Winey Tasting Notes: Getting Refreshed While Barefoot

I normally don’t think of needing a lot of “refreshing” this time of year. When I think of getting refreshed, I am usually picturing myself cooling down after a long hot gardening session. You know: sweaty, hot, tired. But I can honestly say that this November, I have needed some refreshing and it has nothing to do with the temperature.

Let’s start with the fact that Ohio was pretty much ground zero for the presidential election. It got crazy around here, with the robo calls, the regular calls, the mailings and the visits. Add to that the fact that this was a pretty polarizing election…especially on Facebook. I have no idea why some of my friends believe that their rants one way or the other will influence me in my politics. The best they can hope for is that I hit the like button on the pics of their kids or pets or recent vacation. Oh, and I’ll always wish them a happy birthday or anniversary and yes, I do want to keep in touch. Just not in a political sense of the word. Then let’s talk Hurricane Sandy. We in Ohio got through it. We weren’t untouched by it – flooding and wind damage and power outages were rampant around here. But I sat and watched as my childhood memories of the Jersey Shore were literally swept out to sea. And I listened as my mom called and told me she was leaving her house because it was too darn cold and dark and dangerous to stay there any longer. (All is well with her now. I wish I could say the same for my beloved Normandy Beach and Seaside Heights.)

So, yes, by the time November rolled around, I was in need of and quite ready for some refreshing. And then, lo and behold, the folks at Barefoot Wine decided to send me some samples of their latest winey line: Barefoot Refresh. There are three wines in the line, Crisp White, Sweet White and Summer Red. And for once, it actually was refreshing to be in Ohio, because this line is only available in Arizona, California, Nevada, Ohio and Texas. It’s like they just knew we in the Buckeye state needed this.

The Crisp White (NV, 9%, California) is a blend of Chenin Blanc and Riesling. It hits your nose with a big whiff of pear along with some melon and minerals. The taste is fizzy lime with ginger and it finishes with a touch of tart citrus (lemon, lime). This wine was so crisp in my mouth. It was nice and light but not lightweight. The lovely Riesling is tempered nicely by the Chenin Blanc – not thickly sweet, not tartly thin. It’s a great refreshing wine for someone who really doesn’t like to refresh with sweet wines. (It was my favorite of the three.)

The Sweet White (NV, 9%, California) is a blend of Moscato and Pinot Grigio. It gives you a noseful of honeysuckle and tastes of honey and peaches. This is definitely sweeter than the Crisp White, but not as sweet as your typical Moscato (thank you, Pinot Grigio). It also had a crisp taste, with a teeny bit of bubbling going on. I’d say it’s in the rich style of a German Riesling, but the added Pinot Grigio gives it a nice little kick.

The Summer Red (NV, 9%, California) is a blend of Pinot Noir Rose with Moscato. This was probably the “sweetest” of the bunch. It had a gorgeous garnet color and some nice fizziness in the glass. The aroma was of orange blossoms and strawberries. It tasted of strawberries and raspberries and was almost velvety in the mouth. This just screams summer Sangria – it would be amazing as a base for that!

With a nod to the recent election, these are all very democratic wines. You could serve them at a party and I’ll bet that everyone there would find one that they really like. And, in the true laid back style of Barefoot, these wines are also very affordable. They retail for about $8, making not just the taste of the wines refreshing, but the price as well! Keep them in the back of your winey mind for the next summer barbecue or the next hurricane or the next presidential election. You’ll be glad you did.

Cheers!

I was sent these wines for review purposes. The opinions are my own.