Barefoot, a wine brand from Modesto-based E.&J. Gallo Winery, has been named American Winery of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. The announcement was made on Thursday, Nov. 13, in the magazine’s online edition. According to Wine Enthusiast, Barefoot reached about $555 million in sales last year.
E.&J. Gallo Winery is known for not usually sharing sales data publicly. However, it reported that Barefoot attracted 3.9 million new customers over the past year.
The Barefoot label offers around 40 different still and sparkling wines, including some varieties with added fruit flavors. Wine Enthusiast noted these wines are particularly popular among younger consumers looking for options priced at $15 or less.
Stephanie Gallo, Chief Marketing Officer and a third-generation member of the founding family, said in a news release that Barefoot’s approach is part of an effort to make wine more accessible: “Barefoot has empowered millions of consumers — regardless of their wine knowledge or experience — to confidently explore and enjoy wine.”
Founded in 1933 by Ernest and Julio Gallo, the company originally focused on affordable products using San Joaquin Valley grapes before expanding into premium regions in the 1980s. Today, E.&J. Gallo Winery is recognized as the world’s largest wine producer with about 7,000 employees across multiple states and countries; it also produces and distributes various hard liquor brands.
Barefoot began as Barefoot Bynum in Albany (Alameda County) in 1965 before going dormant in 1973. Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey revived it after acquiring the brand in 1986; they later sold it to Gallo in 2005.
Jennifer Wall has served as head winemaker for Barefoot since 1995 and continues her role under Gallo ownership. In a previous interview with The Modesto Bee from 2008, Wall said that joining Gallo provided greater marketing resources and grape access: “We were kind of a bootstrap operation before and were undercapitalized,” Wall said. “That is no longer an issue.”
Since the start of the NFL’s 2022 season, Barefoot has been its official wine sponsor. A television advertisement features a football coach praising pinot grigio inside a locker room setting.
A promotion last year gave fans a chance to watch a game at Kansas City stadium alongside Donna Kelce—the mother of NFL players Jason and Travis Kelce—while Travis Kelce was beginning his relationship with singer-songwriter Taylor Swift.
In Thursday’s release, Jennifer Wall stated that each Barefoot wine uses just one grape variety rather than blends: “Barefoot has always been about bringing people together,” Wall said, “and I’m proud to continue producing wines that add joy to life’s special moments and everyday occasions.”
