She began her career in wine in 1976, working with Zelma Long for a decade at Robert Mondavi Winery in Napa Valley and Simi Winery in Sonoma County. Barbara and Zelma have continued working together on numerous projects over the subsequent years.

She moved to France in 1986 to broaden her winemaking perspective and experience. Her first year was spent in Bordeaux, working at Chateau Lynch-Bages (Medoc) and then Chateau LaLouviere (Graves), and taking courses at the Institut d'Œnologie in Bordeaux. The following year she worked in Burgundy at Maison Louis Latour while studying viticulture at the University of Dijon. She also worked a summer in the research laboratories of Moet-et-Chandon, and finished that sojourn at Listel, working on various technical projects at their properties in the south of France. She has subsequently returned to France for two more vintages.

Returning to the U.S. in 1988, she worked a harvest and did some sensory consulting before becoming the winemaker at Grand Cru Vineyards in Sonoma Valley. Three years later, she joined Marimar Torres Estate in Sebastopol as winemaker and vineyard manager.

Barbara began her consulting career in earnest in 1994. In addition to vineyard-to-bottle winemaking for small producers, she serves as a resource for growers and wineries looking for an additional technical, team-building or general logistical resource. Her roles have involved serving as a resource when a new winemaker has been promoted or hired, partnering with winery and grape-grower clients to do wine-profiling, blend tastings, and other technical projects. Her long-term work with Sangiacomo Family Vineyards in Carneros reflects her particular interest in sensory evaluation and education. These interests have also led Barbara to work with other wine industry professionals, regional grape-grower and winery associations, equipment and materials suppliers, wine brokers, distributors, importers, etc., organizing technical tastings, seminars, and a wide range of other exercises.

In addition to her role as a consultant, Barbara speaks at conferences and universities throughout the US and in Europe. A contributor to industry publications, she has also taught various wine classes at Napa Valley College and is currently an instructor for the Winemaking Certificate Program for Distance Learners offered by UC Davis Extension.

Barbara enjoys wearing a number of different hats and working with a wide range of clients and wines. She relishes the challenges and pleasures of making wine that genuinely expresses the land and the grapes from which it is made. She believes that any wine, regardless of style or pedigree, is intended, and at its best, when shared and enjoyed with food, friends and family.