The magnitude 6.0 earthquake that struck northern California last month did its share of damage, but wine country is open for business, and the fall grape harvest is in full swing as scheduled.

In Napa Valley, the message from businesses and tourist attractions: Don’t cancel your plans!

Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) a 500-member trade association, says 99% of Napa Valley’s wineries have returned to their core business of producing and selling wine. “Even some of the most badly damaged wineries in the town of Napa and surrounding areas have reopened to the public or have set up temporary harvest facilities to turn the rapidly ripening grapes into wine,” NVV says in a statement.

The sun rises during Napa Valley harvest 2014. (Credit: Tony Albright, NVV)

Patsy McGaughy, NVV communications director, says, “Only a handful of businesses, mostly in downtown Napa, are still closed. We encourage visitors to come to Napa Valley — no businesses from Yountville north were impacted, and even some of the hardest hit wineries in the Los Carneros area are back open and are welcoming guests.”

For those who may have concerns about a winery or attraction, McGaughy says they can simply call ahead of time for specific information.

Get there for the harvest!

The picking begins for Napa Valley harvest 2014 (Credit: NVV)

NVV says in its statement that the harvest, which is peak season for tourism in Napa Valley, is underway and is progressing as it should. “Much of the Sauvignon Blanc grapes have been harvested and other whites like Chardonnay, and red varieties like Pinot Noir, Merlot and Malbec, are starting to hit crush pads throughout the valley. Picking of Cabernet Sauvignon, the region’s most widely planted variety, will begin soon,” says NVV.

McGaughy adds, “If visitors want to experience the harvest firsthand, they should come see us before the first week in October.”

And visitors, it seems, are doing just that. “It seems like we’re getting the message out that the earthquake should not stop people from visiting Napa Valley right now,” notes McGaughy. She says wineries most affected by the quake reported to NVV that Labor Day weekend business was equal to or just slightly under the same period in 2013.

For more information about the harvest, visit NVV’s harvest-information page here

It’s not that the quake was no big deal. NVV says more than 120 wineries were impacted, and damage estimates for the area, released by Napa County, stand at $80 million for wineries and more than $400 million for the entire community.

Napa Valley harvest 2014 — It’s looking good for this bin! (Credit: Tony Albright, NVV)

But the Napa Valley community is ready to move on and get back to the business it loves — and the business that captivates visitors. “While everyone is concerned about their neighbors, and many residents and local businesses were impacted, I would say the mood overall is very positive,” says McGaughy. “The spirit of collaboration and camaraderie that exists year-round in Napa Valley was only amplified by the earthquake. We’re a very positive, forward-thinking community. Folks are ready to move on and get their lives and their businesses back to normal.”

And businesses there are conveying that message to visitors. The River Terrace Inn, for example, located in Napa, prominently states on its homepage, “River Terrace Inn and Terrace Cafe are both open after experiencing no damage from the recent Napa earthquake.”

While you’re in Napa Valley…

Among the locations open for business: The Napa Valley Wine Train, a partner of GOGO Vacations. It’s as cool as it sounds — a three-hour, 36-mile round trip aboard fully restored 1915-1917 Pullman Cars and 1952 Vista Dome cars. The rail line dates back to 1864, and the compelling history can be seen below:

Today, as the video above says, the company exists “to provide visitors with an unmatched luxury rail-dining experience.”

All aboard the Napa Valley Wine Train!

Passengers can relax as they travel through one of the world’s most well known wine valleys, seeing the towns of Napa, Yountville, Oakville, Rutherford and St. Helena along the way. Guests can also enjoy a freshly prepared lunch or dinner aboard the train, and, if they like, pre-purchase tours at one of the wineries the train stops at.

How the quake impacted the Wine Train

Andrea Guzman, promotions and partnership manager for the Napa Valley Wine Train, speaking about how last month’s earthquake affected business, says, “The Napa Valley Wine Train is operating business as usual. We did not operate trains for 48 hours after the earthquake hit in order to check all the bridges, trestles, and the train.”

The quake, of course, is a topic of conversation among visitors. “It does come up in conversation as the Wine Train is located in the heart of downtown [Napa], where we can see some of the damage from our tracks,” says Guzman.

She adds, “We feel extremely fortunate as some of our friends, partners, are still working with the aftermath of the earthquake.” Some buildings in a concentrated part of the downtown area, she says, are still red-tagged, indicating they are damaged to the point where they are inhabitable.

Want to help? Come to Napa Valley!

Napa Valley Vintners’ inspirational post-quake poster: Napa Valley is staying strong and moving on!

But like McGaughy, Guzman says nearly all hotels and wineries are open for business. “Napa is strong and has essentially recovered,” she says. “We have seen some drop off in tourism, however this should not deter people from coming.

“The best way people can support us in the Napa Valley is coming and enjoying everything we have to offer, including riding the Napa Valley Wine Train.”

McGaughy agrees that those interested in supporting Napa Valley in the wake of the temblor should visit, “or if they can’t do that, to open a bottle of Napa Valley wine with their dinner.”

NVV has also created The Napa Valley Community Disaster Relief Fund, and McGaughy says, “We’ve had inquiries from all over the world about how people can help Napa Valley recover. The fund is a great way for people to make a financial contribution, if they would like to do that.”

To make a donation or for more information on the fund, click here