Market research
A fire at a warehouse in California is feared to have destroyed millions of dollars worth of vintage wine. The blaze, which broke out last Wednesday (12 October) at a warehouse south of Napa Valley and around 30 miles north-east of San Francisco, is being treated as suspicious.
Damage to the warehouse was estimated at around US$10m, although losses to the contents of the building could run into the tens of millions, with around 70 wineries leasing space in the building.
Coho Wines, a small brand set up three years ago by Gary Lipp and Brooks Painter, fears it may have lost most of its 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon and all of its 2004 Pinot Noir in the fire.
Other wines stored in the warehouse included huge chunks of smaller wineries' inventories and 'library' collections of rare vintages, local reports said.
Sectors: Wine