In the early morning hours of August 24th, Northern California, specifically the southern Napa region known as American Canyon, was rocked by a 6.1 magnitude earthquake that jolted many out of bed within a several hundred mile radius. For me, a sixteen-year resident of California, transplanted from New York City, this was by far the biggest jolt I’d felt since moving here. With no boundary between sleep and full alert I leapt out of bed to swinging picture frames and what felt like a giant carpet being shaken loose of dirt. The momentum was oddly gentle and rhythmic, but the 15-second shake felt like an eternity.
The Napa Valley Vintners Collective
Many friends and colleagues of Charles Communications Associates experienced cracked walls, broken china and glass and in the case of the wineries located close to the epicenter as well as the old town of Napa, more significant damage. Much of old Napa was established in the 19th century and several of those buildings incurred serious damage.
Damage to the Matthiasson Barrel Room
One of many fermentation tanks damaged in the earthquake
Several wineries had their barrel racks tumble like a crazy Jenga game, large tanks were torqued and crushed like soda cans and rivers of wine spilled from barrels and tanks. Reports are saying that there could be damage upwards of $4 billion and right now the always mindful and generous wine community is jumping into action to help in ways large and small.
The Napa Valley Vintners this morning reported that $10 million from its fundraising efforts of Auction Napa Valley this year will be granted to people and businesses in need.
We at Charles Communications Associates have been fielding calls from the media to report accurately on the news emerging from the chaotic situation. Not surprisingly, many wineries have already righted their barrels, cleaned up the spilled wine and shored up their resolve as harvest is upon us.
There are many ways to help, either through donated goods, money or time. Please visit the following links to see how you can directly aid this great community.
http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/How-you-can-help-those-hurt-by-the-Napa-earthquake-5714126.php
All the Swirl is a collections of thoughts and opinions assembled by the staff and industry friends of Charles Communications Associates, a marketing communications firm with its headquarters in San Francisco, California. We invite you to explore more about our company and clients by visiting www.charlescomm.com.