There is no better way to watch the 185-mph winds of Hurricane Irma pass through than with a glass of Merlot, just ask Sir Richard Branson.
The billionaire business magnate waited out the destructive force of Hurricane Irma from the comfort of his wine cellar on his private island in the British Virgin Islands. Branson, 67, also sheltered about a dozen Virgin Group staff members.
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“We are expecting to get the full force of the hurricane in around five hours time, when we will retreat to a concrete wine cellar under the Great House,” Branson wrote on the Virgin website.
Branson is no stranger to the wrath of Mother Nature. The billionaire is currently on his own Necker Island in the Caribbean and says he’s experienced three hurricanes over the last 30 years. He stayed put on the island through those storms and plans on doing the same with Hurricane Irma.
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“On Necker Island we have constructed really strong buildings (with hurricane blinds) that should be able to handle extreme weather pretty well, though with a Category Five hurricane almost nothing can withstand it,” he wrote. “We had some lovely guests staying on Necker Island who have cut their trip short for safety reasons, and another group of guests have also postponed.”
He added how, “the atmosphere is eerie but beautiful. Everyone is willing the eye of the storm to veer away from the BVI in these last few hours. As I wrote yesterday, our main concern is safety, for everyone here and for all the people in the BVI and in the path of the hurricane.”
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Branson gave followers on social media a behind-the-scenes look at how he and his staff are preparing for the storm.
“Knowing our wonderful team as I do,” Branson wrote, “I suspect there will be little wine left in the cellar when we all emerge.”
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