Russian River Flows With Wine After Sonoma Winery Disaster | Eater SF

"I found ponds, creeks, and drainage ditches near the Rodney Strong Vineyards foamy with red wine after a door in a 90,000-gallon blending tank popped open; the winery’s communications manager, Christopher O’Gorman, said they noticed the spill around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday when an apparent mechanical failure released the door on a massive vat of Cabernet Sauvignon. I learned about roughly 45,000 gallons spilled, with an estimated 20–25% flowing into vineyard ponds and creeks that feed the Russian River, a release the Russian Riverkeeper called likely the biggest wine spill in county history. Inspectors from the Sonoma County Water Quality Control Board and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife are investigating and say Rodney Strong could face misdemeanor charges and penalties; so far no fish kills have been reported, and Fish and Wildlife spokesperson Trisha Taniguchi said they saw frogs “doing their normal thing” and some invertebrates in the creek, which is a good sign." - Eve Batey