Barefoot's Never Tasted So Sweet

Barefoot Wine & Bubbly, though not even a 50 year old company, has produced many award winning wines at affordable prices. What started as a small “garage wine” project has become a California wine empire, and their new Sweet Red certainly adds flavor to their selection.

Barefoot currently produces a total of twelve different wines and five champagnes. Their wines win hundreds of awards every year in the U.S., and in 2008 they were the most awarded California wine for under $15 a bottle. Since she became Barefoot's chief winemaker in 1995, Jennifer Wall has greatly increased the reputation and variety of their wines. In addition to handcrafting the wine recipes, she hosts a blog for Barefoot where she posts drink recipes, cooking recipes, and food and wine pairing suggestions.

For Wall, the art of wine making goes far beyond grapes, as she includes a mixture of fruits in her wines. Her whites contain honeydew, nectarine, pear, peach, apple, orange, lemon, and apricot, depending on the type. Raspberry, cherry, blackberry, boysenberry, plum, pomegranate, and even blueberry can be found in the reds. Barefoot's single blush wine is made with pineapple, peach, strawberry, and pear, in addition to the traditional grapes. As with her previous wines, Wall does not hesitate to use bizarre ingredients with her newest creation.

Sweet Red is Barefoot's newest wine, and is sure to be enjoyed by those who do not prefer wine. Unlike many red wines, Sweet Red is very moist, and, as its name implies, sweet. It is made with raspberry, pomegranate, and cherry, giving it a delicious cocktail of flavors. Its low 10.5% alcohol content and this fruity combination give Sweet Red an almost fruit punch taste.

True wine snobs will likely not appreciate Sweet Red because it is so very different from most other reds wines. Its fruity taste is not what traditionalists prefer, but for those who do not generally drink red wine it is a welcome change. Its taste, though very sweet, is not as overwhelming as many others, allowing it to go down more smoothly. Because of its moist medley of flavors, Sweet Red drinks more like a heavy white wine than most reds I have tasted, and is an excellent choice as a table wine with dinner.

The pairing suggestions listed for Sweet Red are “grilled vegetables, marinated flank steak, spicy beef kabobs, and all fiery treats.” I enjoyed a glass with some teriyaki pork tenderloin and white rice, and while not a suggested pairing, I think they complimented each other well. Though I normally prefer a beer with dinner, I found the Sweet Red an interesting change of pace. The food sat better in my stomach without the carbonation, and the wine's strong flavor left a refreshing taste in my mouth after every sip. I look forward to trying this wine with a spicier dish, as its sweetness must neutralize the hot food.

Barefootwine.com offers recipes for both foods and drinks that can be made using their wines. Some of these are posted by the company, but most are from fans who like to cook using Barefoot wines. Though Sweet Red is the newest of their line of wines, there are over 20 recipe submissions in which it is the preferred wine. The foods include desserts like blueberry crepes, pork, seafood, chicken, and steak recipes, salads, and a variety of dips, sauces, and marinades. The only drink recipe for Sweet Red is a Sweet Red Sangria, but this could easily be because there is no need to add to this wine. It already contains a strong mixture of different fruits, and its sweetness only intensifies the flavors.

Sweet Red is an excellent wine for those who do not enjoy the traditional dry red wines. It is a good dinner and desert wine, and would be a good choice for entertaining guests with a variety of tastes. Barefoot wines are usually sold for between six and eight dollars a bottle, making them a cheap wine, but they are definitely some of the best wines in their class. The only thing to be wary of with Sweet Red is overindulgence. Its juicy taste and low amount of alcohol will leave you literally thirsty for more, but its sugary content will give you one nasty headache if you're not careful.