Two years after former Rep. Devin Nunes (R–Tulare) departed Congress to head up Truth Social, he’s finally returning to a passion project that has been on tap for years.
Along with running the social network, Nunes launched a new wine label that includes a call back to his Portuguese roots.
In an appearance on Sunrise FM, Nunes spoke to The Sun about his new venture.
The backstory: Nunes’s history with wine started with his family. He had a grandfather who farmed grapes, which carried on with his family until they sold their last vineyard in the 1990s.
- He invested in Napa Valley-based Alpha Omega Winery – led by longtime friend Robin Baggett – when he entered Congress.
- The Cal Poly alum planned to start up his own winery in 2017 but had to put that project on the back-burner as he rose to national prominence with the Russia investigations consuming the House Intelligence Committee he chaired.
The big picture: Just a few weeks ago, Nunes launched Devin Nunes Wines, with the first bottles poured at Crawdaddy’s in Visalia.
- Nunes was able to get the project on its feet in 2020 when some vineyards came up for lease in San Luis Obispo County.
- He is working with Mike Sinor from Sinor-Lavalle Winery, who he considers to be one of the best wine makers in San Luis Obispo County.
- The first grapes were harvested in 2021.
The wines: Devin Nunes Wines currently has three offerings: two red blend Portuguese style wines and a Cabernet Sauvignon.
- One of the Portuguese blends has four varietals and is medium bodied, while the other is fuller bodied with three varietals.
- The Cabernet Sauvignon is named the Patriot, which was voted on by people on Truth Social.
Where to buy: Bottles and memberships to Devin Nunes Wines Founders Club are available at DevinNunesWines.com along with select retailers and restaurants, including Crawdaddy’s in Visalia.
What they’re saying: “The Portuguese varietals will do better in San Luis Obispo County than say a Bordeaux varietal, which most people know Cabernet Sauvignon, or even a burgundy like a pinot noir,” Nunes said. “I believe these Portuguese varietals will do even better than those do there and can compete on a world-class scale.”
