(CBSLocal) - An historic winery in central Massachusetts was destroyed in a huge fire late Sunday night.

The Charlton Orchards Farm & Winery on Old Worcester Road was completely engulfed in flames when firefighters arrived just after 10:30 p.m.

Owner Nathan Benjamin recalled looking out the window of his home to see the blaze.

“I watched it go from room to room I watched it go through the storage and I listened to the glass bursting,” Benjamin told WBZ-TV. “I can tell you it’s like losing a friend.”

Twelve communities responded but firefighters had a struggle because there was no water supply at the top of the hill where the distillery was located.

“There was a lot of alcohol in the wine itself and they utilize a lot of fertilizer as well and they use different things to process so there’s a lot of cutting torches and welding and a lot of metal. There’s a lot of hazards through the whole entire area,” Charlton Fire Chief Charles Cloutier, Jr. told reporters.

Thousands of gallons of wine were destroyed, in addition to kegs, casks and wine-making equipment. Only 14 bottles of wine remained.

“I saw a reflection of orange on my walls,” Nathan’s daughter, Sara Benjamin, said. “It’s very disappointing because he won all the medals and everything is just gone.”