Podcast Episode 26: From Vineyard Rows to Rock Shows with Faith Ventrello & Glass with a Grower, Justin Dragoo

In this episode of Grown in Napa Valley, host Caleb Mosley explores the intersection of music, wine, and Napa Valley culture through conversations with Faith Ventrello and Justin Dragoo. Faith shares her journey from a career in the music industry at major labels like Capitol, Elektra, and Virgin Records to building a wine-focused life in Napa Valley. She discusses co-founding Folklore, a downtown Napa wine bar and record store that has become a community gathering space blending live music, vinyl culture, food, and wine. The conversation highlights how music and wine naturally complement one another and how Napa’s evolving cultural scene has embraced both. 
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Later in the episode, Justin reflects on his transition from the tech world in New York City back to Napa Valley, where he joined Gargiulo Vineyards and helped grow the family winery business rooted in Oakville farming traditions. He also shares the story behind the evolution of BottleRock Napa Valley and explains how the festival successfully combines world-class music, wine, and culinary experiences to attract a new generation of Napa Valley visitors. Justin emphasizes the strong parallels between the wine and music industries, from storytelling and authenticity to creating immersive experiences that connect people to place, culture, and community. 

Episode Highlights: 

• “I think the wine community and the music community have a lot in common.” - Faith Ventrello​
  
• “You want to see something authentic… it’s the same draw people have to Napa Valley wine.”​ - Justin Dragoo 
• “There’s a thread between music, agriculture, and wine that all kind of comes together here in Napa.” - Caleb Mosley 
• “There’s a lot of places in Napa that don’t let people be weird… sometimes people just want to be a little weird.” - Faith Ventrello
• “The novelty behind BottleRock is this incorporation of wine into music.” - Justin Dragoo