Investigation Links Newsom’s Winery Business to Migrant Labor Allegations
An investigation into California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s wine businesses alleges that a vineyard-management company contracted by his PlumpJack Collection of Wineries has a history of employing workers who are in the country illegally. The claims draw on court documents, labor records and interviews with people in California’s wine industry.
Two industry sources put the share of undocumented workers in California vineyards at about 80 percent. One source said the contractor working for Newsom’s business knew it employed undocumented workers. The allegations concern the contractor’s labor practices; they do not establish that Newsom personally knew of any unlawful hiring.
Newsom retains a financial interest in PlumpJack, which acquired Oso Vineyard in 2022. Tax filings show that Newsom and his spouse, Jennifer Siebel Newsom, received at least $11 million between 2019 and 2024, with most attributed to his interests in wineries and restaurants. The investigation also said some wines associated with Newsom’s business sell for as much as $7,000 a bottle.
The allegations have drawn attention to the intersection of Newsom’s business interests and his immigration policies as governor. In February, he allocated $35 million in state funds for support and legal services for immigrants facing deportation. The investigation argues that state-funded services can help reduce costs for employers in the wine industry.
Labor Allegations Shouldn’t Erase Newsom’s Immigration Record
An investigation has raised allegations about labor practices at a vineyard-management company contracted by Gov. Gavin Newsom’s winery business. The claims deserve scrutiny, but the available details concern the contractor and do not establish that Newsom personally knew of unlawful hiring.
The investigation cited industry sources who estimated that undocumented workers make up about 80 percent of California’s vineyard workforce. One source alleged the contractor knew it employed such workers. Those claims point to a broader labor issue in the wine industry, not proof that the governor personally directed violations.
Newsom retains a financial stake in PlumpJack, which bought Oso Vineyard in 2022. He and his wife reported at least $11 million in income between 2019 and 2024, most of it from wineries and restaurants. The investigation also noted wines priced as high as $7,000 a bottle.
The political stakes include Newsom’s immigration policies. In February, he allocated $35 million in state funds for support and legal services for people facing deportation. The investigation argues that publicly funded services can help offset employers’ costs, but the labor allegations themselves do not demonstrate that Newsom’s policies caused unlawful hiring.
Newsom’s Winery Profits Face Scrutiny Over Illegal Labor Claims
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s business interests and immigration agenda are now under scrutiny together. An investigation alleges that a vineyard-management company contracted by his PlumpJack winery business has a record of employing undocumented workers—and that the contractor knew it was doing so.
Industry sources cited in the investigation estimated that undocumented workers account for about 80 percent of California’s vineyard labor. Those are source estimates, not a statewide official count, but the allegations raise a pointed question about how the wine industry staffs its vineyards and who benefits from the arrangement.
Newsom still holds a financial interest in PlumpJack, which acquired Oso Vineyard in 2022. Tax records indicate that he and his wife earned at least $11 million over the years 2019–2024, mostly from wineries and restaurants. The investigation also said some of the business’s wines sell for up to $7,000 a bottle.
At the same time, Newsom has directed public money toward services for immigrants facing deportation, allocating $35 million in February. The investigation contends that state-funded support can help employers by shifting some costs to taxpayers. The allegations do not establish that Newsom personally knew of illegal hiring, but they put his business interests and policy choices in the same frame.
Reported by Breitbart, Twitchy.
