California’s Napa Valley is known for its rich presence in the wine history books. Its lush Mediterranean climate makes it the perfect area to grow the grapes that go into some of the world’s most renowned bottles of wine, and this wealthy area has a new place to test some of these fine elixirs. Folklore is your all-in-one stop for Napa culture, featuring locally made wines alongside a terrific selection of vinyl records. The one-stop shop, owned and operated by the married duo of Steve Ventrello and Faith Henschel-Ventrello, has been providing their community with a safe space to explore the nuances that connect them through domestic and foreign wines and a deep passion for music.
Folklore is built around the idea of community, driven by two things that bring people together unanimously: music and wine. The marriage of these two cultures is at the heart of this all-encompassing record shop, which carries new and used records alongside an ever-evolving list of wines. Also home to Faith’s KCMU radio station, Folklore is a rare space that struck a unique balance between personal interest and dedication to building something larger than themselves.
Glide had the pleasure of speaking with Faith about Folklore, how the space became this all-in-one destination, and the Napa community. You can read our full conversation below.
How did the idea for combining a bar, vinyl record shop, and restaurant come about, and was there a place you visited previously that proved these can all co-exist?
My husband, Steve, and I own a wine importing and distribution company, and we have a great love of European and domestic wines. Our dream was to have a wine bar and record store where we could also house KCMU, the non-profit, low-power FM radio station I started in 2018.
By doing this, we could have many of the things we loved all in one place. We found the perfect shell of a building in 2021. As we began rebuilding, we decided to enter the lottery for a liquor license (the only way to get an affordable one in California). While cocktails were not in our initial plan, they were another passion of Steve’s. The first year, we did not get one; however, the second year, as we were getting close to completing the build-out and design, we did get one, so we had to change some elements in order to accommodate cocktails and a substantially more in-depth food menu.
I did go to Vinyl Tap in Nashville and Easy Street in Seattle, which share elements of what we do but are definitely unique to their towns, as are we.
What makes Folklore different from other wine bars or record stores in the wine region?
The fact that we are both is the biggest difference. We also have an amazing sound system which is extraordinary as I haven’t visited many record stores or wine bars that actually focus on the quality of the sound quality of the music.
We have an amazing bar team, an award-winning wine list, and a great record selection. Many bars have a turntable or a small record selection, but we regularly buy new records, have a good selection of used records, and participate in all of Record Store Day events.
We try to be as active as we can in creating events that are fun and, oftentimes, a little weird (e.g., Hamlet, a finger puppet musical).
Is having a bar in wine country a challenge due to the expectations visitors have of having to taste a certain winery?
While we are based in downtown Napa, most visitors tend to stay on the two main streets. Our business is comprised mostly of locals, with tourists finding us by recommendation from wineries and winery tasting rooms. Our appeal to locals is really based on the variety of wines and cocktails that we have for them to try, and our prices are really fair, especially for Napa.
Also, after a day of wine tasting, most visitors are happy to have a beer or a cocktail.
Our biggest challenges are the same as any small business starting up, especially in these times of uncertainty. Inconsistency in the flow of business is probably our biggest challenge.
There seems to be a nature theme to Folklore. From the raven in your logo to the many animals depicted throughout your website, how did nature inspire the aesthetic of your shop?
I am a Classics major (UW), and both Steve and I love the myths and folklore of the various regions of the world we have visited. Music itself is a form of folklore as well.
When we were looking for a name, we were initially going with Cabernet Voltaire*, an homage to Cabaret Voltaire – the home of the Dada movement and an awesome band – but very few people got it, and we decided to keep searching for a name that meant something to us both and fit the building itself – Folklore was it.
Beyond this, yes, we love nature and respect the flora and fauna of our region. Napa Valley is a region that depends on the health and well-being of our planet, and we forget this at our own peril.
*Cabernet Voltaire is now the name of the LLC and of a wine we just bottled.
Can you tell me about the radio station KCMU and its connection to Folklore? What can people expect when tuning into the station?
Now Playing:
Be Bop Deluxe ‘Sister Seagull’
Anna Calvi with Iggy Pop ‘God’s Lonely Man’
Facture. ‘Kaleidoscope’
Lush ‘Tralala’
Nikki Sudden & the Jocobites. ‘Wooden Leg’
The Twilight Singers ‘What Makes You Think You’re the One’
We also mix in Jazz, Blues, Country, Hip Hop, Rap, and a smidge of classical. This is not segregated into genres or decades. I love not knowing what to expect. It’s like life.
