “Here at Six Sigma, the most amazing thing is that we made it through with zero negative impact on the wines” Ahlmann said. “We crushed without power, using a generator, with fires raging in the background — literally — and the juice didn’t feel a thing. We were so ready to throw those last Tempranillo grapes safely into barrels in the cave!”
The Valley Fire broke out on Sept. 12, consuming 115 square miles, destroying some 1900 structures. “Many employees working in the Lake County wine industry were among those who lost their homes and are rebuilding their lives,” Dereniuk noted. “Our hearts go out to them and all who were affected by this terrible fire as they work towards the future.”
South County vineyards experienced an interruption in normal harvest activities. Thanks to the cooperation and hard work of County officials and law enforcement, harvest was able to resume on the fourth day of the fire and is now substantially complete. Less than 3 percent of Lake County’s vineyards suffered fire damage, ranging from heat damaged leaves to charred trunks. The fire caused additional losses including damaged irrigation systems, well pumps, fencing and vineyard trellising, and equipment.
Saddened by the losses of homes and businesses, the #LakeCountyRising fundraising effort was launched to support community rebuilding in the areas ravaged by the Valley Fire with a focus on livelihood, housing, and community needs. The effort was initiated by three Lake County organizations — the Lake County Winegrape Commission, the Lake County Winery Association, and the Lake County Wine Alliance, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that will manage the collection and distribution of tax-deductible donations.
To donate, go online to www.lakecountywinegrape.org/LCR or the Lake County Rising Facebook page at www.facebook.com/LakeCountyRising or send a check made payable to “Lake County Rising Fire Relief Fund” to P.O. Box 530, Kelseyville, CA 95451.
