Governor Gavin Newsom’s PlumpJack Group is the sole Napa Valley winery to secure a settlement related to the 2025 Pickett Fire, a development that has drawn scrutiny and frustration from other vineyard owners affected by the blaze. The settlement amount for PlumpJack has not been disclosed.
The Pickett Fire caused an estimated $56 million in winegrape losses across Napa Valley. More than 30 winery and vineyard owners had been seeking up to $90 million from Hundred Acre Winery and its owner, Jayson Woodbridge, who is accused of starting the fire. An independent contractor for Hundred Acre Winery, Juan Luis Gutierrez Marfil, has been criminally charged and admitted to improperly disposing of hot ashes, which allegedly led to the fire.
Wineries and vineyards suffered significant losses, particularly from smoke taint, which can ruin grapes and the resulting wine. While other growers continue to pursue legal action against Hundred Acre, PlumpJack has resolved its claim. The PlumpJack Group stated it was grateful to resolve the matter and noted that as the only vineyard involved to experience burn damage, they were not surprised to be among the first to reach a resolution.
However, some other vineyard owners have expressed suspicion, questioning whether Newsom’s past connections influenced the swift settlement. "But certainly I’d imagine (Newsom’s connection) played a part," John Cadieux, an attorney representing approximately 30 wineries and vineyards, told the San Francisco Chronicle. PlumpJack has denied any suggestion that Newsom was involved in the settlement process, emphasizing that the governor placed his stake in a blind trust and has no oversight of its operations.
Representatives for Jayson Woodbridge stated that settlements were not reached with other companies because they did not provide sufficient data to demonstrate valid damage claims. An attorney for one plaintiff countered that ample evidence was provided, and that these companies pursued lawsuits when settlements failed. Winery owners are expressing growing pessimism about recovering their losses, with some estimating they may receive only a fraction of their initial claims.
A helicopter drops water on the Pickett Fire on Saturday, August 23, 2025, in Pope Valley, Napa County, California.
A firefighter using a rake to battle the Pickett Fire in Napa County, California.
