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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.
36 Episodes
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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. We talk about what makes a glass of sparkling wine feel alive, why tension, personality, and balance matter so much, and how great wine keeps you coming back for another sip. Kyle shares how winemakers grow from mastering technique to learning how to let go, trust in...
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. Marc shares how studying in Bordeaux helped shape his path, how he built a career across restaurants, distribution, consulting, television, and international wine travel, and why wine is one of the most emotional and personal beverages in the world. We talk abo...
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 into how she went from working in barbecue and boutique wine shops to building a serious career in hospitality, and why wine is so much more than a luxury product. We talked about wine culture in Texas versus California, the rise of chilled red wine, why Riesling deserves...
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 value over time, how collectibles like classic cars, watches, art, and even rare memorabilia can become real stores of wealth, and why so many everyday people never get invited into these markets. Siphe breaks down the biggest barriers, access, admin, relationships, prici...
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 Napa wine projects, plus consulting, partnerships, and a creative background in music and film. We talk about how he found wine through Auburn University’s wine program, the first wine that made him stop and think, Madeira, and why he still collects ...
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 years in restaurants to fully committing to wine, and what it feels like to realize just how deep the wine world goes once you start studying it seriously. We get into why wine can feel intimidating, how to build confidence through micro learning, and why you do not nee...
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. We get into her early exposure to wine through her parents’ distribution work in China, how studying at UC Davis shaped her love for sensory science, and why the tasting side of viticulture and enology pulled her in for good. Jane breaks down the real differenc...
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. Jess shares how she went from a decade in dental hygiene and a path toward dentistry to discovering winemaking through UC Davis, where the science, creativity, and sensory training pulled her in for good. We talk about how sensory evaluation shapes her decisions in ...
In this Barrels and Roots episode, I sit down with Ben Salisbury, founder of Salisbury Creative Group, who has spent more than four decades in wine and hospitality and now helps wineries and distilleries accelerate sales, improve execution, and win in today’s brutal market. We talk about the biggest misconceptions wineries still cling to, especially the idea that great wine, great packaging, luxury branding, and a beautiful estate will magically carry the business. Ben breaks it down in...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Heather Daenitz, a Santa Barbara County photographer and marketer who helps small wineries tell the real story of how wine gets from grape to glass, through honest images and smart social media. We talk about why the most powerful visuals are not the perfectly staged sunset vineyard shots, but the gritty, human moments, the dirty hands, the chaotic desks, the half-finished plates, the lipstick on the glass, and the bottles with drips...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Maya Dalla Valle of Dalla Valle Vineyards in Napa Valley to talk about what it really takes to grow grapes and make world class wine when you only get one shot per vintage. We get into how she found winemaking after studying international relations and chasing a diplomat path, why wine is a living piece of history, and what it feels like to taste legendary bottles like 1911 Chateau Latour and 1945 Chateau Lafite and realize you are l...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Brooke Delmas Robertson of Delmas and SJR Vineyard in the Rocks District of Milton-Freewater, Walla Walla Valley, to talk about why staying small can be the secret to making truly unforgettable wine. Brooke breaks down what makes the Rocks District so distinct, an AVA defined by its soil, with volcanic basalt cobbles and gravels that create a signature salty, savory, umami-like character in the wines. We dig into Rhône varieties li...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, host Sean Trace sits down with consulting winemaker Julie Schreiber, a chef turned enologist, mushroom forager, and Northern California wine veteran with over 25 years in the cellar. Julie shares her journey from culinary school to UC Davis, breaking down how food, science, and creativity collide in modern winemaking. They explore how great wine is built like jazz, giving each element space to breathe, how blending is part science and part intuition, and ...
In this Barrels and Roots episode, I sit down with winemaker Kelsey Gorter to talk about how wine really gets made, from vineyards and harvest cycles to the behind-the-scenes reality of bulk wine sales and building wines for places like Trader Joe’s and Costco. We get into how she went from teaching high school chemistry to working harvests in California and the Southern Hemisphere, and why winemaking is a long-game craft that rewards patience, presence, and having a clear vision year...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Denise McKahn, CEO of McKahn Wines, to talk about building a family wine brand, falling into the wine industry from an accounting background, and learning how to sell wine in a world where the market is shifting fast. Denise shares the moment that sparked her son Chuck’s winemaking journey, a bottle of Cabernet opened at Sunday dinner that basically set his whole career in motion, and how that passion eventually led them to focus on Rhone ...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Central Coast winemaker Kip Lorenzetti, a guy who went from selling toilets to crafting wines for legacy Paso Robles brands. We talk about what really happens behind the scenes of winemaking, from brutal harvest labor to the patience it takes to taste a wine that is still finding itself. Kip breaks down how winemakers taste through young, aggressive wines to see their future, why most people misunderstand how wine is made, and why en...
In this Barrels and Roots Podcast episode, I sit down with Adam Martinez, winemaker at Uplifted Winery in Rapid City, South Dakota, to talk about what winemaking actually looks like when you strip away the romance and get into the real craft. We dig into how he got started through restaurant life and a chemistry background, why wine is the ultimate mix of science, art, and pure luck, and how tiny variables like weather, humidity, and even invisible microbes can change everything. Adam e...
In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with Dan Stotesbery, managing partner at Ladera Vineyards, a family-owned Napa Valley winery he now runs day-to-day with his wife. We talk about why small, family-run wineries still matter in a world that’s getting more corporate, and how authenticity shows up in the details, from hosting tastings themselves to literally packing shipping boxes and remembering customers by name. Dan breaks down Howell Mountain Cabernet, what being above th...
I’m talking with Anne McHale about what the Master of Wine path really looks like and why it actually matters for everyday wine drinkers, not just industry insiders. We unpack what a Master of Wine does, why the qualification is considered one of the hardest in the world, and how Anne worked her way up from a junior office assistant to earning the MW title over a decade of study, tasting, and real-world experience. From there, we zoom out into the bigger picture, how wine connects to pl...
In this Barrels and Roots episode, I sit down with Napa Valley native Lailand Oberschulte-Flaherty, VP of Marketing at OrderPort, to talk about wine without the intimidation. We get into why wine feels “snooty” to so many people, why that idea is outdated, and how to build your palate without pretending you like a cult Cabernet just because the label is famous. Lailand breaks down how taste is personal, like music, like artists, like anything else, and why the best wine might be the bot...
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