Winemakers and tasters at wine festival talk about wildfires devastating wine vinyards in California

On Saturday afternoon the La Vina wine festival opened it’s gates.

The event that highlights wine tasting and local food is expected to draw in over 3,000 people throughout the weekend.

Many enjoyed local music and got a taste of locally produced wine.

“It brings everyone together,” said festival attendee Courtney Devot.

Others enjoyed gorditas and tacos from local food trucks.

“This a perfect example of how wine does well. There’s good food to accompany the wine with a nice place to rest and relax in,” said La Vina Winery owner Ken Stark.

Also at the festival were grape farmers and winemakers.

Although many were enjoying the day they had heavy hearts for their fellow wine makers in California.

California’s wine country just north of San Francisco are currently battling wildfires. Nappa, Sonoma and Mendicino County have seen the most destructive group of wildfires California has ever seen.

The wildfires that have spread more than 100 miles wide have left 35 dead and destroyed nearly 6,000 homes.

The area known for producing wine has seen hundreds of acres of vineyards destroyed by the fires.

Stark says the damage can be in the millions of dollars.

“Good land in Sonoma and Nappa is way up the in the $100,000 per acre range. It is not cheap to grow grapes in that part of California,” Stark said.

“It’s very sad. My heart goes out to them and it’s unfortunate they are going through that right now,” said festival attendee Mike Diaz.

Diaz realizes the wine industry in California’s wine country will suffer and impact the wine trade in the region.

He believes now that wineries in California have been affected people might turn to buy wine locally.

“I feel that in Las Cruces, La Vina, and La Union area there is a hidden secret. There’s good wine here. We need to start buying more wine locally,” Diaz said.