Working at a bottling facility and tasting different wine styles gave Jennifer Wall an idea: what if she could make varietally correct, fruit-forward, and easy-to-drink wine? “That is what grounded me and made me want to make approachable wine,” she says. Wall took the helm as head winemaker of Barefoot in 1995 and created the signature wine style that remains the driving force behind the wine today.

At the time, Barefoot made four varietals and produced 140,000 cases per year. After the Gallo family acquired Barefoot in 2005, the number of cases sold annually increased to 592,000 and the global reach expanded to include more countries. Now, Barefoot is the largest bottled wine brand in the world, encompassing a diverse collection of more than 30 wines, over 50 countries, and the most-awarded still and sparkling wine brand in U.S. competitions.

The 2020 harvest marked Wall's 25th vintage with Barefoot. While the wine industry has changed over the years, Barefoot’s commitment to making wine that welcomes consumers to enjoy wine has never wavered. Along with her team, Wall has created wine that answers to the ever-evolving needs of consumers tastes and lifestyles with one thing in mind—to make wine all-inclusive.

“From the beginning, we have strived to offer something for every taste: still wine, bubblies, seltzers, and spritzers,” she says. “We are also constantly innovating to offer wine that consumers can enjoy wherever, whenever they want.” Recently, Wall and her team launched Barefoot products that allow fans to ‘Get Barefoot’ anywhere, including On Tap (3L box), Wine-To-Go (500 mL portable box), wine-based Spritzers (cans) and Hard Seltzers, the first nationally available, wine-based hard seltzer (cans).

Wall grew up in the farming region of California’s Great Central Valley. After earning a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz in 1991, she discovered she loved winemaking—even after working the grueling hours of harvest in Sonoma County. She acquired critical winemaking skills on the job at Vinwood Cellars before taking a job as Lab Director for Associated Vintage Group. The 1995 Barefoot harvest was her first as head winemaker.

Wall travels around the world to education people about Barefoot Wine. When she is home in Sonoma County, she spends time with her family and volunteers for Girl Scouts of America, Catwalk for a Cure, and other impactful non-profits.