NAPA, CA (NCC News) – Just as wineries in Napa County were getting the hang of new tasting room restrictions, they had to quickly switch gears.
Gov. Newsom announced that all indoor operations for movies theaters, restaurants, wineries, and businesses had to close their doors, or go completely outdoors. General Manager of Trinitas Cellars, Sonyia Grabski, says they were ready for the switch.
“The most recent closure hasn’t hurt us, we very quickly got an extension of our license to outdoors.”
The new outdoor set up brought another potential issue. The rising Napa temperatures. Trinitas Cellars says they are preparing to slightly alter wine temperatures, so they do not serve hot wine.
“It’s actually made us much more aware of the fact that we need to serve our red wines more a cellar temperature.”
Despite the challenges, Trinitas Cellars has been able to use this moment to grow their online presence and online memberships.
“We’re doing these online corporate group tastings and word is getting out there, and then people will order the wines, and then they’ll join the wine clubs.”
If the California case numbers continue to climb, Trinitas Cellars is also preparing to expand their online reach in case they are forced to close all in person operations.
“When we release a new wine and we send a wine club shipment out, why not do a virtual zoom on a Sunday like a pickup party or release party.”
As for the customers, they want to taste and receive their wine on time. Napa County resident Terri Hall remarks that she loves going wine tasting, even in the pandemic.
“Well I sure hope they mail my wine! I would be sad if there was nowhere to go, I go two to three times a month.”
The current roll backs are expected to remain in place until at least July 30th.
