Some of the Top Napa Wineries Are Getting Subpoenaed by the Federal Government, and There Are Questions as to Why

The Dry Creek Valley from above in the 1990s; several prominent Napa wineries are receiving subpoenas from the federal government. (AP Photo/Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Kent Porter)

On Feb. 8, the Napa Valley Register reported that the U.S. Department of Justice has reached out to Napa County, subpoenaing documents documents related to some of the biggest Napa wineries. On Friday, Eater San Francisco reported that Caymus Vineyards owner Chuck Wagner and Dave Phinney, the founder of Prisoner Wine Company and Savage and Cooke Distillery, are two of the names on the list.

Although recipients of the list reportedly remain confused as to why they are being probed by the federal government, the Napa Valley Register reports that there is one connecting factor: Supervisor Alfredo Pedroza.

CBS News reported on Feb. 10 that the Napa County supervisor faced a recall effort over his support of Walt Ranch, a hotly contested vineyard development project backed by Texas billionaires Craig and Kathryn Hall. Walt Ranch is a development project that was considered a conflict of interest because the supervisor’s father-in-law owned the neighboring property, and if the property was turned into a vineyard, his father-in-law would benefit financially. Pedroza supported the project multiple times.

“Mr. Pedroza has repeatedly placed personal interest and the interests of his largest campaign donors ahead of public interest,” the recall effort read in August 2022. “He has allowed familial, social and political relationships to influence his decisions.”

Though Pedroza’s name is not listed on the subpoenas, both the Napa Valley Register and San Francisco Chronicle managed to tie the federal probe to the politician and the Walt Ranch project.

Some of the wineries listed besides Caymus and Phinney’s projects include Alpha Omega Winery, Antinori Napa Valley and Hall Wines.

Eater San Francisco reported the Halls purchased the 2,300-acre Walt Ranch property for $8 million. Many environmentalists expressed concerns regarding the area’s development, as the North Bay Business Journal reported in January 2023 that the area was a “priority wildlife corridor.” Those opposing expressed that the project would lead to deforestation and potentially damage the local rivers.

A 17-year legal battle ensued, and ultimately, news of Pedroza’s involvement with Walt Ranch became public.

The Halls eventually changed their minds and donated a quarter of the 2,300 acres to the Land Trust of Napa, turning it into a nature preserve. Many local residents considered this “shady,” as the Halls appeared staunchly invested in turning the wildlife corridor into a vineyard.

Regarding the federal probe, Pedroza sent an email statement to the Napa Valley Rester:

“I encourage the county, as it always does, to cooperate fully with all other branches of federal and state government. There is no reason to do otherwise.”

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