Barrels & Roots

Sean Trace
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  • Food

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.

  1. 1d ago

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

    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 transactions and more on relationships. We talk about direct-to-consumer wine marketing, tasting room hospitality, Napa and Sonoma, wine industry pretension, and why making customers feel seen can create far more loyalty than simply pushing a wine club membership. For me, the biggest takeaway is that luxury isn’t always about price. Sometimes it’s the story, the people, the time, and the experience behind the bottle. What makes a wine experience feel genuinely special to you?

  2. 6d ago

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

    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 own journey from classical music and restaurant service to becoming a Master Sommelier. What I found especially interesting is that even Tim admits tasting didn’t come naturally to him at first. He had to learn it, practice it, develop his sensory memory, and eventually understand what his brain was actually doing when he smelled and tasted wine. We talk about how smell and taste work together, how our brains connect aromas with memories, why certain smells can be difficult to identify even when they feel familiar, and how repetition can dramatically improve your ability to recognize what’s happening in the glass. Tim explains why wine tasting is a skill that can be trained much like learning a musical instrument, If you’ve ever thought, “I like wine, but I have absolutely no idea what I’m supposed to be tasting,” this conversation is for you. What’s one aroma or flavor you can instantly recognize in wine, and what’s one you still can’t seem to figure out?

  3. Oct 13

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

    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.  Whether you're new to wine or have been enjoying it for years, grab a glass and join us!

  4. Oct 13

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

    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 slow food, the microbiome, food as medicine, and why a messy-looking vineyard might be a healthier one.  Have you ever had a wine that felt different in your body, and what do you think made the difference?

  5. Oct 8

    Merlot Deserves Better | Mike Anderson | Barrels & Roots

    I sat down with Mike Anderson, the owner and winemaker behind MTGA Wines and Blair Patent Wines in St. Helena, to talk about growing up in a Napa Valley wine family and why he swore he'd never get into the business.  Mike shares how a punk rock kid who wanted out of Napa found his way back through Raymond Vineyards and the community behind every bottle. We get into why he built MTGA around Merlot when everyone said it was the wrong move, why Syrah is his one mental block, and how a small team of two makes wine feel less intimidating.  What's one drink you enjoyed way more than you expected once you stopped worrying about what you were supposed to like?

  6. Oct 6

    The Best Wine Isn’t Expensive | Julien Fayard | Barrels and Roots

    I sat down with French-born winemaker Julien Fayard to talk about something I think the wine world desperately needs more of enjoying wine without overthinking it. Julien grew up around wine in France before building his career in Napa Valley and Sonoma, and what I loved about this conversation is how quickly we moved beyond scores, price tags, and all the rules people think they need to know. We talked about why a great bottle can cost $15 or $300, why some overlooked wine regions offer incredible value, and why your own palate matters more than somebody else's rating. Julien also shared why beginners shouldn’t be intimidated by wine, how tasting more varieties helps you understand what you actually enjoy, and why the people, place, and moment surrounding a bottle can matter just as much as what’s inside it. For me, wine has always been about connection, curiosity, and slowing down enough to enjoy the experience. What’s one bottle of wine you loved because of the memory attached to it rather than the price?

  7. Oct 2

    The Hidden Life Behind Great Wine | Steve Matthiasson | Barrels and Roots

    I sat down with Napa Valley winemaker and organic farmer Steve Matthiasson to explore what really happens before a bottle of wine ever reaches the table. We talk about Steve’s journey from wanting to become an organic farmer to building a winery in Napa, and why he believes healthy soil, biodiversity, and traditional farming practices can lead to better grapes and ultimately better wine. Steve explains why soil is essentially the original microbiome, how organic farming can restore vineyards that have been depleted by years of conventional agriculture, and why many of Napa Valley’s most respected wineries quietly farm organically. We also get into terroir, regional wine traditions, forgotten grape varieties, and the idea that a great wine can literally carry the aromas and character of the place where it was grown. For Steve, wine isn’t just something you drink, it's agriculture, culture, history, food, and a way to travel through a bottle. Do you think knowing how and where a wine was grown changes the way you experience it?

  8. Sep 30

    6 Degrees of Kevin Bacon | Champagne vs Sparkling Wine

    What’s the real difference between Champagne and sparkling wine? It turns out Champagne isn’t simply a type of bubbly, it’s a place. In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I explores what separates Champagne from California sparkling wine, what Blanc de Blancs actually means, and how relationships between winemakers can shape what ends up in the bottle. And somehow, Kevin Bacon is involved. I starts with the idea of “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” before connecting it to the surprisingly small and interconnected world of wine. That trail leads to winemaker Jeff Plant of Round Pond Estate and a 2023 Blanc de Blancs from the Russian River Valley. Then we put that last idea to the test by pairing sparkling wine and Champagne with Vietnamese street food, plastic chairs and all. Because wine doesn’t have to be intimidating. Sometimes you just need good wine, good food, and good people. 🥂 Cheers from Barrels & Roots.

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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Sean Trace
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    98
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Barrels & Roots
  • Show Website
    Barrels & Roots

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