EARTHQUAKE AND WINERIES-8/24/14-957-PMD
THE SOUTH NAPA EARTHQUAKE CAUSED ABOUT 1-HUNDRED MILLION DOLLARS IN DAMAGE ACCORDING TO INITIAL U-S-G-S ESTIMATES. SOME EXPERTS PREDICT THE QUAKES DAMAGE TO NAPA WINERIES WILL HAVE AN EVEN LARGER FINANCIAL IMPACT ON THE WINE INDUSTRY BOTH LOCALLY AND ABROAD, BUT AT THIS POINT, WITH A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF A 5.0 OR LARGER, AND A 5 PERCENT CHANCE OF A 6.0 AFTER SHOCK IN THE DAYS AHEAD, THE DAMAGE REPORTS OF PRODUCTION FACILITIES AND OF BOTTLED INVENTORIES ARE TOO INCOMPLETE FOR AN ACCURATE FORECAST ON THE FUTURE OF THE CALIFORNIA WINE INDUSTRY.