Two different wildfires burning right now have caused winery tasting rooms to close. The first fire, named “The Lockheed Fire” started last Wednesday night at the Lockheed facility in the Santa Cruz Mountains. This hilly area is home to many small producers. So far only Beauregard Vineyards and McHenry vineyards have closed, evacuating all employees. As of Sunday, this wildfire had burned 6.843 acres and was 50% contained. A Bonny Doon employee said no wineries were in the direct path of the flames.
The second fire, named “The La Brea Fire” is burning down in the Central Coast region. So far this fire has burned 85,696 in the Los Padres Mountains. Almost 2,000 fire fighters are battling this fire, which is currently 50% contained. This fire has also caused two winery closures: Kenneth Volk Vineyards, and Byron Vineyard both located in the Tepusquet Canyon. Turns out this blaze was caused by a campfire at a marijuana drug trafficking outpost, run by Mexican nationals in a remote location in the forest.
