The firestorms that ravaged California—and disasters in other parts of the country in recent years—left devastation that can take years to repair, and those who lost homes will never be able to replace family treasures.
Even as the Los Angeles fires continue to rage, and even in the few places that were spared, despair mixes with hope that the days ahead offer some positives amid the gloom, financial ruin, and shattered dreams.
Writing about wine today might seem senseless, but I know many people in Northern California who lost homes and precious wines in the recent fires. And though they suffered greatly, after the shock wore off and they got their lives back together, they repaired their existences with stronger connections to family and friends.
I once lived near Pacific Palisades and West L.A., and I knew many neighbors. Almost every person loved fine wine. Many of the area’s homes were among the most commodious in Southern California, places where fine living was the norm.
And despite the devastation we all see on television, West L.A. will recover. To be sure, it will take time. Once the fires are extinguished, the region will discover that it doesn’t have enough architects, contractors, or construction people to do the vital job of rebuilding.
Until the end of the year, thousands of residents of the devastated areas will find temporary quarters while their homes are being reconstructed. And in many of the rebuilt homes, especially those that lost wine collections, that construction may well entail putting wine cellars below ground.
By 2026, those who received compensation from insurance companies may well attempt to replace some of the lost wine. About a year from now, fine wine sales in Southern California will be at fever pitch.
Michael Carpenter, owner of the Red Collection, based in Petaluma, California, buys private wine collections and sells old and rare bottles that have been perfectly stored. Some of those who lost wines in the fires might contact people like him to find replacements.
Carpenter deals regularly with people who have insured their wine collections. He says that two of the best insurance companies for wine are AIG and Chubb. He said several other companies offer wine insurance, but AIG and Chubb are considered by industry experts as the finest.
Southern Californians who need to store their wines in a secure location away from their homes may contact one of several public facilities that offer not only security, but 55-degree temperature storage.
