Barefoot Wine (Origins, Wine Varieties, 10 Best Bottles 2024)

Barefoot Wine has come a long way in the last four decades - what started as a side business in a garage today produces over 18 million cases of wine a year!

How did this California winery become one of the largest-selling wine brands in the world? Which of the wines should you buy now?

Let’s explore the story behind this innovative wine brand. We’ll also compare Barefoot Wines to Yellow Tail, and also explore 8 fun Barefoot wines to sip now.  And we have an easy way for you to invest in fine wine while you enjoy a glass of Barefoot bubbly.

A Quick Intro To Barefoot Wine

Barefoot Wine Company is an innovative wine producer in California offering a large selection of value-driven red, white and sparkling wines. This California winemaker is constantly expanding into new territories worldwide. 

The name of this wine brand comes from the manual crushing of grapes by stomping on them barefoot! 

Although the first wine was made in the 1960s, the company was named “Barefoot Cellars” and released its first bottles of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon in 1986.

Wine lovers couldn’t get enough of these California wines (and their fun-filled branding and affordable pricing), and demand soared. Today the winery offers over 30 wine varieties in a range of rose, sweet, dry, still, and sparkling styles. 

Let’s look at how this popular wine brand got started. 

A Brief History Of Barefoot Wine

Barefoot Wines started in Davis Bynum’s garage in 1965, where he created the first red wine from Pinot Noir grapes and called it Barefoot Bynum Burgundy. 

In 1986, entrepreneurs Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan bought the company and launched it with its new name, “Barefoot Cellars,” and gave it the iconic footprint label.

Barefoot Cellars started adding more delicious varietal wines to their portfolio. They began by launching the Barefoot Chardonnay in 1992 and then releasing Barefoot White Zinfandel in 1993. 

Barefoot Wine started gaining recognition from wine critics and drinkers, and Houlihan and Harvey had no choice but to increase wine production.

Barefoot Cellars appointed Jennifer Wall as the chief winemaker in 1995, and in under a year, it became a popular brand in the US.

Retailers and chain stores started advertising Barefoot Cellars as a “top value brand” from the California wine region. 

And, in just 19 years, Houlihan and Harvey took this side-business and turned it into a successful wine company selling over half a million cases of wine a year. 

In 2005, E & J Gallo (an international beverage company) bought Barefoot Cellars and increased the wine production. In 2012, Barefoot Cellars became the second best-selling wine brand in the United States and 2014 in the United Kingdom.

Barefoot wines are now distributed throughout Asia, Canada, Europe, and the United States. 

Let’s take a look at the delicious Barefoot wine varieties available today.

Discover The Barefoot Wine Varieties

Barefoot Wine produces many affordable, delicious wines designed to meet every wine lover’s wants. 

1. Pinot Noir

Barefoot Pinot Noir wines are well-balanced, smooth and spicy. They have gorgeous notes of sweet cherry and wild raspberry. The Barefoot Pinot Noir is one of the heavier wines from their stable. 

2. Malbec 

Barefoot Malbec wines are perfect for a summer barbeque. This plush red wine is perfectly balanced with subtle flavors of toasted oak and spice on the finish. 

3. Chardonnay

Each Chardonnay bottle from Barefoot opens up with a sweet vanilla aroma and notes of sweet peaches and tart green apple flavors. Barefoot Chardonnay is the perfect pairing for white sauce pasta dishes.

4. Sauvignon Blanc

The Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc is an aromatic dry white wine that has a soft finish. The fresh fruit notes of nectarines, peaches, and honeydew melons, make it the perfect white wine to enjoy with mild cheese and fresh vegetables.

5. Riesling

The Barefoot Riesling sweet wine bottles have a bright and vibrant acidity. This light-bodied wine has fresh fruit notes of pears, peaches, and sweet nectarines. 

6. Moscato

The Barefoot Moscato range is perfect to pair with artisanal cheeses, spicy Asian cuisine, and light desserts. These wines have a delicious array of fruit aromas, flavors of sweet apricots, and peaches, with a finish of lemon and citrus. 

Barefoot Cellars also has various Moscato-based drinks, including the Pink Moscato Spumante, Barefoot Bubbly Pink Moscato, Red Moscato, and a range of sweet Fruitscato (watermelon, peach, sweet apricots, and more) wines. 

