As the Glass Fire continues to rip through California’s Napa Valley, at least one family-owned vineyard has been devastated by the fire’s impact.
Chateau Boswell, which celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2019, was engulfed in flames, according to photos from the scene and local reports. Photos show destruction at the winery on Sunday, and video from ABC News shows the aftermath of the fire at the St. Helena-based business.
“We are simply heartbroken,” owner Susan Boswell said in an email to the San Francisco Chronicle.
The winery did not respond to USA TODAY’s request for comment.
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There are more than 400 Napa County wineries open to the public, and 550 that are members of the Napa Valley Vintners association, according to Visit Napa Valley, the area’s tourism arm. The organization could not confirm how many wineries have been damaged in the Glass Fire so far, citing the “active fire situation.”
“Visit Napa Valley is thankful for the work Cal Fire and other first responders are doing to keep residents and visitors safe, and our hearts go out to the families who are impacted,” the organization said in a statement to USA TODAY.
The Glass Fire is part of a crushing fire season for California. Gov. Gavin Newsom said Monday that wildfires in the state have burned 3.7 million acres, compared to 157,000 total acres in 2019. More than 7,100 structures have been destroyed by flames, he said.
San Francisco Chronicle wine critic Esther Mobley reported at least 143 Napa County wineries were within evacuation zones for the Glass Fire, according to the county’s Office of Emergency Services. The Chronicle reported that three other wineries — Fairwinds Estate Winery, Tofanelli Vineyard and Hunnicutt Winery —sustained damage.
Mobley on Twitter confirmed several wineries were spared the fire’s wrath.
“Thanks to the heroic efforts of fire crews last night, Duckhorn Vineyards is standing tall, and our staff (including our beloved winery cat Kitter) is out of harm’s way,” Duckhorn Vineyards, which is less than six miles from Chateau Boswell, posted on Facebook. “Our hearts go out to our neighbors in wine country during this difficult time.”
The photos show the devastation at Chateau Boswell:
Contributing: Melissa Daniels and Nicole Hayden, Palm Springs (Calif.) Desert Sun
Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/09/28/glass-fire-chateau-boswell-napa-valley-california-photos/3568137001/
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