Months After the Northern California Fires, Napa and Sonoma Vineyards Are Ready for Business

by DAVID ALEXANDER ARNOLD

fire > rain > recovery

Driving through Napa and Sonoma counties several weeks after the fires broke out, you'll see that fall rains have returned hills that were charred to the vibrant greens that are typical this time of year. For the most part, the vineyards and wineries are as beautiful as ever. If you are sipping Cabernet Sauvignon in Napa Valley or spending the weekend taking in Healdsburg’s first-rate gourmet offerings, the only signs of the fire might be #SonomaStrong billboards and hand-painted signs thanking first responders.

the communities

A drive up the Sonoma Highway, however, will take you by the communities of Glen Ellen and Kenwood that were hit hard. In this slideshow, we revisit some of the hotels, restaurants and wineries Travel + Leisure has recommended to see what they look like after the fires.

Speaking with the people who work in these establishments, you hear different versions of the same message: No one wants to minimize the tragedy of the fires, but the fact is, most of the wineries that draw visitors to the region emerged unscathed. Vineyards acted as a natural fire break, and firefighters from all over California worked around the clock to protect as much as they could.