Wildfires have become a recurring and devastating threat to Napa Valley wineries, with the 2025 Pickett Fire marking yet another blow to producers like Elton Slone, president of Robert Craig Winery. Slone, who already suffered major losses in the 2020 Glass Fire, lost nearly 90% of his annual wine production, worth over $7 million, after smoke from the Pickett Fire tainted his vineyards’ grapes. He and at least half a dozen other vintners on Howell Mountain now face unusable harvests, as smoke damage renders premium Cabernet Sauvignon grapes worthless. Initial estimates put the fire’s agricultural toll at $65 million.
Furthermore, several wineries have retained Singleton Schreiber, a law firm specializing in fire litigation, to investigate the cause of the fire. Paul Starita, a partner at the firm, emphasized that in fire-prone California, businesses must act responsibly, and if human negligence is found, the liable party could face significant damages. Suspicion has centered on a property owned by vintner Jayson Woodbridge, where the fire originated.
Cal Fire is still investigating, with possible causes ranging from smoldering ashes discarded by a contractor to a damaged battery in a utility trailer. Starita noted that Singleton Schreiber doesn’t wait for Cal Fire’s findings, asserting the firm typically identifies the likely cause within 72 hours. For many vintners like Slone, Heather Griffin, and Randy Dunn, the fire feels like a repeat of past disasters, and they hope legal action may offer some measure of justice amid mounting losses.
