Winery's long legal battle with Napa County gets new ally with track record of wins

"Late last month, Napa County Superior Court Judge Mark Boessenecker finalized his Nov. 3 judgment against Hoopes Family Winery Partners LP, Hoopes Vineyard LLC and owner Lindsay Hoopes following a trial in early 2025. That converted a preliminary injunction from earlier in the year into a permanent injunction. The total award includes $1.53 million in civil penalties ($1,250 a day for 1,220 days), $2.25 million in attorney's fees, $111,230 in abatement costs and almost $70,000 in statutory costs."

"The permanent injunction bars a wide range of activities at the winery property at 6204 Washington St. just south of Yountville, including public wine tastings and consumption, tours, marketing events, merchandise sales, sale of wine not produced on-site and food service. Asked what winery operations are currently occurring, Hoopes told the Journal: I won't answer that question. The injunction is not enforceable."

"The winery has appealed the injunctions in the 1st Appellate District of California. The latest, filed in late December, is pending. Hoopes has brought in Sacramento-based Pacific Legal Foundation to help argue the case. On Feb. 11 it filed a motion to vacate Boessenecker's Nov. 3 judgment, asserting that the penalties are unconstitutionally excessive and would bankrupt the family operation."

Judge Mark Boessenecker finalized a Nov. 3 judgment converting a preliminary injunction into a permanent injunction against Hoopes Family Winery Partners LP, Hoopes Vineyard LLC and owner Lindsay Hoopes after a trial in early 2025. The judgment awards roughly $4 million: $1.53 million in civil penalties, $2.25 million in attorney fees, $111,230 in abatement costs and nearly $70,000 in statutory costs. The permanent injunction bars public tastings, consumption, tours, marketing events, merchandise sales, sale of non‑site wine and food service at the Washington Street property. The winery has appealed to the 1st Appellate District and engaged Pacific Legal Foundation, which filed a motion to vacate alleging the penalties are unconstitutionally excessive and would bankrupt the family operation. Hoopes has declined to describe current operations and maintains the injunction is not enforceable.

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