my story

I am a Livermore Valley native and have spent my whole career in the wine industry.  In 1997, as a teenager, I began working for Wente Vineyards in the summer concert catering department, and caught the wine country bug.  After that, I worked in tasting rooms around the Valley, until starting my journey towards my degree in Enology (winemaking).  I transitioned to wine production in 2007, obtained my degree in 2009, and was promoted to my first position as Winemaker in 2013. ​
 In 2015, I started Barrel Down Wine Services with the intention of expanding my services within the Livermore Valley, and beyond (to "barrel down" a wine means to transfer wine to barrel for aging). 

​I'm the type of person who can't sit still with just one job, I have to keep life interesting!  As of today, my consultation experience includes winemaking & quality elevation, custom bottling, bulk wine allocation, wine evaluation, business management, new-construction winery design, organizing & leading wine events for private & corporate clients, and competition judging. ​
--- MEREDITH SARBORARIA

  proven results
Whether you want to get some advice on making wine at home, improve quality in your cellar and add some awards to your trophy case, or plan a fun and informative event for your friends or employees, Barrel Down can provide what you need. 
​
As someone who's been in the wine industry for more than a decade, I can work with you to get the job done.  My wines have won all kinds of awards, including Best of Shows. 

​Click here to see results!

people are talking

"Meredith is both hard working and talented. She manages her workload exceptionally well even when overwhelmed with harvested grapes coming into the winery all at once. Meredith has one of the best sensory skills I have ever observed. Any winery would be fortunate to have her as their winemaker." --- Linda Nidever-Galles, Galles Vineyard
(Source: LinkedIn)
"When I hired her, I was only looking for a Cellar Worker, and being a small winery, never expected to have an Enologist or Assistant Winemaker. As Meredith quickly proved her worth to the company, it was clear that she had potential to be much more than a mere Cellar Worker, so we opened up these positions for her.....Meredith was able to handle the stress and the pressure of harvest, while staying focused and ensuring everything was done properly and efficiently.....​Meredith is an excellent communicator, and was often required to speak in front of large groups of people..." --- Brent Amos, Las Positas Vineyards             (Source: personal LOR)
"Award-winning winemaker, Meredith Sarboraria, is the kind of quiet, prudent and determined force that makes everything in a winery run more smoothly.  A deep understanding of the importance of good farming means Meredith begins making good wine long before the fruit hits the crushpad.  She has a steady and learned hand when it comes to processing grapes at harvest, using her many years of fermentation experience to apply just the right technique to each varietal.  Her databank of knowledge includes working with a myriad of varietals and oak trials, so she can create the perfect marriage of fruit and wood.  Her careful approach to winery hygiene and consistent monitoring and stewardship of wines in barrel, ensure that the finished product is worthy of acclaim.  And she's got plenty of that, from her long tenure at Fenestra, to her consulting roles at Crooked Vine and Stony Ridge, where nearly every wine she entered in major competitions medaled, with many taking Best of Class.  Meredith respects the fruit, first and foremost, and it shows clearly in every one of her wines." --- Laura Ness, Freelance wine writer   
​(Source: LinkedIn)
"Meredith was an excellent employee for Wente Vineyards- intelligent, with a high attention to detail, good work ethic, and a fantastic palate and passion for winemaking. She was a pleasure to work with and has a solid understanding of the fundamentals of winemaking. I would highly recommend her for employment in the winemaking industry." --- Chris Graves, Naumes Crush & Fermentation (Source: LinkedIn)
"...Meredith has contributed a great deal to the company and become a very well-rounded member of the team...Whether she's working within our company, or with our customers' organizations, she has worked seamlessly with everyone...In addition to all this, she is a great pleasure to work with, is very personable, and makes our office function much better in many ways..." --- Cornell Wright, TerrAvion, Inc. (Source: personal LOR)

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    Stay in touch!  I swear on this glass of wine (and this Bob Marley album), that I will only send you emails about upcoming events, so less than once a month. 

    ​"Marketing and promotional materials" is an overstatement, but seems to be a legal requirement because I can't seem to edit that darn thing....
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