How do you fight disinformation and misinformation on a local small-town level? Here’s a great solution to that question.

Napa County launched a lawsuit against Hoopes Vineyard in 2022. The lawsuit moves on today without a resolution.

One recurring theme throughout the trial and the briefs that were filed is Hoopes’ contention that Napa County misrepresented many details of the case (to put it respectfully).

The winery co-owner Spencer Hoopes finally couldn’t take it anymore. He chose five topics which illustrate this behavior and he filmed videos (under a minute long) explaining what was said and what the truth is. He calls the series False Facts. In several of the videos he stands at a spot on the property where there’s been a dispute and literally ‘shows-and-tells’ what the ‘fact’ is—i.e. at the animal sanctuary and the green waste disposal area.

“The goal with these videos was to clearly explain and visibly demonstrate facts in the case which have been falsely presented by Napa County,” he explains. “We are simply rebutting what’s been said. We’re quoting what the County has said and then explaining why it’s false,” he adds.

But in these days of declining newspaper readership and overall shrinking of the media landscape….Spencer decided to start sharing the videos on NextDoor.  Lots and lots of comments and feedback have ensued. Some positive. A lot confused—where people don’t understand the lawsuit and jump to various conclusions. Spencer is watching the feedback and jumps in to comment and correct.

And then, two days in, he got an email from Next Door:

Looks like some effective communicating going on….

The videos are available on the website which follows the lawsuit, https://saveoursmallwineries.org/false-facts/ .

And you can watch them here:

https://youtu.be/MDj8GVjABnk: on green waste

https://youtu.be/rwx1fJ85LQ0: about septic systems

https://youtu.be/0_N4vYMNOOs: about the County’s winery database

https://youtu.be/Ygy5Bvp6pkU: about the “petting zoo”

https://youtu.be/IZWBZj558JQ : about ABC permitting.

Spencer Hoopes originally founded Hoopes Vineyard with an estate vineyard in Oakville in 1981. Today, with his daughter Lindsay Hoopes, they operate a small vineyard-winery in Yountville: more at https://www.hoopesvineyard.com/ .

To support them in their fight with Napa County: https://www.gofundme.com/f/stand-with-hoopes-vineyard-the-oasis-animal-sanctuary