I've always wondered: How do California Freepers view their wine industry?
I live in Napa. Make and sell wine. My partner just moved his 2002 and 2003 inventory to this supposedly "fire-proof" facility just two months ago. I preferred to pay a bit more to have my wines closer. Whew!
Everyone up here is wondering how in the hell a solid concrete structure could go up in flames. The managers advertised this place as having a "State-of-the-art" fire detection system. I'm guessing it's arson. Someone short of cash insures his inventory for "retail" value then torches the place.
The industry side is kinda fun. Napa culture is totally centered on food and drink but that's reasonably healthy. Napa's a nice place to live and work. People are friendly and there's surprisingly little of the snobbery you might expect. Industry people are mostly blue collar.
That can't be said for some of the nouveau riche arrivistes who are a rather liberal bunch. Even so, it's a tolerant, prosperous place good for raising a family.
By the way, Alexander Valley is in Sonoma County. I doubt the fire will have much effect on wine prices. There's a bit too much inventory all around.
I live 15 miles from Napa and enjoy the wine country frequently and have since I honeymooned there in 1975.
Napa - Excellent wines & restaurants, but too crowded from June to August and most all weekends. Favorite wineries: Stony Hill, Pine Ridge, Vine Cliff, ZD, van der Heiden. Most overated: Mondavi.
Sonoma - Far more laid back and relaxing, less crowded. favorite wineries : Viansa, Gundlach Budschu (more for their 'tude, then their wine), Cohn.
Alexander valley - Now becoming the trendy place to be... too bad. Healdsburg was a great little town and is still nice, but not as it was a few short years ago.
Insured.
With veneration and gratitude.