Bouncing Back
How did the 2017 fires affect Keenan Winery? The estate and every member of staff came through safely, and the harvest was all but finished when the fires began on 8 October. The prevailing wind carried fire, smoke and ash away from Spring Mountain. What follows is what Michael and Matt wrote at the time.
When we finally knew the fire was over and we had all made it through safely, I thought I would feel a little differently than I did. The terrible stress and constant anxiety were gone, but in no way were they replaced by elation or joy.
Yes, we all made it through unscathed, all of our possessions still with us, but there was barely a feeling of relief, let alone happiness. So many people had lost so much, and so much of our beautiful community will not look the same for a long time. The images, looking and smelling like a war zone, were harrowing and will never be forgotten.
Since the fire ended I have had many conversations with friends about what is really important in our lives, and the usual suspects always emerge: loved ones, friendships, my house, my vineyard. What I have not mentioned to anyone, probably for fear of looking pretty silly, is that two of my favorite possessions are my Maui Jim sunglasses and a cheap black plastic comb I found in a hotel bathroom about seven years ago.
The Maui Jims were a gift from Jennifer years ago, so they are very special, they fit perfectly, and I think they look pretty good. As for the comb — oddly enough, I had never owned one. Then one day it appeared in my hotel bathroom just as I was coming to the blinding realization that I really needed a comb. I use it every day now, on my head and on my face.
Since these are both inanimate objects, the responsibility for maintaining the relationships falls entirely on me. They cannot get up and walk away. As I get older, losing track of things becomes an ever-increasing challenge, so this lends a heightened appreciation for the two of them. Keeping them means I am not losing it.
Imagine my feelings, then, when I realized I had left my cherished shades in a rental car at the end of my first marketing trip after the fire. As I was boarding my flight I felt my coat pocket, where I usually keep them, and knew. As quickly as the anger at my blunder began to rise, it dissolved: I could simply buy a new pair, they would look exactly the same, and all would be well.
Maybe the fire taught me something about what is really important, or about how to let go more easily. I don’t know. I am just damn glad I still have that ten-cent black comb.
Michael Keenan, President & Owner
The 2017 harvest
The 2017 harvest will go down as the most eventful harvest to date in my book. An extended heat spell in late August and early September, coupled with the wildfires in October, won’t fade from memory anytime soon. Record winter rains and warm summer temperatures had encouraged plenty of beautiful clusters during the growing season.
By the third week of August we were anticipating an average start in mid-September, and then the heat came. Spring Mountain hit 100 degrees on 26 August, and seven of the following ten days brought highs above 100. The high temperatures and very low humidity jump-started harvest. The Zinfandel in the Point vineyard — our warmest site — could not take the heat, so we picked that block on 2 September. The Chardonnay ripened quickly too, and by 7 September we had finished both the Clone 4 and the Dijon vines.
Things slowed in mid-September, with temperatures below normal and a little precipitation on the 12th and 13th. The mild weather and high humidity brought ripening to an abrupt halt, which gave us time to catch up and prepare for the next round. Slowly the Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ripened, and by 5 October we had all but wrapped up the estate harvest.
The fire started on the night of 8 October. Only two vineyard blocks had not been picked, one of them scheduled for Monday the 9th. That pick was postponed to the 10th, and by the 11th we had finished. The fires continued to rage around us, but thankfully the prevailing wind kept fire, smoke and ash blowing away from Spring Mountain.
We will never forget this harvest, and will always feel fortunate that Keenan staff and their families were spared the devastation so many endured. And thank you to all of you, our great friends, for your thoughts and support while the fires burned.
Matt Gardner, General Manager
