Elton Slone and his team at the Robert Craig Winery in Napa Valley held their annual pre-harvest party last week when an alert about the nearby Pickett fire was received. This fire, located approximately 10 miles from the winery, raised concerns given the history of the Glass fire in 2020, which had previously damaged many wineries in the area. Slone expressed hope that there would be insufficient fuel left from the Glass fire to sustain the new blaze. However, firefighters ultimately used the winery’s Candlestick Vineyard for a controlled burn to manage the wildfire.
Vineyards often serve as effective fire breaks due to their lack of flammable vegetation and moisture-rich grapevines, though heat and smoke can still affect crop quality. The Robert Craig Winery reported losing an entire crop from the Candlestick Vineyard, which was anticipated to generate $4.5 million in revenue.
As of late August 2025, the Pickett fire had burned approximately 6,800 acres in Napa County, leading to initial agricultural loss estimates of around $65 million, predominantly impacting wine grape growers. While this damage is less extensive compared to the 2020 Glass fire, the ongoing threat of wildfires remains a concern for the wine industry.
In response to these challenges, wine grape cultivators on the West Coast have adopted various strategies, supported by research institutions, to mitigate smoke exposure. These include barrier sprays and testing for smoke markers in grapes. Additionally, a smoke exposure taskforce was established to assist growers following previous wildfire losses.
New insurance options are now available to cover losses due to smoke exposure, but some vineyard owners find the rising costs of crop insurance challenging. The wine industry relies on federal funding for research into wildfire preparedness, and while efforts are ongoing to seek support, it’s clear that the potential for future wildfires poses a significant threat.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/aug/30/california-vineyards-wildfire-damage-wine