Iconic 3-Michelin-star restaurant in Napa Valley destroyed by wildfire, video shows

California’s wine country has suffered devastating losses for the past few years during the state’s wildfire season, and this year’s Glass Fire has destroyed or damaged several Napa Valley wineries, The Sacramento Bee reported.

One of the area’s most iconic eateries, the Restaurant at Meadowood (TRAM), burned to the ground, according to the newspaper. The three-Michelin-star restaurant’s Chef Christopher Kostow confirmed the loss on Instagram.

“We are all torn apart,” Kostow wrote. “A eulogy is deserved, and will be given in due time… for now, I want to thank all of the TRAMily that have ever graced this magical space - and all of the guests over the years who have enjoyed the efforts of these multitudes. What an honor it has been.”

Only a few foundational structures were left standing as the rest of the building was little but heaps of ash and burning embers, videos posted on Twitter by local reporters show. Another haunting photo shows the entry leading only to plumes of smoke.

The building was already up in flames by the time firefighters arrived, KGO reported. After the fire claimed the crew’s water resources, they were forced to use water from the property’s swimming pool, according to KGO.

“We were able to put it out [but] unfortunately the water system, the tanks, got destroyed and then we ran out of water,” Capt. Matt Dowland told KGO.

The restaurant earned a third Michelin star in 2010 after opening decades ago, the San Francisco Chronicle reported. The Meadowood Resort, one of the area’s top resorts, also lost the Grill at Meadowood and the golf shop, SFGate reported.

This story was originally published September 29, 2020 at 4:16 PM with the headline "Iconic 3-Michelin-star restaurant in Napa Valley destroyed by wildfire, video shows."