Adam's Wine Guide » Wildfires

Estancia Winery Responsible For California Wildfire?

Adam Weiner — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 21:48:23 +0000

The “Gloria Fire” is one of the most recent, and started just east of Soledad, in Salinas Valley. Seems like fingers are pointing at Estancia Winery (owned by Constellation) as the cause. Wineries often use “bird bombs” to scare off hungry birds that eat the ripening grapes. Unlike the safer “bird cannons,” these bombs are fired by a hand held gun, and explode in the air. While the cannons give off no sparks, the bird bomb guns do.

Seems like carelessness may have caused millions in damage; currently the Gloria fire has burned over 6,000 acres, costing over $4 million in containment costs. In my eyes Estancia should be doing everything it can to improve its image. I prefer not to support large wineries like Estancia (or their parent company Constellation). Not only do I find their wines lackluster and mass produced, but they are not truly indicative of specific vineyard sites. Wine should bring you somewhere, giving you a taste of the unique terroir and winemaker’s style. Just my $.02.

Wildfires Threaten California Wineries

Adam Weiner — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 23:44:28 +0000

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.