Former Republican lawmaker Devin Nunes opened the Nunes Wine Company in Pismo Beach, California, following his departure from corporate media this year. The 52-year-old former congressional representative swapped intense political battles in Washington for pouring tasting flights along the California coast.
For context, the career pivot arrived after Nunes stepped down in April 2026 as chief executive officer of Trump Media and Technology Group. He originally resigned from his seat in Congress in 2021 to manage the Truth Social parent company.
His new seaside business features a “Patriot Club” membership alongside pourings of “Patriot Cabernet” and specialty small-lot releases. The tasting room sits steps from the ocean in an affluent beach town located 85 miles up the coast from Santa Barbara.
According to promotional materials from the winery, Pismo Beach was recognized by USA Today as America’s best small coastal town for 2026. The publication also designated the location as California’s best beach for 2026.
Despite corporate financial struggles at Truth Social, Nunes pocketed a massive 47 million dollars as chief executive in 2024. Financial reports show Trump Media later generated 3.7 million dollars in revenue while posting a 712 million dollar net loss for 2025.
Those staggering corporate losses did not impact his personal compensation package before his exit in April. Nunes announced his departure by stating it was an appropriate time to step aside. He left without any public friction from President Donald Trump.
Devin Nunes Swaps Washington Politics for California Wine Country
His transition to operating a small business in a quiet beach town caught many political insiders completely off guard. Former California Republican Party executive director Jon Fleischman offered a sarcastic reaction regarding the career move during an interview with SF Gate.
Fleischman joked about whether serving in Congress or working for the Trump organization provided better preparation for opening a wine bar. He remarked that either role would make someone want to drink a lot of wine.
Fleischman added that it is only a matter of time before Nunes begins complaining about high state taxes impacting small business operations. Running a boutique winery in coastal California brings very different challenges than managing legislative committees.
(Honestly, trading corporate boardrooms and political fights for coastal wine pouring is a wild career shift.) The former lawmaker has kept a noticeably lower profile in national media since leaving government service.
The new career path was initially uncovered by an opinion editor at the San Luis Obispo Tribune. Once news of the winery circulated online, political critics immediately targeted the business page.
The winery’s Google page was flooded with negative reviews from opponents eager to leave harsh commentary. Critics used the platform to express lingering frustration over his past political career.
How Devin Nunes Built His Reputation Before Opening His Pismo Beach Winery
During President Donald Trump’s first administration, Nunes established himself as one of the president’s fiercest defenders in Congress. As chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, he frequently clashed with political opponents during high-profile investigations.
A congressional investigation into potential Russian interference in the 2016 election placed Nunes under heavy public scrutiny. Critics accused him of colluding with White House officials during the initial probe.
The controversy forced him to step away from leading that specific intelligence investigation. However, internal reviews eventually cleared him of any official wrongdoing, allowing him to maintain his influence.
He remained a key defender through the first impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump. Serving as the top Republican on the committee, Nunes delivered the party’s opening defense during public hearings.
President Donald Trump rewarded that steady loyalty in 2021 by selecting Nunes to lead his new social media enterprise. After years in high-stakes politics and executive management, the former representative is now serving local wine enthusiasts by the beach.
Athaliah Mejares is a writer with experience covering news and feature stories across a range of topics. As a former junior editor for International Business Times UK, she contributed articles on current events, entertainment, and trending stories, delivering timely and engaging content to a global audience. She is passionate about clear, accurate storytelling and creating content that keeps readers informed.
