Fires rage towards four of my favorite Napa vineyards

Sunset over early Spring mustard flowers in Screaming Eagle Vineyard on Silverado Trail Road.
Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley wine country.

As I write this newsletter, with the fire situation in Napa and Sonoma counties changing by the hour, I’m not 100% sure that four of my favorite Napa vineyards will be spared from the devastating fires ripping through the wine country.

Early Spring valley fog begins creeping over Cain Five vineyard in the hills above Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley wine country.

At least four Napa vineyards are totally destroyed or significantly damaged. One Napa winery—Signorello Estate—has been completely destroyed. Nine other wineries reported damage to their winery, outbuildings or vineyards. 

All 5000 residents of Calistoga evacuated, and there are 1000s of homes already destroyed in the Napa- Sonoma area. This will be a vintage to remember.

Cain Five vineyard

Wednesday evening: I just received an email from Christopher Howell, winemaker at Cain Five Vineyard, that they are safe for right now.

Big oak tree in Cain Five vineyard in the hills above Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley wine country.

Early Spring valley fog begins creeping over Cain Five vineyard in the hills above Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley wine country.

The distinctive rock outcropping dominates the Cain Five vineyard in the hills above Napa Valley, California. Napa Valley wine country.

Screaming Eagle Vineyard

Spring mustard flowers in Screaming Eagle Vineyard on Silverado Trail Road. While the wine consistently receives rave reviews from critics, my problem is two-thousand dollars a bottle prevents me, a common photographer, from enjoying the wine. USA, California, Napa Valley. 

Sunset light colors the hills above the Spring mustard flowers in Screaming Eagle Vineyard on Silverado Trail Road. Napa Valley.

Oakville Ranch Summit Vineyard

Springtime view of Napa Valley looking towards Calistoga and Mt. Saint Helena from Oakville Ranch Summit Vineyard, Napa County, California,

Newton Vineyard

View of Newton Vineyard on Spring Mountain above St. Helena in Napa Valley, California.
Napa Valley wine country.

A hot air balloon and fog float in the Spring green Napa Valley below Newton Vineyard on Spring Mountain above St. Helena, California. Napa Valley wine country.

Looking at the lush view in these photographs, I can only imagine what the Napa hills and valley will look like after the fires rake through the area with their smudged black fingers.

Can saddles & horseshoes affect the taste of wine?

Recently a group of us went to a Napa Valley winery well known for its Zinfandel. Great experience. We walked the vineyard while the winemaker told us about his ancient vines and how the various slopes affected the grapes. Then we tasted the wine in the cellar while the winemaker explained his secrets. Oh so perfect. Cellar smells enveloped our senses. The wines were great. All of us bought some. 

That night we drank those same wines in one of our hotel rooms. Faux paintings on the wall, TV blaring in the next room, antiseptic aroma of whatever they spray to kill germs, all in the unromantic glow of low-energy flourescent lights.

We were disappointed in the wines. They tasted different. 

We concluded that the atmosphere affected our taste judgement. What do you think?

Could the horseshoes, saddles and cowboy boots in the tasting room at the Black Stallion winery affect your tasting experience? 
How much could this branding influence your wine buying decisions?

A horse barn atmosphere with the beams in the tasting room.

Horse shoes with small hooks at the tasting bar for women to hang their purses. That's attention to details.

I have no idea what these containers near the wine bottles are or do, but they look horsey cool?