Napa Urging Tourists To Keep Coming

Napa tourism officials are urging people to keep flocking to the towns, tasting rooms, restaurants and spas that drive the Napa Valley economy.

Paul Leary is the president of Blackbird Vineyards in Napa. He's also on the board of directors of the Napa Valley Vintners Association. On Capital Public Radio's Insight with Beth Ruyak, Leary said most businesses came away unscathed from the quake.

"Down towards the epicenter in Napa is where it's a little bit more affected," says Leary, "but many other parts of the valley are absolutely open, the wineries themselves, and waiting to receive guests. We did not have one minute that we were closed and there were many other businesses just like that."

Paul Wagner is with a Napa-based wine industry public relations firm called Balzac Communications and Marketing.

"It is an absolutely beautiful time to visit the valley," says Wagner, "and it would be doubly sad if the damage done by this earthquake then impacted tourism in such a way that the people who weren't hurt by the earthquake are now hurt by the fears that people might have that things are closed."

Wagner says if you have a favorite restaurant or wine tasting room, chances are they're still open, but call ahead of time just to be certain.