I started KCMU in 2018, and when we conceived of Folklore, I wanted KCMU to be housed here, hoping to get more people to help with programming and promotion. However, the only space we had was under the stairs, so it was a little like Harry Potter.
You guys buy and sell some used records. What is the criteria you look for when buying used collections, and what record labels do you feel the most kinship with?
I try to buy records that are in good shape and that I know people will want to own; however, I am often surprised at what people want, so I try to go deep and not let my own prejudices take over. I do not cherry-pick through collections, as most people who bring in a collection want me to take all the records, so I try to price the entire collection rather than only taking what I am personally interested in.
I started five-dollar grab bags, which people love, and when you put three different records from three different genres, people generally find something new to enjoy. This helps with those records that just aren’t moving on their own. Sub Pop is definitely my spirit-animal record label. I worked at Elektra in the Halcyon days, and that will always be the best job anyone could ever have. 4AD, Matador, Merge, and Nonesuch are also favorites.
Do you have any stories of finding rare/expensive vinyl in a used collection? What is the rarest/most expensive vinyl you’ve seen walk through your doors?
One collection was amazing and had an original Velvet Underground with the banana only peeled at the corner. The record was in great shape; however, the cover had water damage and was pretty roughed up. That was a heartbreaker, but it still sold for $450.
My favorite record to find in a collection is the Eraserhead soundtrack. Those collections are always cool, and I love seeing who buys them, as they always sell fast.
Record Store Day 2026 is right around the corner. How does Folklore prepare for this massive event? Are there any releases you’re personally excited for?
It is! We just got ready to open our doors early and welcome people. My biggest challenge with RSD is that the people who come have generally never been here before, and they are so focused on finding the records that they want that they don’t really enjoy the experience of being here. I would love to find a way to keep people more engaged in the space and hanging out. That will be our goal for this RSD.
I am most excited for the 13th Floor Elevators, Jeff Buckley, Art of Noise, Electronic (Johnny Marr is coming to town), Bruno Mars, Melanie B (I worked on that record at Virgin), and Pearl Jam, as Geoff Whitman, the photographer, lives here. We have some of his fabulous photography up on our walls.
How much of Folklore’s record store is your personal taste vs what you think people would like to buy? Are you a record collector yourself?
I stupidly started out with my tastes and what I thought people in Napa wanted. Well, that was an expensive and hard learned mistake. I try to listen to what people ask for and are talking about, even and especially if it isn’t in my wheelhouse. I made the second mistake of leaning into that too heavily, and now I buy with reservation and care, as I need records to sell, not look good on the wall.
I would rather have 1 or 2 records of things that sell versus five of something that is popular but doesn’t sell here.
Does Folklor do any in-stores, and if so, who has come by to play?
We have had a few, and we look forward to more. Tommy Stinson, Suzzallo, Eggcorn (awesome local band record release), Chris Shifflett, Marc E Bassy, and Mondo Cozmo are a few. We would love to have more, of course. These were all performances with record signings, but we hope to have the opportunity to do some more in-store signings.
What does Folklore have in store for the future? Can you tell me about any exciting events or happenings you’re looking forward to?
We are always trying to come up with ways to create fun and community. We just started Committed Karaoke, where you don’t have to be the best, just the most committed. It has been incredibly popular and has created even more camaraderie with and amongst our locals.
We are searching out new live opportunities, more comedy, restaurant pop-ups, and DJs. Napa is in a bit of a slump (tourism is down and wine jobs are being cut), so every business is trying to come up with new ways to get people in the door to enjoy their stay. We also have an amazing wine and cocktail program, so if we can wrap it all together, we do.
I also try to participate in anything Record Store Day puts together. They put a lot of work into these listening parties and events, and even though they are not always artists that I am that aware of, it is great to see the people who come in. We have an incredible sound system and Hi Def TV, which allowed us to present the Puscifer movie in style. Having some people travel an hour to see the movie in a great setting feels great. Also, bands like Twenty One Pilots are so great because they bring in 10 to 60-year-olds. People just sit and listen. Joji and Daniel Caesar were also great, not in terms of various ages, but in terms of just listening. It is a beautiful thing.
If you could recommend the perfect “first visit” experience at Folklore, what would that include?
Grab a beverage (wine, beer, cocktail, coffee), look through some vinyl, enjoy a warm pretzel or Tarte Flambee, talk to the staff, look through more vinyl – hopefully buy a record, or t-shirt.
I love that people come to Folklore to read, meet friends, or be alone. We are known as a great first-date spot and a place to dine alone. People feel safe here. I love that.
