The Wine Makers – Bruce Davlin, Ballentine Vineyards

Ballentine Vineyards, a Napa Valley staple since 1905, isn’t just a winery—it’s a living legacy. Nick dives into the story of winemaker Bruce Ballentine, whose path to the vineyard wasn’t exactly a straight line. He started out aiming to be a brewmaster, dabbled in forestry and photography, but ultimately found his groove in Fermentation Science at UC Davis. A globe-spanning exchange program took him to Germany, South Africa, and Australia, shaping his winemaking style before he joined the family operation in 1999. Bruce and his wife Danielle also run their own project, Three Clicks Wines, a nod to the telegram code that signaled the end of Prohibition. A journey filled with science, tradition, and a lot of heart. [Ep 370] ballentinevineyards.com threeclickswines.com