How Napa Valley Wine Is Really Made | Vineyard 29 | Harvest 2026 Ep. 6

Ever wondered what REALLY happens inside a Napa Valley winery during harvest? 🍇🍷 In Episode 6 of Barrels & Roots: Harvest 2026, we're at Vineyard 29 in St. Helena, Napa Valley, getting a behind-the-scenes look at how grapes become wine. Join Sean Trace as we meet Ben Parodi, Assistant Winemaker, and Keith Emerson, President, CEO, and Winemaker at Vineyard 29, to explore the science, technology, and creativity behind winemaking. From high-tech optical grape sorting and testing acidity to yeast inoculation, fermentation in oak barrels and stainless steel tanks, and tasting wine straight from the barrel, we're experiencing the winemaking process firsthand. But here's the big question: Is great wine made through science, or does it come down to the winemaker's instinct? As we discover at Vineyard 29, there's no single perfect way to make wine! 🍷 In this episode: Behind the scenes at Vineyard 29 during Napa Valley's 2026 harvest How optical sorting technology selects the best grapes The science behind yeast, fermentation, and acidity Native fermentation vs. commercial yeast How oak barrels and stainless steel influence winemaking Tasting wine straight from the barrel Subscribe to Barrels & Roots as we explore the people, places, and stories behind the world's wines without the pretension! #BarrelsAndRoots #Vineyard29 #NapaValley #Winemaking #WineHarvest #Harvest2026 #WineEducation #CaliforniaWine #WineLovers