Episode 5: Getting a Foothold on Fun – Elevating Barefoot Red Blend with ADVINTAGE® Red
In this fifth chapter of our journey into wine enhancement, we step into the world of a true cultural phenomenon: Barefoot. It is the most awarded and best-selling wine brand in the world, a testament to its ability to connect with consumers. Our focus for this episode is the Barefoot Red Blend, a wine that perfectly encapsulates the brand’s ethos of flavor, fun, and friendliness.
The category of “sweet red blends” has exploded in popularity. These wines are smooth, fruity, and free of challenging tannins. However, they can often lack structure and complexity, sometimes feeling thick or syrupy on the palate. This episode celebrates the Barefoot Red Blend for what it is, while identifying opportunities for elevation using ADVINTAGE® Red.
Barefoot's Journey: From Garage to Global Icon
The story of Barefoot is a quintessential American tale. Its roots go back to 1965, when journalist-turned-winemaker Davis Bynum started making “Barefoot Bynum Burgundy” in his garage [1]. In 1986, entrepreneurs Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey took the helm, creating a brand that stood in contrast to the exclusive image of the wine world. Their mission was simple: create fun, flavorful, and affordable wines. This vision, now under E. & J. Gallo Winery, propelled Barefoot into the global stratosphere [2].
The Barefoot Philosophy: Wine Made Fun
At the heart of Barefoot’s success is the philosophy that wine should be fun, not formal. This mission is championed by winemaker Jennifer Wall, who has racked up over 10,000 medals [3]. The Barefoot Red Blend is a carefully crafted blend of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, and Barbera, designed to be sweet, jammy, and rich with explosive fruit notes.
Tasting Notes: Fun, Fruity, and Full-Bodied
The official description promises a wine that is "jammy and rich with lots of black fruit" and "explosive notes of raspberry, plum and cherry" [4].
My Honest Evaluation
- Aromatic Profile: The aroma is a powerful burst of sweet, jammy red and black fruits, like fresh berry preserves.
- Palate Experience: The wine is undeniably rich and smooth. However, the texture can feel heavy or oily, coating the tongue rather than spreading. The taste tends to be concentrated on the front of the palate, lacking the penetration that creates a full-mouth experience. The finish is clean but short.
The ADVINTAGE® Red Transformation: From Rich to Refined
Applying ADVINTAGE® Red to the Barefoot Red Blend is a fascinating exercise. The goal is not to make the wine drier, but to refine its texture.
The Transformation Checklist
- Thick, oily texture becomes Silky, smooth texture
- Front-loaded flavors become Penetrating, spreading flavors
- Jammy, rich flavors become Brighter and juicier
- Coats the tongue transforms to Glides effortlessly
- Short finish extends to a Longer, evolving finish
- Simple experience elevates to a Sophisticated, complex experience
The most striking change is the texture. The heavy feeling disappears, replaced by a wine that is silky and light on its feet. The juicy fruit flavors now spread beautifully, penetrating every corner of the mouth. It is still the fun, fruity Barefoot Red Blend, but delivered with newfound grace and sophistication.
Conclusion: Elevating the Everyday Experience
Barefoot Red Blend has earned its place as a global icon. Our exploration with ADVINTAGE® Red demonstrates that even within this beloved formula, there is room for remarkable elevation. By refining the wine’s texture from heavy to silky and improving the spread of flavors, ADVINTAGE® Red unlocks a new level of elegance.
This enhancement allows the everyday wine drinker to experience a level of quality typically reserved for much more expensive bottles, all without sacrificing the approachable character of Barefoot.
Refine Your Red Blend: Shop ADVINTAGE® Red
References
[1] Forbes. (2014, December 9). The Incredible Story Of Starting The World's Largest Wine Brand, Barefoot Wines. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/robertreiss/2014/12/09/the-incredible-story-of-starting-the-worlds-largest-wine-brand-barefoot-wines/
[2] Barefoot Wine. (n.d.). Our History. Retrieved from https://www.barefootwine.be/en/our-story/our-history
[3] Barefoot Wine. (n.d.). Our Story. Retrieved from https://www.barefootwine.com/our-story.html
[4] Barefoot Wine. (n.d.). Rich Red Blend. Retrieved from https://www.barefootwine.com/rich-red-blend.html
Frequently Asked Questions
Will this make the sweet wine taste dry?
No. ADVINTAGE® Red does not remove sweetness. Instead, it balances the sweetness with better structure and acidity, so the wine tastes brighter and juicier rather than heavy or cloying.
Does it work on other sweet reds?
Yes. It is effective on other sweet red blends (like Apothic Red or Roscato) to improve texture and reduce that "syrupy" mouthfeel.
Why use the Red formula and not Light?
Even though Barefoot Red Blend is sweet, it is full-bodied and "jammy." The Red formula is better suited to handle this weight and richness compared to the Light formula.