Napa Valley Winery Sues Insurer Over $1 Million In Smoke-Tainted Grapes

A Napa Valley vintner has sued its insurer for failing to pay compensation for $1.14 million worth of wine grapes tainted by smoke during the 2017 wildfires in that region.

Levensohn Vineyards LLC, of St. Helena, filed suit May 14 In U.S. District Court, Northern California division, against Nationwide Agribusiness Insurance Co. of Des Moines, Iowa.

According to the suit, Levensohn was insured during the October 2017 period during which the winery suffered a “covered loss, namely damage to grapes used in winemaking as a result of ‘smoke taint’ from fires in Napa County and the surrounding areas.”