Newsom’s Vineyard Tied to Illegal Labor Practices Amid Legal Concerns
Investigation reveals illegal labor practices at Newsom’s Napa vineyard, raising questions about compliance and oversight.
4 min read
Investigative reports have uncovered troubling evidence of illegal labor practices at a Napa vineyard tied to Governor Gavin Newsom’s business interests. The focus is on Oso Vineyard, a 129-acre property purchased by PlumpJack in 2022 for $14.5 million. The vineyard’s field operations are managed by Renteria Vineyard Management (RVM), a company with a long history of labor controversies. The findings, detailed in a new City Journal investigation, raise serious questions about the legality and ethical standards of labor practices at the vineyard and its connection to Newsom’s business dealings.
Background on Oso Vineyard and RVM
Oso Vineyard is managed by Oscar Renteria, who has long been associated with the property. According to PlumpJack’s own materials, Oscar Renteria is the long-time vineyard manager of Oso. Neither PlumpJack nor RVM disputed the arrangement when contacted by investigators. RVM was founded in 1987 by Salvador Renteria, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico who arrived in Napa in the 1960s and began working in vineyards in 1964. His son, Oscar, took over the company, which manages over 2,200 acres of vineyards across the region.
Newsom’s Stakes and Financials
Newsom did not divest his stake in PlumpJack when he became governor, and his financial disclosures show that he and his wife earned at least $11 million between 2019 and 2024, largely from wineries, restaurants, and investments. This raises questions about the extent of his personal financial ties to the vineyard and its management practices.
Illegal Labor and Lack of Legal Compliance
The investigation found no H-2A temporary agricultural worker visa filings for RVM or PlumpJack’s estates after 2023, despite earlier limited filings by a subcontractor. Industry sources claim that approximately 80 percent of Napa vineyard field workers are undocumented immigrants, far exceeding official estimates. This claim is supported by a former RVM employee who worked there illegally for over a decade. This source reported that management was aware of the workers’ undocumented status and that the foreman sourced workers from near the border.
Worker Testimonies and Management Practices
A former RVM employee, who has lived and worked in the U.S. illegally for over a decade, stated that the vast majority of field hands at RVM were in the country illegally, including at least some workers on every crew and job site. This source claimed that RVM was fully aware of the workers’ illegal status and that the company used this knowledge to avoid compliance with labor laws. The employee also alleged that many workers were not paid overtime and that safety and health regulations were often ignored, including in at least one instance of serious injury.
Labor Violations and Legal Actions
RVM has a documented record of labor violations. In 2022, the Department of Labor found wage-and-hour violations affecting 45 employees under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act, resulting in back wages and penalties. A 2017 Cal/OSHA inspection after an accident led to a heat-illness citation. Private class-action lawsuits in 2024 and 2026 alleged minimum wage, overtime, and other labor code violations, with one lawsuit settled this September.
Company and Management Responses
RVM does not appear in the federal E-Verify database, which is used to confirm employment eligibility. When a source posing as a Mexican national without a green card or Social Security number called about work, an employee took the number and said a manager would follow up, suggesting that the company was actively recruiting undocumented workers. Renteria has previously described some workers as having “complicated immigration status” and expressed concern about tracking that could lead to identification and deportation.
Newsom’s Legal and Business Representation
Newsom’s spokesman stated that the governor placed his business interests in a blind trust in 2019 and has no involvement in PlumpJack’s operations. A PlumpJack spokesperson said the company expects all vendors to comply with the law. RVM did not respond to requests for comment. These statements have not addressed the specific allegations of illegal labor practices at the vineyard.
Broader Implications and Concerns
The findings highlight a broader issue in the agricultural sector, where undocumented labor is prevalent and legal compliance is often lacking. The situation at Oso Vineyard raises questions about the responsibility of business leaders, including Newsom, in ensuring their operations adhere to labor laws and protect workers’ rights. The lack of legal filings and the presence of a documented history of violations suggest a pattern of non-compliance that could have serious legal and ethical consequences.
Conclusion and Next Steps
The investigation into Oso Vineyard and RVM underscores the need for greater oversight and accountability in the agricultural sector. As the findings are made public, they may lead to increased scrutiny of labor practices and potential legal action against RVM and PlumpJack. The situation also highlights the ongoing challenges of ensuring fair labor practices and worker protections in an industry that relies heavily on undocumented labor.
Source: The Gateway Pundit
