Barrels & Roots

99 Episodes

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Why Young Winemakers Can’t Afford Napa | Aaron Pott | Barrels & Roots

2026-10-2642:28

I sat down with Aaron Pott, a Napa Valley winemaker with over three decades of experience and Food & Wine's 2012 Winemaker of the Year. After earning his degree at UC Davis, Aaron worked in Bordeaux at Château Troplong-Mondot and Château La Tour Figeac, then returned to Napa to lead winemaking at Beringer Wine Estates and Quintessa Estate. Today he makes his own Pott Wine and serves as Consulting Winemaker for Pestoni Family Estate Winery. Aaron shares how a glass of wine at n...

What Really Makes Wine Feel Special | Aliye Melton | Barrels and Roots

2026-10-2139:47

In this episode of Barrels and Roots, I sit down with wine marketing consultant Aliye Melton to talk about what the wine industry may be getting wrong about marketing, luxury, hospitality, and connection. We explore why great wine alone is not enough to build a memorable brand and why authentic storytelling matters more than polished drone shots, perfect tasting rooms, or expensive bottles. Aliye shares her journey into the wine industry and explains why wineries need to focus less on transac...

How to Taste Wine Like a Master Sommelier | Barrels and Roots

2026-10-1650:27

I’m still learning about wine, and one of the things I love about Barrels & Roots is getting the chance to sit down with people who understand wine at a completely different level than I do. In this episode, I’m joined again by Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser for a conversation about how we actually learn to taste wine and why becoming a better wine taster has far less to do with having some magical palate than most people think. Tim has spent decades in the wine industry, and we get into his...

Wine Tasting for Beginners | All About Albarino | Sean & Chang

2026-10-1308:01

Wine tasting doesn't have to be complicated! Join Sean and Chang on Barrels & Roots as we taste our way through Albariño, rosé, Italian Lambrusco, and Pinot Noir, sharing honest reactions, a few laughs, and some surprising discoveries along the way. From discovering the fun of sparkling red wine to testing whether a decanter really changes the taste of Pinot Noir, we're keeping wine tasting simple, entertaining, and approachable. We even throw in a few games and food pairing challenges.&n...

Inside California's Most Overlooked Wine Region | Kristina Filippi | Barrels & Roots

2026-10-1331:53

I sat down with Kristina Filippi, the winemaker at Wilson Creek Winery and Vineyards in Temecula, California. We talk about why Temecula’s hot days and cool nights make it a surprisingly great wine region, which Mediterranean varietals thrive there, and why Petite Sirah deserves way more love. Kristina walks me through regenerative viticulture, from cover crops and no herbicides or pesticides to treating a vineyard like a living community instead of a single crop. We also dig into...

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