Barefoot wines were originally introduced in 1965 by Davis Bynum.
Davis Bynum, now famous for the Russian River Valley wines he makes at the Davis Bynum Winery, had a passion for wine after making ‘garage style’ home wines for over 10 years.
Not formally educated as a winemaker, Bynum gleaned every winemaking book he could find in order to ensure his venture was a success. He then started a winery and opened a tasting room in Albany, California (Alameda County), where he sold his first bottles of wine.
It was Davis’ father, a wine aficionado, who first conceptualized the Barefoot name. After retiring and buying vineyard property in the Napa Valley, he needed a name for the wines he might make from his vineyards. He came up with the name Barefoot Bynum alluding to the original way of crushing grapes barefoot.
After Davis opened up his winery in Alameda Davis decided to use the Barefoot Bynum label since his father had not. Davis asked one of his artist friends to design the label. He first released Barefoot Bynum Burgundy in the gallon and ½ gallon size for sale in his tasting room only.
The Barefoot Bynum ‘jug’ wines sold like hot cakes and started to gain much recognition, in fact they outsold the Davis Bynum high priced wines! Distributors from the East Coast to the West Coast started asking to get Barefoot!
The success of the Barefoot Bynum brand was exciting though was contrary to Davis’ original goal of producing high end wines. Despite their extreme popularity, Davis made a profit driven decision to phase the brand out.
Davis moved his winery to the Russian River Valley in 1972 and continued to sell Barefoot Bynum wines only through his tasting room in Alameda until it closed in 1973. The brand lay dormant for over 10 years.
In 1985, Michael Houlihan and Davis’ son, Hampton, decided to bring back the Foot. They worked together to revive the brand Barefoot Bynum. In 1986, Michael purchased the name from Davis with the verbal understanding that the ‘Bynum’ portion of the name on the label would be dropped within 2 years.
Michael and and his partner, Bonnie Harvey, worked out of their house, located on Fred McMurray’s “MacMurray Ranch” in the Russian River Valley of Sonoma County.
By 1990, Houlihan hired Randy Arnold as a “Barefooter.” Arnold was not given much of a marketing budget, but was allowed to provide wine as a barter tool if it were to move business forward. And so began Barefoot’s long history of supporting local charity events by providing in-kind wine donations. Little did Arnold know at the time that 17 years later he would complete his 1000th local charity event, and he would be joined by more than 30 other “Barefooters” across the world!
In early 1992, Barefoot Chardonnay was added to the Barefoot repertoire and Barefoot White Zinfandel in late 1993. The wines were recognized by awards, acclaimed wine writers and repeat customers. Jennifer Wall, Barefoot Winemaker, was hired in September of 1995. "Barefoot California wines are perfect as everyday dinner wines for wine connoisseurs of all levels of experience," comments Wall. "The wines are affordable, varietally correct, soft and approachable and are immediately ready to consume off the shelf."
In 1996, Barefoot Cellars became a national brand. Chain stores from coast to coast started advertising and selling Barefoot Cellars as the 'Best Buy' and 'Top Value' brand from the California wine country. Barefoot Zinfandel was added to the line in February of 1996. The following year, in 1997, Barefoot Merlot was available.
In July of 1998, Barefoot Bubbly 'Premium' California Champagne was produced featuring an elegant black label decorated with tiny gold bubbles. By New Years, people across the nation were "Getting Barefoot Bubbly and Having a Great Time!"
In May of 2001, Barefoot Bubbly 'Brut Cuvee' California Champagne was released featuring a beautiful white label, also decorated with tiny gold bubbles. This wine is a drier and more sophisticated version of the Barefoot Bubbly 'Premium' California Champagne released in 1998.
From 2001-2004, Houlihan expanded the organization of “Barefooters.” With more “feet on the street” and the addition of the new Shiraz, a period of rapid sales growth began. But by 2004 Houlihan recognized that in a time of industry consolidation—wineries, distributors and retail outlets—he would need to find a partner that could help him fulfill his dream of even a larger Barefoot organization. It was that same year that Impact Magazine recognized Barefoot as a “Hot Brand.”
In January 2005, Houlihan found the perfect partnership after speaking with a family who shared his vision for offering the best possible wine for an affordable price—the Gallo family. It was this month that Barefoot was purchased by the E. & J. Gallo Winery. After another big growth year, Impact Magazine recognized Barefoot as a “Hot Brand” for the second year in a row.
By 2006 it was clear that Pinot Grigio was developing a “foothold” on America’s taste palates. Barefoot introduced a Pinot Grigio in June of 2006, and became the official wine of the AVP (Association of Volleyball Professionals), and within 12 months it had become the #1 selling domestic Pinot Grigio in the United States!1 Again, based on yet another record-breaking sales year, Impact Magazine recognized Barefoot as being a “Hot Brand” for the third consecutive year!
In 2007 Barefoot saw some big “leaps forward,” launching “Little Feet” 187ml 4-packs, Bubbly “varietals,” winning over 250 awards and becoming the 6th largest wine brand in America!2 Barefoot was beginning to develop quite a following, a result of Barefoot’s long tradition of supporting local charity events. Plus Barefoot “stepped up” it’s tradition of “giving back” by announcing the Barefoot Beach Rescue Project, a partnership with the Surfrider Foundation to keep America’s beaches “Barefoot friendly.” In 2007, not only was Barefoot recognized as a “Hot Brand” for the fourth consecutive year, but Market Watch Magazine also named Barefoot “Wine Brand of the Year!”
In 2008 Barefoot decided to keep putting “one foot in front of the other” and continuing what had always worked—local events and award winning wines. In February 2008 Barefoot introduced it’s own version of a wine club, the “Barefoot Republic,” and in April “kicked off” a delicious Moscato, with a portion of Moscato proceeds supporting the Beach Rescue Project.
Barefoot wines continues to produce award winning wines, and support local charity events with the Barefooters. Barefoot wines are now distributed throughout the United States and exported in Canada and Europe.
Barefootwine.com
