Louie Busch, a long-time wine industry professional, started The Vinguard in 2013 as a natural wine blog focused on the environment and significant trends. As someone who spent decades bucking conventional wine, they found the emergence of natural wine refreshing but became disillusioned with the prevalence of misogyny and hypocrisy in some natural wine circles.

They began writing and speaking out about sexism, and, over time, The Vinguard's attention turned toward making the natural wine space a more equitable and inclusive field. While exposing the toxicity was necessary, we felt empowering women and amplifying their contributions to the movement was more important. So, we got to work.

In 2018, The Vinguard founded WINeFare, the first wine tasting featuring womxn in the natural wine world. It’s become an annual event attended by hundreds of consumers and wine professionals each year. We started working on a documentary chronicling the womxn who pioneered and shaped the natural wine movement a year later.

The Vinguard spearheaded the Wine Industry Equity Pledge in 2019. Initially focused on sexual harassment, assault, and discrimination, it’s evolved to address how many forms of marginalization and abuse play out in the wine industry. As of January 2022, more than 75 wine businesses and professionals signed.

We have a Board of Directors comprised of wine and social justice professionals. As board members, we continue to learn from one another, and those we serve - wine industry workers and consumers - and strive to be more inclusive.

The Vinguard receives support from many wine professionals worldwide and continue to be thought leaders and change agents in the natural wine movement and throughout the industry.

The Vinguard

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WINeFare Auction 2026

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