The wine industry has long been shaped by tradition—but who has been included, and who has been left out? Join us for an intimate evening of wine and conversation featuring Louie Seamus (they/them), founder and executive director of The Vinguard, and Justin Trabue (she/her), founder and winemaker of Ward Four Wines. The evening will be hosted by Chaney Janssen, founder of Destined for Grapeness.
In this living room-style gathering, Chaney will lead a candid and compelling conversation with Louie and Justin—two powerful voices reshaping the wine world from the inside out. Together, they’ll explore the labor behind the bottles we drink, the legacy of exclusion in wine, and what it means to build businesses rooted in transparency, joy, and justice. From the contributions of immigrant farmworkers to the challenges faced by women-owned wine businesses, this conversation invites us to rethink who wine is for—and how it can bring us together.
Come for the thought-provoking dialogue, stay for good food, great wine, and meaningful community.
Please RSVP by July 5.
Space is limited—if you commit, please make every effort to attend.
Meet Our Speakers
Louie Seamus (they/them) is a queer wine industry professional, writer, educator, and the founder and executive director of The Vinguard, a nonprofit dedicated to advancing social and environmental justice in the wine industry. With over 30 years of experience and a career shaped by curiosity, resistance, and irreverence, Louie has built a legacy rooted in shaking up traditional wine spaces and creating new ones.
Their journey into wine began in the early 1990s, while working at Astor Wines in New York City–a job meant to fill the gap before graduate school, which instead became the start of a long and storied path in wine. From their first professional gig with Louis/Dressner Selections to opening Hayes and Vine, one of the first lesbian-owned wine bars in the Bay Area, Louie has continuously centered joy, rebellion, and community in everything they build.
In addition to their work with The Vinguard, Louie founded WINeFare, a women- and nonbinary-led natural wine fair, and co-founded Somebody’s Sister, a queer natural wine pop-up. They also hosted Supper Sessions on KXSF radio and wrote a ten-year wine column for the San Francisco Examiner. Louie’s writing and advocacy have become key parts of their impact—challenging misogyny, elitism, and exclusion in the industry, while championing natural wine and ethical sourcing.
Based in San Francisco but forever a New Yorker at heart, Louie brings radical transparency, humor, and depth to the way they talk about wine and culture.
Justin Trabue (she/her) is the founder and winemaker behind Ward Four Wines, a micro-winery rooted in joy, authenticity, and heritage. Her motto, “Wines of Joy, No Fuss,” reflects both her approachable style and commitment to making wine a space for everyone. A fourth-generation Washington, D.C. native raised in the city’s Ward 4, Justin’s brand is a love letter to her roots, her family, and her identity—woven through every bottle she creates.
Ward Four Wines specializes in low-intervention winemaking, partnering exclusively with family-owned vineyards that prioritize sustainability and ethical labor practices. Justin is especially passionate about working with lesser-discussed grape varieties–like Barbera and Muscat Blanc–not only for their unique profiles, but for the conversations they spark. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned wine lover, her wines invite you to learn, share, and find delight in discovery.
What began at her family’s dining room table, surrounded by laughter and shared pours, has grown into a bold, personal vision for what wine can be: a vessel for connection, a celebration of heritage, and a joyful presence at the table.
Chaney Janssen (she/her) is a Santa Cruz–based wine educator and founder of Destined for Grapeness, a wine education and experience company rooted in connection, curiosity, and accessibility. With a B.A. in Italian Language Studies from UC Santa Cruz, Chaney’s journey into wine was a natural extension of her deep love for culture, language, and storytelling.
Her formal wine education began at Cabrillo College, continued through workshops with the San Francisco Wine School, and evolved through conferences with the Society of Wine Educators. Over time, her personal explorations—especially throughout Italy—shaped her desire to make wine less intimidating and more inclusive. For Chaney, wine isn’t just about taste or terroir—it’s about people, place, and history.
While her tours take place locally in Santa Cruz, her work is firmly focused on the Santa Cruz Mountains AVA, a region known for its rugged terroir, passionate winemakers, and under-the-radar excellence. She is especially interested in bringing conversations around labor, equity, diversity, and inclusion into a wine region where those topics are often overlooked. Her goal is to uplift the people behind the bottle—those tending vines, working cellars, and building community—while helping consumers engage with wine in ways that feel confident, empowered, and authentic.
Whether she's leading a tasting or guiding a trip through Italy, Chaney believes wine can be a powerful third space—a place to gather, reflect, and build something better, together.