Precision, Pesticides, and Puzzles | Linsi Luckett | Barrels & Roots

In this episode of Barrels & Roots, I sit down with Linsi Luckett, lead horticulturalist, agronomist, licensed pest control advisor, and FAA-certified drone pilot at Sunridge Nurseries - the largest grapevine-producing nursery in North America. Linsi breaks down the side of wine most people never think about: what it actually takes to grow a healthy vine before it ever reaches a vineyard. We get into the science of grafting and rootstock, why Vitis vinifera can't survive in American soil without it, how terroir starts long before harvest, and the real challenges growers face today from water scarcity and climate unpredictability to rising labor and fertilizer costs. Linsi also shares how a career rooted in ecology taught her that patience isn't just good farming - it's a way of life. Her philosophy of respecting the journey over chasing the end result is something every wine drinker, grower, and honestly anyone trying to slow down in a fast world can take something from.Do you think about where your food or wine actually comes from, or is it something you've never really considered until now?