The Napa Valley Distillery, a staple in the local craft spirits scene since 2009, suffered significant damage from a fire on Monday following a single-vehicle accident. As reported by Eater SF, the fire originated from a nearby car crash on Highway 29, where a brush fire ignited and quickly spread to the distillery's property.
Art Hartunian, co-owner of the distillery, recounted to Napa Valley Register the intense moment he first spotted the flames, "Am I seeing what I'm seeing?” he thought as the blaze approached. Fortunately, the fire did not reach the barrel storage area, where it could have created an even larger disaster by igniting the high-proof alcohol stored within.
According to Eater SF, the distillery thanked the Napa Fire Department, expressing gratitude for everyone involved's safety and the community's support while confirming their plans to rebuild. Their tasting salon remains closed as they navigate the aftermath of the incident. The distillery's storied past as Napa's first spirits maker since Prohibition underscores its importance to the Napa Valley and its resolve to return to operation.
According to Captain Karl Crowe, as per the Napa Valley Register, the distillery's second-floor office space was significantly impacted by the fire after flames shattered windows and allowed the fire to enter the building. "We're so careful when it comes to fire prevention or anything that could potentially be flammable," Hartunian told the Register, "We went above and beyond what we needed when we built this facility." It's this level of foresight that may have mitigated even further damage.
