We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Justin Trabue a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Justin, appreciate you joining us today. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
In 2013 I graduated high school in Washington DC and moved across the country to study wine business at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. During my first quarter at school I decided on their business program, they asked us all, “if you could do anything in wine what would it be?” I told myself I would one day open a boutique winery specializing in lesser discussed varietals. While at Cal Poly I was the only Black student in my wine program, after graduating it was important to ensure future Black students knew they had the opportunity to study wine and feel safe in their community. In 2020, myself and my friend Simonne were able to start a scholarship program for BIPOC individuals wanting to study Wine and Viticulture.
Over the next few years while studying I also began working in the industry at tasting rooms, wine bars, and wineries. My first harvest was in 2016 and since then I have worked in both the northern and southern hemisphere. Each winery has taught me special skills, tips, and tricks that I utilize within my own brand. This year is my 10th year in California and 15th harvest.
In 2021 I took a leap of faith and applied for a US & UK based grant called the Courier Fresh Fund grant for $15,000. They brought on 10 emerging brands in different industries for their grant and through this program I was given the opportunity to launch a brand from the ground up. Enter Ward Four Wines LLC. I am a Fourth generation DC native, growing up in Ward Four, my mothers maiden name being Ward and coming from a small family of four.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
My first vintage is currently available at www.wardfourwines.com and you can follow me at @wardfourwines on instagram, as well as make sure to sign up for my email list! I currently have a 2022 Viognier ($42), 2022 Barbera ($38), and 2022 Mourvèdre ($38) available! Purchase wine from small Black woman producers today! Every purchase ensures I continue to live my dream!
Unlike most Black families in DC (and the US) I grew up with understanding and conversation surrounding of wine and food. From discussions at the dinner table between my parents and their friends I learned that wine and food are a meeting place for conversation to thrive. Wine was a way to learn about new countries and food was the glue that grounded me to the place. Growing up in Chocolate City, DC pre gentrification, I was really lucky when looking at schools that my dad noticed my interest in hospitality and introduced me to a Black sommelier in our region. Firstly, the experience of seeing a Black sommelier was awesome and secondly the knowledge of differing opportunities he mentioned in this industry let me know that my creativity didn’t have to lean towards only one thing.
When I graduated from high school I decided to move across the country to California. I studied Wine Business while there and during my sophomore year I worked in an organic pumpkin patch and apple orchard. At that point in my education I hadn’t realized I enjoyed being out in nature, it was during this summer experience putting together irrigation systems and learning from the land I began to get a full circle understanding of agricultural practices and why they matter. From there I shifted from a business mindset, although important, towards an understanding of land stewardship as well as ways to be minimalistic in wine making approaches. That skyrocketed my interest in wine, studying in the wine business program at Cal Poly, eventually transitioning to wine production. Working harvests ranging from 500 cases to 100,000 from the US, to NZ to SA, wine is what gives me joy.
Although I learned a lot while studying, it was an isolating experience in regards to BIPOC and queer communities at my campus. In an effort to create more diversity at my alma mater I helped to create a scholarship program funded by local wineries for BIPOC efforts in agriculture, specifically wine and viticulture related. I went to a school that had less than 1% of the population is Black, and although growing it is seen in our industry as well. Finding communities built by us and with our growth’s intentions has been difficult in the past and present, but there are more communities and organizations that want to make a difference. Being a fat, Black queer piscean goddess of a human has it’s ups and downs in general, but working in production which has historically been such a masculine leaning part of the industry it is hard to break barriers into acceptance and inclusion as well as equal pay structures.
I founded Ward Four Wines in 2021 to create a space for BIPOC consumers interested in wine. Through my wine brand I aim to educate and create visibility for BIPOC communities regarding the wine and spirits industry. I walk the vines, pick the fruit, ferment, age and sell wines of joy!! Ward Four Wines is unique in that it is a micro winery specialising in minimal intervention winemaking practices, sourcing from vineyards that honour ethical labour guidelines while using sustainable farming methods. With less than 1% of winery owners being Black, I am a unique opportunity to show visibility and create opportunities to teach about the agricultural nature of wine. Each offering pays tribute to my family dynamics, having grown up in Chocolate City, Washington DC, I show how wine evokes emotions and how moments in time can be captured in one of life’s simplest pleasures, a bottle of wine. I have four skus of wine sourced from four American Viticultural Areas across the California Coast. My wines range from unconventional skin contact muscat to rich and textural petite sirahs.
Growing up in DC, I am so excited to be able to pay homage to my city through Ward Four Wines. I am Fourth generation in Ward Four, coming from a small family of Four I will release Four styles of wine that will follow the styles of wine they would enjoy while introducing them to varieties they may not know. In regards to design I aim to be very intentional with who I choose to create my logo and labels, I will connect with a DC artist who can create what I have thought of. I want to be able to have a close bond with the DC market introducing them to varietals they do not have in the VA/MD wine regions due to different climates/terroir. I want to be able to introduce Black communities and BIPOC/Queer communities in the region to lesser discussed varietals they can they go to local shops and see what other styles interest them and continue to find new things they like, spreading it forward!
Family over everything. Without my family I never would have known wine, food, and hospitality could be something I could invest unto myself. And through my own exploration I discovered the science behind wine and the importance of terroir and the ways in which we treat the land and people who steward it.
Can you open up about how you funded your business?
Ward Four Wines is a grant funded winery, all purchased ensure I have the capital to make my next vintage. In 2021 my friend Diana of Responsible Hedonist told me about the Courier Fresh Fund grant, a UK based grant for Black business owners in the UK and US who have great ideas to start or grow a business. Roughly 0.1% of all winemakers in the US are Black, it is an incredible honor to be a Black woman owned and operated winery based out of Sonoma California. This grant aided in my hauling costs, bottling and packaging, legal and financial fees associated with setting up a wine business, as well as purchasing equipment for my first vintage. In 2022 I joined the Lift Collective Entrepreneurship Program, a Texas based organization dedicated to making space for underrepresented wine entrepreneurs. Through this grant program I learned the importance of Business Growth & Work/Life Balance as well as well as connected with other budding entrepreneurs whom I could confide in for advice! Lift Collective aided in my grape contracts and ensured I can get these tasty wines your way! People often forget the safety, compliance, and logistical aspects to running a wine brand, I have The Roots Fund to thank for ensuring I had the funding for insurance policies, as well as custom crush fees and barrels.
Each purchase of #WardFourWines ensures I can continue to make more amazing wines for years to come!
Support Small Black Woman Owned Companies
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
My biggest challenge has been budgeting and allowing myself grace. As a Black woman in the wine industry, I have always found myself trying to prove my worth and push myself past my limits. Ward Four Wines is a love letter to myself firstly and to the Black community as a whole, that our palates matter and what we like to drink matters. In scaling down budget points I realized that a lot of production facilities are not made for smaller producers with a limited budget. Most custom crush facilities have minimum tonnage ranging from 10-20 tons. My first vintage in 2022 was 2.5Tons of grapes which is a lot of wine for me but a blip in most. In 2023 I hope to purchase 4 Tons of grapes. My biggest advice is take your time, ask for help, and always be open to collaboration. There is a barrier to access in the wine industry, but I have been actively attempting to open doors for this generation of winemakers to be able to play with different methods of production and introduce new grape varietals and styles.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.wardfourwines.com
- Instagram: @wardfourwines
- Facebook: Ward Four Wines
- Linkedin: justin-trabue
Image Credits
@craftandcluster @ericlerma @ericdeshawn @d.jacks