Wildfires and wine don't mix

In addition to its many other firsts, 2020 was also the year that California saw the most active wildfire season ever with more than 4 million acres burned. The state’s wineries and vineyards paid a particularly high price.

In late September, the Glass Fire destroyed vineyards in Napa and Sonoma, effectively canceling much of the fall harvest. Even vineyards that weren’t destroyed by the fires suffered smoke damage, heat exposure and shutdowns. In the latest Insurance Speak podcast, Larry Chasin, president of PAK Programs, which creates and offers specialty insurance programs for the craft beverage industry, shares some of the challenges for growers and insurers.