Barefoot wines reviewed
Retailing between £5.50 and £7, Barefoot’s range of twenty wines made to be “enjoyed by everyone from first-time wine-consumers to hard-core aficionados” are easily available, slightly sweet and consistent – there’s no unfortunate change of flavour everytime a new batch of wine is made after each year’s harvest. In that way they are like our other favourite food and drink brands whose flavours remain reliably the same (think PG Tips tea or Lea & Perrins Worcestershire Sauce).
Sales of Barefoot wines may have increased by a whopping 32% in the last year (British grocery sector January 2020 to January 2021) but it still fails to make the top three UK wine brands (Hardys, Echo Falls and Blossom Hill). But the launch of Barefoot Jammy Red in 2020 has boosted both brand recognition (56% of UK consumers) and sales (£3.7 million) despite being a rival to (Yellow Tail) Jammy Red Roo selling at a similar £7.
Add to that Barefoot Buttery Chardonnay coming on stream in November 2020 and two new wine seltzers in cans (wine made fizzy plus added bicarbonate of soda to give a “hard” kick but only 4% alcohol) and Barefoot wines are now worthy of a brand copying exercise (Aldi’s Beachfront wine range selling at a lower £4.99 is remarkably similar in flavour and looks).
Barefoot Stockists
All major UK supermarkets and smaller stores including SPAR, Budgens and Nisa.
Barefoot Flavours
White Wines
Pinot Grigio
Peach and grapefruit flavours. Light and easy drinking.
Sauvignon Blanc
Aromas of pineapple upside down pudding with flavours of apple, pear and lemon. Simple, clean and refreshing.
Chilean Sauvignon Blanc
An interesting non-Californian addition to the range but unfortunately not currently available in the UK.
Chardonnay
Attractive white rose aromas, along with some pear and peach, are lost in the over oaked flavour.
Buttery Chardonnay
Added in 2020 this is all about buttery oak flavours. Chardonnay with a small addition of Verdelho grapes helps add complexity.
Moscato
Best wine in the range but watch out as it’s a sweet dessert wine. Serve chilled with cheesecakes or cheese and biscuits to reveal its buttery apricot flavours with a lemon zing. One of the best sweet wines around and at £5.50 a bottle great value.
Rosé Wines
White Zinfandel
Despite the label this is in fact a rosé. Slightly sweet strawberry and fresh pineapple flavours with a perfumed aroma – rather like a blend of German Gerwurztraminer and French Viognier. Drink slightly cooled with Chinese foods or cold meats.
Pink Moscato
A sweeter version of the white Moscato – which is already rather sweet.
Pink Pinot Grigio
Like the white Pinot Grigio but with added raspberry flavours.
Red Wines
Merlot
Creamy blackberry and cocoa – rather like a jam-filled chocolate cake.
Cabernet Sauvignon
Creamy blackberry, blackcurrant and liquorice.
Shiraz
Smooth blackberry, blackcurrant and damson with a creamy pear edge plus the classic Shiraz spiciness.
Shiraz Cabernet
A blend of the two grape varieties so you get twice the flavour.
Malbec
A grape variety that is better known growing in Argentina than California. Hearty flavours of blackberry and liquorice.
Jammy Red
New to the range in 2020 this is a blend of Pinot Noir, Zinfandel and the low-tannin Teroldego which also grows in Italy. The name indicates its sweet flavour and Barefoot recommends you try it slightly chilled during the summer.
Sparkling
Bubbly Pink Moscato
Listed at Tesco and Asda but currently not available.
Wine in cans
Two 250ml cans are now part of the take-out picnic range – White Zinfandel and Pinot Grigio.
Wine seltzers
Two 250ml flavours in cans were added in 2020 – Pineapple and Passionfruit plus Strawberry and Guava.
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© Paula Goddard 2021 www.wineuncorked.co.uk
