Dozens of wineries and vineyards launch $100M legal battle against PacifiCorp after Oregon wildfires ravaged their harvest

Dozens of wineries and vineyards in Oregon have launched a legal battle against a major electric company after wildfires wrecked their harvests. 

PacifiCorp has been sued by 40 wineries all across Oregon that are claiming the electric power company's negligence led to the state's devastating 2020 wildfires. 

The 2020 Oregon wildfire season was the most destructive on record in the state of Oregon, leaving over 3,000 structures destroyed and killing 11 people.

Over $100million was requested in damages by the lawsuit filed in Multnomah County Circuit Court last week, after one of the wineries' owners said that their bottles of alcohol tasted like an ashtray because of the effect on the grapes. 

The lawsuit alleges that the utility's decision to not turn off power during the Labor Day windstorm contributed to the blazes that caused smoke and soot to damage the wineries' grapes and reduce harvest sales. 

Dozens of wineries and vineyards in Oregon have launched a legal battle against a major electric company after wildfires wrecked the harvests

Wine producers in Willamette Valley are named as plaintiffs in the suit. The region is home to two-thirds of Oregon wineries and vineyards - it's the oldest wine region in the state, according to the Oregon Wine Board.

The wineries involved in the lawsuit include Zenith Vineyard, LLC, Domaine Serene Vineyards and Winery, Inc., Brigadoon Vineyards, and Brick House Wine Company. 

In their complaint, the wine producers say the fires 'produced harmful smoke particles that landed on and infused themselves into the grapes.' 

This meant that the vineyards could not sell their grapes to winemakers - and wineries were unable to sell their wine, which resulted in lost revenue and damaged reputations, the lawsuit claims. 

Tim Ramey (pictured) is the co-owner of Zenith Vineyard, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit 

Wine producers in Willamette Valley are named as plaintiffs in the suit. The region is home to two-thirds of Oregon wineries and vineyards - it's the oldest wine region in the state, according to the Oregon Wine Board

'Grapes and grape juice that are infused with smoke can carry the smoke compounds and smoke taste through the entire wine production, bottling process, and sale to the consumers,' the complaint said.

Despite paying 'extraordinary costs' to try to cleanse the soot and smoke from their 2020 vintages, such efforts largely failed, according to the complaint.

Tim Ramey, who is the co-owner of Zenith Vineyard, said the smoke 'definitely permeated the skins of the grapes and impacted the quality of the wine. And so the wine may taste great, you know, when first bottled. But it might taste like an ashtray two years later.'

In an emailed statement, PacifiCorp said it is 'committed to settling all reasonable claims for damages as provided under Oregon law.'

'The safety of our customers and communities remains our top priority,' the statement said.

This is not the first that the electric power company has been hit with legal battles for its decision to not turn power off during the wildfires. 

The 2020 Oregon wildfire season was the most destructive on record in the state of Oregon, leaving over 3,000 structures destroyed and killing 11 people 

Last June, a jury found PacifiCorp liable for negligently failing to cut power to its 600,000 customers despite warnings from top fire officials. 

The jury determined it acted negligently and willfully and should have to pay punitive and other damages - a decision that applied to a class including the owners of up to 2,500 properties.

Thousands of other class members are still awaiting trials, though the sides are also expected to engage in mediation that could lead to a settlement.