Luxury conglomerate LVMH has announced the permanent closure of Newton Vineyards in Napa Valley, marking the end of an era for the historic winery. Although the estate was severely damaged by the 2020 Glass Fire, the decision to close permanently has been made years later after assessing the challenges of reconstruction. Given the scale of the damage and the long recovery timeline, the winery will not be rebuilt.
Newton Vineyards suffered catastrophic losses in the fire, including the complete destruction of the 2020 harvest and most of the 2019 vintage that was still aging in barrels. Beyond the vineyards and winemaking facilities, the fire also burned over 6,000 trees on the property, leaving the steep slopes highly vulnerable to erosion. The location on Spring Mountain, surrounded by dense forests and rugged terrain, had long made Newton one of the most challenging wineries to manage in Napa Valley.
Founded in 1977 by Englishman Peter Newton, the winery grew to encompass 260 hectares, with approximately 48 hectares planted with vines. Newton Vineyards earned a reputation for its unique, unfiltered wines and its dedication to sustainable viticulture. In 2001, LVMH acquired a majority stake in the estate, further elevating its profile in the luxury wine sector. Just six months before the Glass Fire, LVMH had completed extensive renovations and transitioned the estate to organic farming, investing approximately $10 million in the process.
Following the fire, Newton’s team temporarily continued wine production at an off-site facility. However, experts estimated that fully restoring the winery would take up to a decade. Given the time, costs, and environmental risks, LVMH ultimately decided against reconstruction.
The closure of Newton Vineyards underscores the broader challenges faced by the wine industry in the wake of increasingly frequent and intense wildfires. As climate change continues to threaten key wine-producing regions, wineries must navigate new risks and assess the long-term viability of their estates. For Napa Valley, the loss of Newton Vineyards is a significant reminder of the fragility of the industry in the face of natural disasters.