7. Pinot Grigio

Barefoot Pinot Grigio has a beautiful fruity aroma of fresh white peaches and tart green apple flavors. It has all the aromas of citrus and floral blossom that pair perfectly with pizza, chicken, and white sauce pasta dishes.

8. Cabernet Sauvignon

The Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon has a bold fruit flavor of blackberries and raspberries that you would expect from this varietal. This smooth wine finishes with notes of toasted oak, vanilla, and currants. 

9. Zinfandel

A favorite varietal in California, a Barefoot Zinfandel has a fruity aroma of strawberry, pineapple, and juicy peach. You could enjoy a Barefoot White Zinfandel over some ice on a hot day with a seafood platter! 

10. Merlot

The Barefoot Merlot is a classic red wine with mild tannins and bold cherry, chocolate, plums, and boysenberries flavors. 

But, how does Barefoot Wine differ from the other best-selling wine brand - Yellow Tail? 

Barefoot Cellars vs. Yellow Tail Wines

Barefoot Cellars and Yellow Tail are two of the most popular wine brands in the world that offer a large selection of affordable wines.  

While both offer something for every palate, there are a few differences.

• Yellow Tail is an Australian family-owned company, now managed by the 6th generation of the Casella family. Meanwhile, California-based Barefoot Wine was started by winemaker Davis Bynum and was taken over by Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan in 1986. It is now owned by beverage giant E & J Gallo.
• Yellow Tail continues to stick to time-tested traditional methods of winemaking, while Barefoot takes the innovative and causal approach to winemaking.
• Barefoot Wine is a fun and youthful brand, while Yellow Tail has a more serious tone in its marketing and labeling. 
• Yellow Tail products are mostly wines, and Barefoot produces various seltzers, wines, spritzers, and even Sangria in a can.

What’s common is their huge popularity and the fact that the two wine brands offer a range of options that won’t break your bank. 

Ready to try some of the fantastic offerings from Barefoot Cellars?

10 Fun And Fabulous Barefoot Wines And Drinks 

Here are just a few stunning Barefoot Wines drinks you could enjoy.

1. Barefoot Spritzer Variety Pack

The perfect pack for you to experience a little bit of everything Barefoot Wines has to offer. This Spritzer 12 can variety pack consists of Pink Moscato Spritzers, Red Sangria Spritzers, Rose Spritzers, and Moscato Spritzers.

Price of Barefoot Spritzer Variety Pack, California, USA $23

2. Barefoot Red Sangria Spritzer

The Barefoot Red Sangria Spritzer is a light-bodied spritzer with a gorgeous aroma and natural flavors of berry, lemon, orange, and lime. 

Price of Barefoot Red Sangria Spritzer, California, USA $17

3. Barefoot Peach & Nectarine Hard Seltzer

The Hard Seltzers by Barefoot Wines are a refreshing blend of wine, sparkling water, and natural flavors of peach and nectarine. 

Price of Barefoot Peach & Nectarine Hard Seltzer, California, USA $11

4. 2018 Barefoot Merlot

The Barefoot Merlot is a classic wine for red wine lovers. This Merlot has mild tannins and all the delicious flavors of sweet plums, juicy cherries, boysenberries, and smooth chocolate.

Price of Barefoot Merlot, California, USA $8

5. Barefoot Bubbly Pineapple

This tropical sparkling wine from Barefoot is a strong favorite in their wine selection. The Barefoot Bubbly Pineapple is a vibrant wine with flavors and aromas of peach, macadamia, and sliced pineapple. This off-dry pineapple sparkling wine will be a fun variation to the classic Mimosa at a brunch. 

Price of Barefoot Bubbly Pineapple, California, USA $10

6. Barefoot Pinot Noir

The Barefoot Pinot Noir offers the perfect balance of smooth, silky, and spicy. This full-bodied wine offers up notes of sweet cherry and raspberry and subtle flavors of smooth vanilla and spices in the background.

Price of Barefoot Pinot Noir, California, USA $6

7. Barefoot Bubbly Sweet Red Champagne

This sparkling wine opens up with gorgeous aromas of mandarin orange and jasmine. These aromas are complemented by flavors of blueberry, dark cherry, and pomegranate and a sweet and lingering finish. 

