Wine of the week: Barefoot Riesling NV

The Wine Curmudgeon has long been ambivalent about Barefoot wines. They seem to occupy the middle ground between Two Buck Chuck, which is usually just cheap, and the $10 wines I like, which are cheap and always worth drinking.

The riesling (about $6, sample), though, impressed me at a recent tasting with winemaker Jen Wall. Wall is a tireless advocate for her wines, and she makes the Wine Curmudgeon almost shy by comparison when it comes to cheap wine. The wine has some tell-tale riesling oiliness and minerality, and if it’s not especially fruity, it’s not especially sweet, either. That it wasn’t sweet surprised me; I shouldn’t have been. Wall said she wanted to make a less sweet wine, which is something Barefoot drinkers like.

Drink this during the holiday rush (it even has a screwcap) on its own, or with grilled seafood. It’s the kind of wine to pick up at the store, leave in the fridge, and pull out when you need a glass.

Barefoot wine, riesling, Jen Wall, cheap wine, inexpensive wine, $10 wine, wine reviews, wine of the week