California Governor Gavin Newsom is facing scrutiny after reportedly attending a high-end wine-tasting fundraiser in Napa Valley while riots broke out across Los Angeles in early June, as reported by The Western Journal.
According to a report published in City Journal by Christopher Rufo and Ryan Thorpe, Newsom was photographed at the “Vineyard Vibes” fundraiser on the afternoon of June 7, 2025—just one day after violent demonstrations erupted in Los Angeles over federal immigration enforcement operations.
The event, held at the Odette Estate Winery, was described as a luxury gathering featuring “contemporary yet sophisticated” wines, live jazz music, and gourmet food, including pizza and smash burgers.
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Promotional material billed it as “the perfect kick-off to summer fun,” and noted that it was being held at the winery’s Crushpad area.
Odette Estate Winery was co-founded by Newsom in 2011. The June 7 fundraiser was organized to benefit the PlumpJack Foundation, a charitable organization established by Newsom’s sister.
A spokesperson for the governor later stated that Newsom “proudly attended” the event “in honor of his mother, who died of breast cancer,” and that it raised funds for the UCSF Cancer Center.
A source who attended the event and photographed the governor told City Journal they were surprised by Newsom’s presence. “I couldn’t believe it,” the source said.
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“He was just walking around like this was an everyday occurrence.” The source claimed Newsom remained at the event for at least 90 minutes before retreating to a private area within the winery.
EXCLUSIVE: We’ve obtained photos of Governor Gavin Newsom at the Napa dinner party he’s in hot water over. The photos call into question just how outdoors the dinner was. A witness who took photos tells us his group was so loud, the sliding doors had to be closed. 10pm on @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/gtOVEwa864
— Bill Melugin (@BillMelugin_) November 18, 2020
Newsom’s decision to appear at the event came as widespread unrest unfolded in Los Angeles, with damage reported in several areas following protests targeting Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations.
Supercut of the June 7th riots in Los Angeles.
Great ad for mass deportations. pic.twitter.com/QxHfwQ7oFV
— 3sidedstory 🇺🇲 (@3sidedstory) June 8, 2025
Law enforcement seized the bike of Elpidio Reyna, a fugitive #wanted for the alleged assault of a federal officer in Paramount, California, on June 7, 2025. A #reward of up to $50K is offered for information leading to his arrest & conviction. Details: https://t.co/srIq4MypdY pic.twitter.com/PMoYe2LvTS
— FBI Los Angeles (@FBILosAngeles) June 17, 2025
The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the thug who was filmed throwing rocks at law enforcement cars in Los Angeles.
“On June 7, 2025, at approximately 3:30 p.m., the suspect threw rocks at law enforcement vehicles on Alondra Boulevard in… pic.twitter.com/SCUsT4INAz
— Johnny Midnight ⚡️ (@its_The_Dr) June 8, 2025
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Critics have pointed to the timing of the appearance as problematic, with questions raised about the governor’s priorities during an ongoing public safety emergency.
This is not the first time Newsom has come under fire for his associations with California’s wine industry.
In November 2020, Newsom was criticized for attending a private dinner at The French Laundry—a Michelin-starred restaurant in Napa Valley—while the state remained under strict COVID-19 lockdowns. At the time, he acknowledged that he “should have modeled better behavior.”
Additionally, Newsom has previously addressed issues with alcohol. Following a 2007 affair with the wife of a campaign aide while serving as mayor of San Francisco, Newsom said he was seeking treatment for alcohol-related problems.
During his 2018 gubernatorial campaign, however, he clarified that he had not entered rehab but instead had stopped drinking on his own.
The June 7 wine-tasting appearance comes amid speculation about Newsom’s national ambitions.
While he has not declared a run for president, he is considered a potential candidate for the 2028 election and has frequently positioned himself as a leader within the Democratic Party.
His public appearances and responses to recent state crises continue to receive heightened scrutiny as a result.
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My hope for California is that they finally smarten up and elect someone who really cares about what happens to their city and who lives there. Newscum could care less and really believes because of his ties to Piglosi, that he has a real shot and the presidential race in 2028. There’s no way, especially after what he’s done to Cali. That state will probably never recover from all of this. Clean up your voter rolls and make sure illegals aren’t voting like they did last time California.