This time of year is usually the peak tourist season for Wine Country. But in a year where COVID-19 is already keeping tourists away, the Glass Fire is dealing another devastating blow.
Several popular wineries and one resort have been destroyed by the fire. Driving along the St. Helena Highway, thick smoke stretches in every direction.
Many of the wineries and restaurants not in the path of the fire are closed, and for the ones that are open, business is slow.
"It really cut down traffic, I mean, almost entirely," said Walter Hamlin, wine director at the Oakville Wine Merchant, which is still open for food and tastings. "So, we're going from seeing in 2019, 200-400 people per day and we're seeing less than half that now."
Aila Choi and her fiancée were among the handful of customers there. The couple was supposed to be getting married this week.
"But due to the whole pandemic situation we had to push our wedding to next year, hoping that it will happen next year," said Choi. "So instead of having the wedding we decided to do a whole month of road trip."
They are traveling up and down the west coast and trying to make the best of it, although it is a tough time to be visiting.
"We were hoping so much for the Napa trip, but yeah - it is what it is, I guess, at this point," said Choi. "It's very sad to think about the people who actually run business in this weather condition."
But there is a way to help, and it is a win-win.
"I feel like 2020 it's not hard to drink a bottle of wine, right?" said Hamlin. "It's a good time to buy wine. Especially stuff that's already in the market. That's a good way to help."
He says people looking to support their favorite wineries should buy direct, sign up for their email lists and maybe even check out a virtual tasting.
