Barrels & Roots
Welcome to Barrels & Roots, a journey through the world of wine and food, where every vineyard, kitchen, and cellar holds a story worth telling. Hosted by Sean Trace, this show explores the passion, tradition, and creativity that turn simple ingredients into art and shared moments into legacy.
From the heart of Napa Valley to the tables and tasting rooms of the world, Sean sits down with winemakers, chefs, and artisans who live by their craft. Each conversation dives into the culture, the community, and the human stories that give flavor to what we create and share.
Whether you are a sommelier, a chef, a storyteller, or someone who simply loves the ritual of a good meal and a better conversation, Barrels & Roots invites you to slow down, listen closely, and taste the stories that connect us all.
Episodes
66 episodes
Stop Fearing Wine | Peter Yeung | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Peter Yeung, CEO of Wente Vineyards, co-author of Luxury Wine Marketing, and host of the XChateau Wine Business Podcast, for a real conversation about what makes wine so fascinating, conf...
Philosophy Got Tipsy | Corné van Nijhuis | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Corné van Nijhuis, the world's first self-described venosopher, and this conversation went places I didn't expect. Corné spent decades in corporate finance before stepping away and doing something remarkabl...
Wine Confidence For Beginners | Lan Nham | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Lan, a wine marketing specialist based in Vietnam, and this conversation completely shifted how I think about introducing wine to a new generation.Lan has spent the last five to six years working in the wine ind...
What Harvest Is Really Like in Napa Valley | Bruce Devlin | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Bruce Devlin, winemaker and general manager at Ballentine Vineyards in St. Helena, Napa Valley. Bruce has been making wine for over 25 years, and what strikes me most about his story is how deeply rooted it...
Sonoma’s Best Kept Secrets | Megan Koolmees | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Megan Koolmees, DTC Director at Bonovia Winery in Sonoma County, to talk about everything that makes wine approachable, memorable, and genuinely exciting, even if you've never set foot ...
Brands Need Meaning | Kristian Harmston | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Kristian Harmston, the founder of Alchemy Asia and one of the most experienced beverage industry leaders in Southeast Asia. Kristian shares how he went from working in restaurants and bars t...
Smashing the Wine Norms | Chrissie Smith | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Chrissie Smith, viticulturist and founder of Intrepidus Wines out of Canberra, Australia, for one of the most honest conversations we've had on the show. Chrissie bre...
Wine Cool Climate Wine Wins | Shawn Phillip | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Shawn Phillip, General Manager and Winemaker at Lykan Estate and Brago Cellars in Anderson Valley to talk about what it really takes to make world-class Pinot Noir in one of California's ...
Shut Up and Drink the Wine | Barbara Gross | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Barbara Gross, co-owner of Cooper Mountain Vineyards in Oregon's Willamette Valley. Barbara breaks down what biodynamic farming actually means, why the Willamette Val...
Trust Your Taste | Robert Cavanaugh | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Robert Cavanaugh, CEO of Adventure Wine, to talk about how beginners can start enjoying wine without feeling overwhelmed or embarrassed. Robert has spent decades te...
Wine’s Hidden Step | Adam Halsey | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Adam Halsey of Halsey Bottling to explore one of the most overlooked but important parts of the wine industry: the bottling process. Adam shares how his family’s mobile bottling business ...
Sip The Story | Janell Harris | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Janell Harris, creative director for Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars, Col Solare, Antinori Napa Valley, and the Marchese Antinori portfolio in the U.S. We talk about how wine became more than just ...
Grapes Got Wisdom | Felix Egerer | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Felix Egerer, a viticulturist farming vineyards on Vancouver Island for Unsworth Vineyards and Blue Grouse Estate Winery. We talk about how a kid from beer country in Germany ended up buildi...
Stop Overthinking Wine | Tim Gaiser | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser for a conversation about making wine feel less intimidating and more human. We talk about why so many people feel overwhelmed by wine language, restaurant lists, ...
Dirt, Deals, and Dollars | Mike Hansen | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Mike Hansen, founder of the Hansen Vineyard and Winery team under Sotheby's International Realty, and this one pulled back the curtain on a corner of the wine world most people never see. Mike isn't just a ...
Drink This Instead | Ryan Rech & Taylor Harris | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Ryan and Taylor, the winemakers behind Polemonium Wines, to unpack what’s really happening inside the wine industry and why so many things need to change. We get into t...
More Than Beverage | Clark Smith | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Clark Smith to explore why wine is not just something you drink, but something that connects people to land, culture, history, and the human soul. We went deep into the evolution of American winemaking, from the early days of tr...
Precision, Pesticides, and Puzzles | Linsi Luckett | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Linsi Luckett, lead horticulturalist, agronomist, licensed pest control advisor, and FAA-certified drone pilot at Sunridge Nurseries - the largest grapevine-producing nursery in North A...
Made Not Born | David Natali | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with David Natali, and what stood out most is that great winemakers aren’t born, they’re built through experience, instinct, and time in the cellar. From starting with no traditional path to becoming a Napa Vall...
Chasing Imperfect Circles | Adam Edelman | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Adam Edelman, the mind behind Nisi Wines, and what started as a conversation about winemaking turned into something much deeper. Adam's journey into wine began completely by chance when he moved from Connec...
Santo Diablo Rising | Junio Vargas Ojeda | Barrels & Roots
I sat down with Junio Vargas Ojeda, winemaker at Cali Custom Crush and founder of Santo Diablo Wine Company, to hear how a kid from a farming family ended up making some of the most interesting wines in Paso Robles. Junio ...
Soil, Story, Soul | Josh Trowbridge | Barrels and Roots
In this episode, I sat down with Josh Trowbridge, the general manager of Benovia Winery, for a conversation about wine, storytelling, and what gives something lasting value. From discovering wine in college to building a career acro...
Merlot Slushies Forever | Molly Bossardt | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Molly Bossardt, a boutique wine marketing strategist who traded New York tech startups for Italian wine country, and we got into everything the wine industry doesn't want to admit out loud. Molly runs her agency from Torino, ...
Terroir Is A Love Language | Vicki Tomiser | Barrels and Roots
In this episode, I sat down with Vicki Tomiser, a wine consultant, hospitality veteran, and self-described "winosaur" whose love affair with wine started not in a cellar but in a buying room full of middle-aged men in gray suits.
Grapes, Gis & Gut Instinct | Dennis McCarter | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Dennis McCarter, founder of McGregor McCarter's Cellars, and honestly this conversation hit different. Dennis left a 13-year career in insurance after the Tubbs Fire reshaped his world, and instead of starting over in somethi...