Simple Machine Winery, Talent, Ore.,was completely destroyed by the Alameda Fire four hours after the fire began on Sept. 8. “Every building burned to the ground and we lost 100% of our inventory. Every barrel and every bottle is gone,” Owner Brian Denner said in a post on the winery’s website.
“Simple Machine will rebuild and our amazing community will recover,” Denner added. “Thank you so much to everyone who has reached out to us. We appreciate your support and feel the love. We are stronger together.”
He estimates he lost about 20-30 full barrels and 12,000 bottles of wine. ““We literally lost everything. It’s devastating. We don’t have a single bottle of one of our wines left,” Denner said.
Especially disheartening was the loss of wine from 2019. “I had some really nice wines in barrel. I was particularly excited about a new Zinfandel made with grapes from the Pheasant Hill Vineyard here in Talent. All those wines are now vaporized into the ether at this point,” Denner said.
The winery had insurance, but it needs help to rebuild. It has immediately started an “After Fire” wine club that offers six and 12 bottles of a white and rose wine made with donated and purchased grapes. The prices are $150 for a 6-pack and $300 for a case of 12 bottles. The wines will be available for pickup or delivery in 2021. Red wines will be offered as they become available.
Four days after the fire, Denner learned a ton of donated pinot noir grapes was waiting for him at a custom crush facility in Medford. He has also received offers of equipment, barrels and winery space from other Rogue Valley wineries.