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
53 episodes
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...
Sip Happens: Rebranding Tradition | Stephanie Wycoff | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Stephanie Wycoff, the General Manager of Gary Farrell Winery, to pull back the curtain on an industry that often feels too polished to be real. As a video editor and storyteller, I’m always looking for those "faked it till I ...
Napa’s Gilded Gatekeeping | Mallory McEligot | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Mallory McEligot, the force behind Bang Wine Country, to pull back the curtain on why the wine industry feels so inaccessible right now. As a fifth-generation local, Mallory saw the literal roots of the valley before it becam...
Celebrity Wine Challenge | David Gibson & Lynn Finkbiner | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Lynn Finkbiner and David Gibson and we ended up going down one of the most unexpected rabbit holes I’ve had on the show, matching celebrities to wines and breaking down why it actually makes sense. From Ped...
Ride The Wave | Caleb Foster | Barrels and Roots
I sat down with Caleb Foster, a career winemaker who’s spent decades in the craft, and what I thought would be a conversation about wine turned into something much deeper. We got into what it actually means to create somet...
The Luxury of Water | Jeremy Chen | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Jeremy Chen, co-founder and CEO of Leveto, to talk about why premium spring water deserves a real place in wine tasting, fine dining, and intentional hospitality.
The Art of Sparkling | Kyle Altomare | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with winemaker Kyle Altomare from Gloria Ferrer for a conversation about sparkling wine, winemaking, mentorship, and the deeper craft behind making something truly memorable. <...
Taste The Story | Marc R. Kauffman | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with certified sommelier Marc R. Kauffman to talk about what really makes wine special, beyond the label, the price point, and the polished image people often see from the outside.
Sip Outside The Box | Serena Harkey | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sat down with Serena Harkey, Food and Beverage Director for the Cowboys Club in Frisco, Texas, to talk about wine in a way that feels real, approachable, and actually fun. We got int...
Pour With Purpose | Siphe Mwanza | Barrels and Roots
In this Barrels and Roots episode, I sit down with Siphe Mwanza from South Africa, who is building a wine investment platform designed to democratize access to fine wine as an asset class. We get into why wine can hold val...
Cool Kids Drink Wine | Jame Blackmon | Barrels and Roots
In this Barrels and Roots podcast episode, I sit down with Jame Blackmon, a Napa hospitality leader and wine pro who is living a true multi-hyphenate life, director of hospitality at Napa Valley Car Club, involved with Salty Goats and other ...
Wine Isn’t Snobby | Lynn Finkbiner | Barrels & Roots
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Lynn Finkbiner, a certified sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, to break down wine in a way that actually makes sense. We talk about how she went from y...
Building My Own Label | Jane Jiang | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Jane, the proprietor of Duncan Peak Vineyards and a consulting winemaker at Kale Wine Consulting, to talk about what it really takes to build a wine career from the ground up.
Dentist Turned Winemaker | Jessica McDowell | Barrels and Roots
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Jess McDowell, a Napa Valley contract winemaker and the owner of Jess McDowell Consulting, who manages wine production for Kever Vineyards, Rewa Vineyards, and Lindstrom. ...