24 | EDIBLE SF SUMMER 2025 This direct community engagement transformed Renfro's understanding of access barriers. Several residents initially hesitated to participate, not because they didn't want fresh food, but because they were mistrustful of unfamiliar culinary experiences and felt intimidated. "We weren't offering an elevated experience," he explains, "but showing that dining and good food are normal human experiences. For people who don't get to eat that way all the time, it might seem scary or weird. We wanted to remove that barrier." When access to resources slowed for Feed The People Collective in 2022, Renfro refocused on his original mission in wine while carrying forward the lessons about accessibility he'd gained through the food program. His experiences distributing food had deepened his understanding of community needs and barriers to access, further fueling his approach to wine education. The 280 Project's six-month paid apprenticeship program inverts traditional wine education models. While established pathways require financial privilege and expertise in European traditions, Renfro offers compensation and welcomes participants with zero experience, particularly BIPOC individuals, creating accessible paths to diverse industry careers. "Napa is so bougie, and in a way that's not real—it's still just agricultural land," he says, the statement a direct challenge to the wine industry's existing pretensions. "I think wine is meant to be enjoyed, not necessarily always dissected. I want to make things that represent what I grew up around." This isn't just talk. In four short years, Renfro's vision has evolved to transform wine education and address local food inequity. The 280 Project has "Napa is so bougie, and in a way that's not real—it's still just agricultural land," he says, the statement a direct challenge to the wine industry's existing pretensions. "I think wine is meant to be enjoyed, not necessarily always dissected. I want to make things that represent what I grew up around." Above: Growing favas plants at Alemany Farm. Below: Renfro with his hybrid grape vines.
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