Wilderness Run Vineyards Fraud and Scam: Our Small Family-Owned Vineyard's Nightmare Experience
This is the story of how Harry Pagan and Wilderness Run Vineyards took our entire grape harvest—worth $45,000—and then refused to pay us the remaining $31,500 they owed. Despite clear text message agreements, a 30% deposit, and our delivery of every single grape as promised, they've left us with nothing but unpaid bills and broken promises.
As fellow grape growers or consumers considering Wilderness Run Vineyards' products, you deserve to know the truth about how this business operates behind the scenes. I hope our experience helps you make a more informed decision than we did.
SUMMARY OF EVENTS: In May 2024, Harry Pagan agreed to pay $45,000 for our entire grape harvest. He paid a $13,500 deposit, received all grapes over three deliveries (Aug-Sep 2024), and then refused to pay the remaining $31,500. Our attempts to resolve this matter—including offering a reduced amount—have been ignored or rejected.
The Financial Impact
The $31,500 that Harry Pagan and Wilderness Run Vineyards are withholding represents:
- 7 months of operating expenses for our small family vineyard
- Money we've already spent on labor, equipment, and supplies to produce the grapes they received
- Funds we were counting on to pay our workers and reinvest in next year's crop
This isn't just a business disagreement—it's about a larger operation taking advantage of a smaller grower and potentially threatening our livelihood.
Timeline: How It Happened
May 2024: The Agreement
Harry Pagan and I exchanged text messages where he explicitly agreed to take our entire harvest for $45,000, writing "you can pencil us in as taking it all." We discussed the 6,200 vines and agreed on terms.
July 9, 2024: The Deposit
Harry paid the 30% deposit ($13,500) and confirmed in a text message: "just letting ya know invoice was taken care of today." This partial payment confirmed our agreement.
August-September 2024: All Deliveries Completed
We delivered all grapes over three scheduled dates (Aug 31, Sep 14, Sep 28). Harry's team accepted each delivery and proceeded to process the grapes.
October, 2024: Payment Requested
Despite multiple requests for payment, we received no response.
November 5, 2024: Attempted Compromise
In an effort to resolve the matter amicably, we sent a discounted invoice for $23,500 (a $8,000 reduction). This good-faith offer was flatly rejected by Harry on November 10.
January 2, 2025: Formal Demand Letter
After exhausting all informal attempts to resolve the matter, we sent a formal demand letter for the full $31,500. This letter has been ignored, with no response received to date.
The Agreement
Harry's own words from our text exchanges:
"you can pencil us in as taking it all, we can get something more formal done or I can put a deposit on it and pay for them over the months until harvest."
- Clear terms: $45,000 for entire harvest
- 10 acres with approximately 6,200 vines
The Breach
After receiving our entire harvest:
- All grapes delivered on schedule
- Harry took all grapes, then refused payment
- Rejected our compromise offer
- Ignored formal demand letter
- Provided no valid reason for non-payment
The Evidence
We have complete documentation:
- Text message thread showing agreement
- Bank records of the $13,500 deposit
- Copies of all invoices and communications
Our Response
We never imagined we'd be in this position. We entered this agreement in good faith, delivered high-quality grapes on schedule, and expected to be paid as agreed. Now, we're left with no choice but to:
- Create this public documentation of our experience
- Pursue all available legal remedies to recover our funds
- Warn fellow growers about our experience with Wilderness Run Vineyards
- Inform consumers about the business practices behind the wine they purchase
"All we want is to be paid what we are owed for the grapes we grew and delivered in good faith."
A Warning to Fellow Growers & Consumers
If you're considering doing business with Wilderness Run Vineyards or Harry Pagan, please consider our experience first. We created this site because we believe in transparency and accountability in an industry built on reputation and trust.
For Grape Growers:
- Get everything in writing with formal contracts, not just text messages
- Consider requiring payment in full before final delivery
- Research business practices and payment history with other growers
- Be wary of requests to structure agreements in unusual ways
For Wine Consumers:
The wine you enjoy should be produced with integrity at every step of the process. When you purchase from Wilderness Run Vineyards, you're supporting a business that, in our experience, doesn't honor its commitments to the very growers who make their product possible.
We believe consumers deserve to know the full story behind the products they purchase so they can make choices that align with their values.