Harvest at Syncline Winery in 2018 by Richard Duval.

Just over two and a half weeks after the Burdoin fire burned through the Lyle/Bingen area of the Columbia River Gorge, local wineries are still assessing the extent of damage and, in some cases, starting to reopen. Syncline Winery reopened its tasting room August 1^st.

“It’s important to show people that we’re still here,” says Syncline co-founder and vigneron James Mantone.

Syncline did not lose any structures in the fire. The winery, its garden, and the family’s nearby home were spared. However, the fire came exceptionally close.

“We’re on an unburnt island surrounded by burned areas,” says Mantone. Syncline’s automated irrigation system was watering southern blocks at its vineyard at the time the fire hit. Mantone believes that pushed the fire to the north.

“If those blocks hadn’t been being watered at the time, the fire would have gone right through into the winery,” Mantone says. “There’s a fair amount of luck that came in.”

Earlier on the day that we spoke, Mantone walked through the winery’s estate vineyard to appraise the damage. He says that approximately 60% of the wooden end posts will need to be replaced, as will fencing. It will take additional time to assess the damage to vines, though this year’s crop is surely lost.

“Vines are incredibly resilient,” Mantone says, “so I think the bulk of them will bounce back.” He plans to do another assessment in October.

Nearby, Cor Cellars hopes to reopen in mid-August. “We’re just trying to get up and check off the list all day long,” says owner and winemaker Luke Bradford.

At Cor, a well pump house was destroyed, but no other structures were burned. Still, the area needs extensive cleanup. The fire also burned approximately 10 rows at Cor’s small vineyard by the winery. Bradford is thankful it wasn’t worse.

“The whole overwhelming sentiment is gratitude for having our buildings be saved,” Bradford says.

BARO Wines was not so fortunate. The tasting room and winery, which had just opened, were destroyed by the fire. Almost all winery inventory was lost.

“At this point we are still processing & unsure of what our next steps will be,” the winery said in an Instagram post July 27^th. “It’s hard to put an emotion to seeing all of the work & dedication of the last 3 years reduced to ash and broken glass.”

Domaine Pouillon reportedly hopes to reopen by Labor Day. The winery was spared. However, the Pouillons lost their home in the fire.

Even for wineries that did not lose structures, there will be serious impacts. Syncline, for example, had anticipated using 70-80% estate fruit in 2025. That will no longer be possible. Additionally, the winery does not have crop insurance to cover the loss. Still, Mantone says he’s been heartened by the outpouring of support.

“I’ve had growers from Walla Walla, Royal Slope, Red Mountain, and other areas all call to offer us grapes to make sure that we continue to make wine,” Mantone says. Syncline’s distributors and retailers have also offered to step up efforts to drive sales. “The community response has been amazing,” Mantone says.

Both Mantone and Bradford say that the biggest thing consumers can do to support wineries is to purchase wine. This can be done either through online wine sales or online gift cards or by purchasing the wine at area retailers.

As wineries and other businesses reopen, people are also encouraged to visit, though doing so with sensitivity. “I think it’s really important for people when they come out here to remember that this is not just a beautiful place, but people live here and it’s a trauma zone right now,” Mantone says.

While the Burdoin fire had severe impacts on the Lyle/Bingen area, the effects were, mercifully, local. The rest of the Columbia River Gorge was not impacted.

“Mosier, White Salmon, Hood River, Underwood, they were unaffected by this fire,” Mantone says. “It definitely hit us hard, but it’s not going to negatively impact the broader Gorge wine industry.”

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