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.
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Booking probability
32%
Guest openness
Selective
80/100
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Barrels & Roots is a arts podcast hosted by Sean Trace, with 87 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.
About the host
Sean Trace hosts Barrels & Roots, a arts show with 87 episodes published.
Riley Sanchez almost became an Amazon researcher studying leaf-cutter ants before a mentor nudged her toward winemaking, and ten years later she's running secondary fermentations most people don't even know exist. We got into the wild technical side of sparkling wine, the riddling, the disgorging, the yeast cultures kept alive year after year, and why harvest days that start at 1am somehow feel more like camp than chaos. Riley explained why positive attitude matters more than talent when you're 12 hours into a shift, and how patience shapes a career that takes a full decade to actually see its own results reach the market. What's the most surprising thing you learned about how your favorite drink is actually made?
The Man Behind Jay-Z's Champagne | Philippe Bienvenu | Barrels & Roots
Sep 11, 202646 min
Philippe Bienvenu has spent 35 years in the champagne world and helped create Armand de Brignac, the Ace of Spades, working directly with Jay-Z and Beyoncé to build one of the most recognized bottles on the planet. We get into why "champagne is champagne" is a myth, why non-vintage is actually the smartest place to start, and why the most expensive bottle in the room isn't always the one you'll love the most. Philippe also breaks down why champagne might be the most food-friendly wine in existence, from Indian curry in Singapore to sushi nights gone wrong. If you've ever stood in a wine shop paralyzed by champagne labels, this one's for you. What's the wine you thought you were supposed to love but just didn't?
We’re Making Wine Too Complicated | Vicki Tomiser | Barrels & Roots
Sep 7, 202649 min
In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with wine industry veteran Vicki Tomiser to talk about what makes wine memorable beyond what’s inside the bottle. We dive into terroir, how soil, climate, sunlight, and location can completely change the expression of the same grape, and why learning about wine doesn’t have to feel intimidating. Vicki shares her journey from working with Gallo to sourcing wines for major airlines and eventually helping small, family-owned wineries strengthen their brand stories and direct-to-consumer experiences. We also talk about hospitality, storytelling, scent memory, wine tasting, and why wineries need to stop telling people what they’re “supposed” to taste. For Vicki, every bottle of wine carries the story of the vineyard, winemaker, family, and decisions that brought it to life. Most importantly, we explore a simple idea: wine should be welcoming, personal, and fun. Has the wine industry made wine more complicated than it needs to be?
How One Insect Almost Ended Wine | Linsi Luckett | Barrels and Roots
Sep 6, 202639 min
I sat down with Linsi Luckett, lead agronomist and drone-flying pest advisor at Sunridge Nurseries. We got into rootstock and why almost every vine you've ever tasted is actually two plants grafted into one, a survival trick born from a disaster that nearly wiped out European wine over a century ago. Linsi broke down why cloning grapevines isn't some mad-scientist thing but has been happening for generations, why seeds are basically a genetic lottery ticket, and how an entire hidden ecosystem of fungi and bacteria works underground before a single grape ever forms. What's one thing you had no idea affected the taste of your wine until now?
The Winemaker Who Refused to Quit | Dennis McCarter | Barrels and Roots
Sep 3, 202638 min
In this episode of the Barrels and Roots Podcast, I sit down with winemaker Dennis McCarter to talk about what it really takes to leave a familiar career behind, start over, and build a life around wine. Dennis takes me from his early days making small batches in a garage to launching his own winery, navigating stuck fermentations, earning awards, and learning how humbling the winemaking process can be. We get into the side of the wine industry people don’t always see: self-doubt, adversity, feeling like you don’t belong, dealing with difficult customers, and choosing to keep showing up anyway. Dennis also shares how judo shaped his mindset, why he believes you have to attack a new business with intent, and why wine is essentially history and geography captured in a bottle. Of course, we also talk about Pinot Noir, Zinfandel, Merlot, Sonoma, wine pairings, underrated grapes, and the bottles Dennis actually loves drinking. If you had to start over in a completely new career tomorrow, what would you be willing to bet on yourself to pursue?
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