From Stomping Grapes to Stomping Awards Contenders: The Barefoot Wine & Bubbly Story
Aug. 16, 2017
Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, the trendy and jovial brand that is anything but traditional, gets its name from one of the most traditional aspects to winemaking: grape-stomping. The technique brings to mind the very famous winemaking scene from I Love Lucy.
In 1965, the fancy-free method to making wine inspired winemaker Davis Bynum to brand the first bottle Barefoot, and the company has built off of that spirit ever since.
Nowadays, the Barefoot brand is led by Head Winemaker Jennifer Wall (pictured left), who since joining the brand more than 20 years ago, has overseen steady volume growth every year. In fact, according to the IWSR U.S. Beverage Alcohol Review, overall case volume has grown nearly 500% over the last decade. That boom is clearly a result of Wall’s work in developing creative flavor profiles that wine drinkers love, along with innovative packaging that fits seamlessly into a variety of social occasions.
We were thrilled to catch up with Wall to learn more about the method to the merry madness of the brand that consumers appreciate for its quality and affordability.
Barefoot’s Evolution. When I started with the brand in 1995, we only had four wine types. We had no bubbly and sold 140,000 cases per year. Now, we have a wide portfolio of wine, Bubbly’s and refresh spritzers in various formats – more than 30 in total.
Did You Know? Consumers may not know that Barefoot wines and sparkling wines are the most highly-awarded ones in U.S. wine competitions. Folks can be confident they are getting a great bottle of wine, at a great value. Also, we pick our grapes right when the berries are firm and cool to make sure they come into the winery intact. This is one of the first steps to ensuring the best varietal flavors from grape to glass.
Size Matters. In our quest to have something for everyone, we decided to launch Refresh Spritzers in cans to address daytime and outdoor wine occasions. We selected the sleek and attractive 250ML can which has been an amazing, year-round success. Further, we just recently transitioned to 187 PET (polyethylene terephthalate), shatterproof single-serve bottles.
Breaking In. Originally I wanted to be a doctor. I attended UC Santa Cruz and studied biology with the intent of going to medical school. My parents happened to move to Sonoma County, wine country, while I was in college. After I graduated, I got a winery job which I thought would be temporary. I fell in love and the rest is history.
Why I Love Wine. I love being able to craft fun, varietally correct, food-friendly wines that folks can afford to enjoy with family and friends on an everyday basis. I feel blessed to make wine that people can enjoy at weddings, graduations, anniversaries, block parties and so much more. There is nothing better than that for me.
Giving Back. I believe that it is important to give back to your community. I pour Barefoot Bubbly Brut Cuvée and Pink Moscato Bubbly each year at Catwalk for a Cure, a fundraiser that raises money for women who can’t afford mammograms. I also volunteer much of my time to Girl Scouts of America to help our young girls become the leaders of tomorrow.
Upcoming projects. This year, we launched Barefoot California Rosé in the 750ML size and it has been very popular. We just recently launched 1.5L and 187ML shatterproof sizes of the r osé as well. In November of this year, we will release Barefoot Bubbly Brut Rosé in 750ML and 187ML sizes, just in time for the holiday season.
Summer Sippin’. I’ve been enjoying Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc this summer. We changed the style two vintages ago to be more “New Zealand” style, and it tastes amazing.
Barefoot in Three Words. Fun. Flavorful. Affordable.
Profile photo courtesy of barefootwine.com