If you’re reading this right now, chances are you have an affinity for wine and a fondness in your heart for the northern California wine country. Prior to this writing, many of you are well aware of the devastating fires that have ripped through Napa and Sonoma counties (along with our neighboring counties as well). The overall loss of life, property and prosperity has been nothing short of catastrophic and tragic…but on the opposite end of the spectrum the outpouring of support and love from friends, customers and our extended Miner family has been absolutely incredible.
This blow has undoubtedly knocked us to the canvas; but with our fighting spirit, we are all collectively picking ourselves up and continuing on. After all, that is what any champion does, and we, as a wine region, have that attitude emblazoned in us. Realistically though, getting back in saddle won’t be as straightforward as we all hope. We’ll probably need a shoulder to lean on, but if you’re willing and able, you can hopefully be the crutch we need.
If you are wanting to help us get back on our feet, here are 5 easy, actionable ideas that would help greatly on our road to recovery:
Plan a Visit To Napa and Sonoma
While we would all love for you to visit at any point, the next few months are when we are going to need our tourists the most. Typically this time of year is synonymous with bursting tasting rooms and general winery fervor. As of this writing, the tasting rooms are ghost towns. The wine is here, we just need somebody to drink it (and we can’t do it ourselves)!
It is understandable to be leary but the smoke has lifted, and the beauty of our vineyard vistas bathed in autumn sunlight are waiting.
In all honesty, this might be the most ideal time to come. It’s like going to Disneyland and not having to wait in-line.
Visit A Town & Do Some Shopping, Eating, Etc.
Dotted all throughout Napa and Sonoma counties there are plenty of small towns and cities worth visiting that each have their own individual charm and appeal. The cities of Sonoma and Napa themselves, Yountville, St. Helena, Calistoga, and Santa Rosa are just a few examples that come to mind. Not surprisingly, all of these locales have world-class dining options where reservations are typically hard to come by. If you want to impress your spouse or significant other with a romantic dining experience, but hate having to constantly refresh OpenTable looking for availability under normal circumstances, now is the time to dine!
Aside from stuffing your face, there are plenty of upscale and quirky boutiques, art galleries, and local craft artisans that would be ecstatic to have patrons visit their storefronts during this lull in tourist traffic. Make sure you come see them, and perhaps get some of your holiday shopping done early for a change!
Buy A Bottle (or 12) from Sonoma and Napa
Even if you can’t physically visit us in wine country, we know there are endless options when it comes to regional selections of the wines you’re tossing back. If you’re a diehard stalwart of Oregon Pinots, we certainly can’t blame you…but maybe deviate from what you usually drink and partake in something from Napa and Sonoma instead. Despite the destructive nature of the fires, the wines from this region have remained virtually unscathed. This even includes the current 2017 vintage that is still in the process of being made; so rest assured that the wine you are buying will not be compromised in any way.
Also, with every bottle you cellar, or drink, that hails from the wineries of Napa or Sonoma, you are contributing to our vitality and ensuring that we can continue to produce the wines you will revel in for years to come.
Since You’re Here, You Might As Well Stay (for at least a night or two)
Day-trips are more than appreciated to Napa and Sonoma, but since you’ve gotten this far, it would probably behoove you to stay the night (especially if you’ve been binge drinking wine all day). Our lodging accommodations are world-renown, yet with nobody using them, it kinda feels like we have a Ferrari that we can’t brag about or show off to anybody. And many places are offering terrific deals to get you in the door!
Go ahead and pamper yourself with a spa treatment, treat yourself to high-end room service, or just admire the endless rows of vineyards and majestic scenery around you. Once you do, you’ll know what all the fuss is about.
Show Your Devotion and Join a Wine Club
Perhaps the biggest display of devotion for all of us affected by these atrocious fires is to enroll yourself in a wine club program. Ideally, we would love for it to be Miner, but we would be thrilled if you joined any wine club in the area. As you can imagine, pretty much every winery has one.
By signing up in a wine club program, you are committing yourself not just to the recovery effort in the short-term, but moving forward as well. Plus, as part of a wine club, you have the added benefit of receiving delectable wines at your doorstep throughout the year! Really, it’s a win-win scenario for everybody.
Even though the path back to normalcy might be a bit arduous at times, it is of the utmost comfort knowing that we have the backing of so many supporters and concerned patrons helping us in any capacity that they can. We have full confidence we will get back to where we were and we hope to see you at some point along the way! You’re all the best!
Tyler Kohfeld
Chief Hat Wearer (literally), Resident Hunky Ginger and Wine Club Coordinator at Miner Family Winery, I like to surround myself with good friends and great times. I feel that wine plays a big part in that. My goal is to provide unpretentious insight on wine culture from a guy’s perspective, as well as the Napa Valley in general. I also love baseball and dogs.