Hoopes Vineyard hit with millions in fines, attorney fees
A Napa County Superior Court judge has ordered Hoopes Vineyard, a family-owned winery near Yountville, to pay nearly $4 million and to stop conducting wine tastings, tours and other activities without the proper permits.
Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker on Jan. 23 ordered Hoopes Vineyard and owner Lindsay Hoopes to pay Napa County $3.96 million, including $2.25 million in legal fees and $1.52 million in civil penalties, according to the judgment against the winery and owner Lindsay Hoopes.
Boessenecker ordered the winery to stop “all tasting of wines” by anyone other than the defendants or employees, as well as all public winery tours and all marketing activities. Under the judgment, the winery must stop selling all wines not produced on the property on Washington Street south of Yountville as well as merchandise such as books, ceramic bowls, soaps and tote bags.
A Napa County representative on Friday said the county is reviewing its options to enforce the judgment.
Owner Lindsay Hoopes, a former prosecutor in San Francisco, has argued repeatedly that Napa County’s rules are vague and unevenly applied. Hoopes referred questions to the Pacific Legal Foundation, a firm known for suing governmental agencies over property rights.
The winery may appeal the Jan. 23 judgment, according to the Pacific Legal Foundation.
“The fines are clearly outrageous in light of the fact that no one was harmed from sipping wine at a winery. Hoopes has only just received the final judgment, but will evaluate its options and, of course, consider appeal,” said Bridget Conlan, an attorney for the Pacific Legal Foundation.
The winery argued no rules were violated, noting Hoopes had a license and an outdoor permit issued by the California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). These ABC permits required compliance with local land-use laws.
The Hoopes family, which also grows grapes, purchased the winery in 2017. The winery operated under a small winery certificate of exemption issued in 1984. Under that permit, the winery could produce up to 20,000 gallons of wine a year but could not host tours or public tastings, according to the county.
Hoopes’ legal odyssey began in 2022 when Napa County sued Hoopes in Napa County Superior Court for public nuisance and unfair business practices, alleging the winery operated outside the scope of its county permit. The cited issues included unpermitted wine tastings, marketing events and an animal sanctuary, according to court filings.
A bench trial took place Jan. 29, 2024, through Feb. 14, 2024. In November 2024,Boessenecker ruled against Hoopes.
Hoopes “knew about the limitations” on the winery’s entitlements “well before purchasing” the winery, Boessenecker wrote in November 2024. Hoopes researched the required improvements to quality for a use permit, according to the court filing. One issue was that the winery did not have a use permit for a tasting room.
Upgrading the property to obtain a use permit would have cost $500,000 to $1 million, according to court testimony. Lindsay Hoopes testified the upgrades were “cost prohibitive and abandoned them,” according to the November 2024 decision.
Hoopes also knew that the winery’s previous owner, the late W. Dieter Tede, had received violation notices for unauthorized tours and tastings, according to the court filing. In June 2017, Tede told the county no violations would occur, according to court records. He sold the winery in August 2017.
As of Monday, the winery’s online guest reservation system remained active.
