NAPA/SONOMA, CA—Despite Mother Nature challenging Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Solano and Lake Counties in the cruelest of ways, the tragic wildfires of the past 12 days have demonstrated the spirit of strength and resilience of everyone in Northern California. Across the North Bay region, more than 40 lives were lost, thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed, and the natural landscape of the area's forests and hillsides will take years to recover.

In spite of this devastating human toll, reports of wine industry damage in the Napa Valley do not appear to be widespread. The fires burned predominantly in the forested hillsides. The beloved Napa Valley floor, located between Highway 29 and the Silverado Trail, saw little to no impact from the fires. Direct damage from the fires was reported by 47 Napa Valley Vintners member wineries out of 330 wineries and just a handful experienced significant property loss.

“Much of this week's news has focused on how the fires will impact Napa Valley's wine industry,” said Michael Honig, chair of the Napa Valley Vintners board of directors and president of Honig Vineyard & Winery. “Winemaking is, indeed, our heart and soul and our biggest economic driver. But, first and foremost, these events are a human tragedy with lives lost and personal property destroyed. While we are eager to 'get back to normal,' we also have to keep the proper perspective.”