Wine in the U.S. owes its identity, success, and soul to immigrants.
From the very beginning, wine grapes—like the people who tend them—were brought here from somewhere else. Vines that originated in Europe, the Middle East, and beyond found their way to American soil, both legally and illegally. After some struggle and adaptation, they took root. They thrived. They evolved into something new, something distinctly American.
So, too, have our immigrant communities.
Like the vines, immigrants came here—by choice or necessity—carrying with them their culture, food, traditions, and dreams. They’ve built communities, nurtured families, and contributed immeasurably to the social and economic fabric of the U.S. And just as our vineyards tell the story of resilience and transformation, so do the lives of the people who tend them.
Today, the American wine industry cannot be separated from the story of immigration. It was immigrants who brought vines and viticultural knowledge from Italy, France, Germany, and Spain. It is immigrants—especially from Latin America—who perform the labor-intensive work of pruning, harvesting, and caring for vines with skill that is too often undervalued and underpaid. The hands that craft some of the finest wines in the world are the same hands that many of our current policies threaten to exclude or exploit.
In many ways, our immigrant population reminds me of the honeybee.
Bees are often overlooked, even feared. But their quiet, tireless work holds up entire ecosystems. Without bees, our food systems would collapse. Without immigrants, our economy would falter—and industries like wine would be among the first to feel the sting. Bees don’t disrupt; they build. They gather and return, not for personal gain, but for the well-being of the hive. The same can be said of so many immigrants: their goal is not to take, but to contribute, to build a better future not just for themselves, but for all of us.
We celebrate diversity on our plates and in our glasses—where else can you eat authentic Thai food on one corner, and pick up handmade tamales or a Chianti-style Sangiovese on the next? We call ourselves a melting pot, a mosaic, a tapestry. But that diversity didn’t appear by magic. It was brought here—on the backs and hopes of people who risked everything for the promise of something better.
And yet, at this moment, immigration policy in the U.S. is becoming increasingly hostile. The rhetoric is harsher, the pathways narrower, and the consequences more dire. It’s easy to forget, amid political noise, that America is a country of immigrants. As Ronald Reagan once said, "Anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American." That sentiment used to be a cornerstone of our identity. Today, it’s under threat.
The wine industry—like agriculture, hospitality, and countless others—relies heavily on immigrant labor. But beyond labor, immigrants bring innovation, resilience, and passion. They are not just picking grapes; they are managing cellars, launching wineries, running restaurants, and keeping traditions alive while shaping new ones. According to industry reports, the U.S. wine industry contributes over $276 billion to the economy. That economic engine runs on the shoulders of people who are too often excluded from the conversation, from protection, from rights.
We can’t raise a glass of Napa Cabernet or Willamette Pinot Noir without acknowledging who helped make it. If we benefit from the fruits of their labor—literally—we must also stand in solidarity with them.
🍯 Let’s Support the Hive: How to Take Action
If we’re going to toast to the fruits of immigrant labor, we must also stand up for the people behind every bottle.
Whether you're in the wine industry, a wine lover, or simply someone who values community and justice—there are powerful ways to get involved. Below is a list of organizations working to protect, support, and uplift immigrant communities, especially those who make our agricultural and wine sectors thrive.
🏛️ National Organizations for Immigrant Support & Education
- RAICES – Legal services to immigrants and refugees, especially at the U.S.-Mexico border.
- United We Dream – The largest immigrant youth-led network advocating for DACA and immigrant rights.
- National Immigration Law Center – Policy and legal advocacy for low-income immigrant communities.
- Immigrant Defense Project – Defends against the criminalization and deportation of immigrants.
- Freedom for Immigrants – Aims to end immigration detention and support detained families.
🍇 California-Based Organizations Supporting Migrant Communities
- California Rural Legal Assistance (CRLA) – Free legal support for rural and farmworking communities.
- CBDIO – Advocates for Indigenous migrant workers in California’s wine and ag regions.
- United Farm Workers Foundation – Defends farmworker rights and immigration protections.
- California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) – Leads state-level immigration advocacy in California.
- Immigrant Legal Resource Center (ILRC) – Supports legal practitioners and community groups with training and advocacy tools.
- Puente Human Rights Movement – Serves farmworker and immigrant families on the Central Coast with housing, legal aid, and health access.
✨ What You Can Do
- Donate to one of the organizations above
- Share their work and amplify their voices on social media
- Educate yourself and others on immigrant labor in the wine industry
- Vote for policies that protect workers and families
- Advocate in your community and industry for inclusive hiring practices
If we want a wine industry—and a society—that is just, sustainable, and truly thriving, we must protect and honor the people who keep it alive.
Just like the bees, they’ve done the work. Now it’s our turn.