Price of Barefoot Bubbly Sweet Red Champagne, California, USA $9

8. Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Sparkling

The Extra Dry sparkling wine is the perfect bottle of bubbles for any celebration. It has a beautiful flavor of fresh apples and a smooth finish. 

Price of Barefoot Bubbly Extra Dry Sparkling, California, USA $10

9. 2017 Barefoot Pink Moscato

The Barefoot Pink Moscato has flavors of tart raspberries, sweet pomegranates, and juicy cherries. The finish has notes of Mandarin oranges and jasmine. 

Price of 2017 Barefoot Pink Moscato, California, USA: $10

10. Barefoot Sweet Red Blend

The Barefoot Sweet Red Blend is a refreshing combination of Zinfandel, Barbera, Pinot Noir, Petite Syrah, and Grenache. This wine offers flavors of ripe raspberries, red cherries, and sweet pomegranates.

Price of Barefoot Sweet Red, California, USA: $6

The selection from Barefoot Wines is extensive, but how do you store it to make sure it's delicious flavor stays?

How Long Does Barefoot Wine Last And How To Store It

All Barefoot Wines are shelf-to-table wines. This means you should open and enjoy the wine within 18 months to 2 years of buying it. 

If you have some Barefoot Wine leftover, just reseal the bottle and store it safely, and it will last up to one week. The Barefoot Bubbly or the Barefoot Prosecco will stay fresh for 1-3 days in the fridge after opening (with a bottle stopper.)

As for serving it, chilling the Barefoot white and pink wine for at least two hours will help the aromas and flavors pop. 

Red wines are best served at room temperature. However, the Barefoot Jammy Red is ideal for a hot summer’s night out and is best served cold. 

While it is not a great option for long-term investment, it is a great wine to sip while you build your wine investment portfolio! 

And if you want to build a high-performing portfolio with investment-grade wines from all over the world, you should take the Vinovest route.

Here’s how:

Buy Fine Wine Through Vinovest - A World-class Wine Investment Company

Vinovest is an online wine investment company that lets you buy, sell, and store your favorite wines - all while you sip a Merlot from the comfort of your home. 

You can even have your wine delivered to your home for a special occasion or to a buyer if you choose to sell it.

How It Works

You can start a high-performing wine investment portfolio in four easy steps:

1. Sign up on the Vinovest site with your name and email address. 
2. Answer a few simple questions to discover your investment style. 
3. Top up your account with $1,000 (minimum.)
4. Browse a selection of wines chosen for your investment style and add them to your portfolio. 

Benefits Of Working With Vinovest

Here are the benefits of working with Vinovest: 

1. Best Prices From A Deep network

Enjoy the best prices for your favorite wines from Vinovest’s extensive network of wineries and trusted wine merchants. You will also be invited to exclusive wine tasting events and private sales with the Master Sommeliers from Vinovest.

2. Easy Buying and Selling using AI-driven technology

Vinovest’s AI-Driven online portal makes it super easy for you to buy wines from all over the world. If you want to sell a bottle for profit, the platform will match you with the perfect buyer. 

3. Curated portfolio by an expert wine advisory team

You will have a team of Master Sommeliers and Data Scientists who will crunch the numbers and find the perfect wine bottles for your enviable portfolio.

4. Authenticity and provenance 

You no longer have to worry about that dodgy bottle of wine finding its way into your collection! Vinovest’s team will make sure every bottle of wine you are interested in is 100% authentic before the money leaves your account. 

5. Optimal storage and safety

Making sure you store your collectible wine correctly is a vital part of your portfolio’s success. Vinovest stores your wine in one of their bonded warehouses that are monitored 24/7. 

6. Low overall costs

You get to enjoy all these benefits (and more) for a low annual fee of 2.5% (1.9% for portfolios above $50,000.) Giving you even more space in the budget to buy more bottles for your collection.

7. Easy delivery

Whether you want to open a bottle of wine for a celebration, gift it to a friend, or sell it - Vinovest will take care of the finer details when it comes to delivery. 

Sip a Fun Barefoot Moscato While You Build a Wine Portfolio!

Barefoot California Wines are the perfect wines for that enjoyable evening with friends or the summer barbeque with your family. They’ll have something for every palate and every occasion. 

And, if you want to build your high-performing portfolio of investment-grade wines, just pick up a bottle of Barefoot Brut Cuvee and sign up with Vinovest today.