The market is swamped with tons of different wine brands and products. For that reason, purchasing a bottle that will suit your taste buds is not an easy task.
Lots of factors are at stake when selecting the brand that’s the best choice for you. After all, you want to have the best possible experience drinking the wine you selected, don’t you? One of the first factors most people look for when picking the right wine is its price tag.
We all know that very expensive wines are definitely high-quality. But, paying that much for a bottle of wine is not everyone’s cup of tea. That’s why lots of people decide on a bottle that is less expensive.
But, just a quick glimpse at wine racks at the store will show you that there are lots of brands that create affordable wines. Without knowing any of them, you’ll probably opt for a bottle that appeals to you the most. As a result, that might or might not be a high-quality bottle. It’s a game of Russian roulette, but life is too short for a bad bottle of wine.
So instead of picking the first bottle that catches your eye, it’s better to invest some time in analysing some important characteristics of wine, from taste and colour to alcohol content and amount of tannins.
And no, you don’t have to be a wine expert to do that. You can find plenty of information online, so you can base your decision on knowledge, not luck.
Today, we’re doing just that. Among plenty of affordable brands you can find at the store, Barefoot and Yellowtail are definitely some of the best options. That’s why we’ll do an in-depth breakdown of their similarities and differences, so that you can make a decision based on which brand suits more your preferences when it comes to wine. We’ll go over all the important details, including some of the best varieties these brands have to offer.
Let’s start with some of the main differences between Barefoot Wine and Yellowtail Wine.
Main Differences Between Barefoot Wine And Yellowtail Wine
- These two brands come from two different continents: Barefood Wine comes from California, while Yellowtail is from Australia.
- Barefoot Wine is targeted at a younger population, while Yellowtail is considered to be a more serious toned brand.
- While Barefoot Wines offer a variety of products, Yellowtail creates exclusively wines.
These are the main differences between these two brands. Depending on the occasion as well as the flavour you’re looking for, one or the other might be more suitable at a specific moment. Both of these brands offer a variety of choices, so this won’t be an easy decision. Let’s get a better overview of their similarities and differences so that you can make the best decision based on facts.
Stories Behind The Brands: Barefoot Wine vs Yellowtail Wine – Which One Is Better?
Both of these brands have unique stories regarding their history and production. They both also have strong statements, which can possibly affect your decision upon one or another. To fully understand what we’re talking about, let’s go over their backstories first.
History Of Barefoot Wine
Barefoot origins trace back to 1965, when Davis Bynum decided to create his very own first wine product in his garage. The name he gave his company was “Barefoot Bynum Burgundy,” and the origins are pretty obvious – the name alludes to the free-spirited method of making wine by crushing grapes with our own bare feet.
This is how the company started. But in time, they grew tremendously in terms of wine production. In 1986, the company changed the name to “Barefoot Cellars” once Bonnie Harvey and Michael Houlihan took over. And the rest was history.
Today, the brand is well known for its fun, flavourful and approachable wines that taste better in a tee than in a tux.
Yellowtail Wine: The Beginnings
Yellowtail is a family-owned brand from the small town of Yenda, Australia. In 1957, Filippo and Maria Casella came to Australia, where they began doing what they know best – making wine. Their winemaking philosophy was to bring family and friends together on any occasion. This remains the brand’s motto to this day.
The winery opened in 1969, and to this day, it produces Yellowtail wines we all know and love. These blends were made with all wine lovers in mind, regardless of their expertise. As long as you’re of drinking age, you can and will definitely enjoy a glass of their wine.
Today, the family business is continued by John Casella, who follows the same principles his parents set. A combination of Italian heritage and Australian attitude results in wines that are fun, easy to drink and easy to understand.
Things To Consider When Deciding Between Barefoot Wine Or Yellowtail Wine
Before you make the pick between these two wine brands, there are certain factors to consider in order to make the right pick. The price, packaging, types of grapes used are just some of the things you should keep an eye on when deciding on the brand. In this section, we’re going to cover all those important factors that will help you make the right choice.
Wine Taste/Flavour Profile
When wine connoisseurs talk about flavour profile, there are a couple of things they pay attention to, such as tannins, sweetness, acidity and the amount of alcohol. Together, these components create that three-dimensional feeling in our mouths. But striking that balance is not easy. Take alcohol for example. Every wine has a certain amount, but some simply create that burning sensation when you’re drinking it, mainly due to its high level.
Attributes Of The Wine
One thing you might notice while drinking Yellowtail is that varietal wines actually share certain characteristics. Take Merlot for instance. Usually, it has changing degrees of certain ripe aromas, like raspberry, plum, black cherry and cassis, along with a tinge of herbal or spicy notes. But keep in mind that varietal wines can also differentiate as a result of the winemaking process. In the case of Merlot, this is usually due to the oak ageing process, which results in that woody, smokey flavour.
Here’s another example. Pinot Grigio and Pinot Gris are made of the same grape. The former typically has that dry and tart flavour associated with the Old World style. The latter, however, is more full-bodied and somewhat sweeter, which is a characteristic related to the New World style. Moral of the story? Don’t cross out a varietal just because you didn’t fancy a couple of bottles. There’s a good possibility that you haven’t tried its range of styles or quality.
Matching Wine With Your Food
Every wine has a range of dishes it compliments well. When it comes to rich-bodied varieties, like Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot, you want to pair it with rich meals like a steak, for example. On the other hand, fruity wines, such as Sauvignon Blanc or Pinot Grigio, go better with lighters dishes, like grilled fish. Finally, fairly simple wines are ideal on their own.
While we’re used to the idea of pairing certain varieties with certain dishes (like fish with white wine), there’s much more to it than just the type of meat. For instance, the type of sauce used in the meal dictates the variety of wine that will complement it. That’s why a spicy dish will go exceptionally well with off-dry wines with low tannin content.
The Relation Between The Price Point And Wine Quality
We’re all used to identify a price tag as an indicator of quality. And while it’s somewhat true that those highly-priced wines are of better quality than the most affordable ones, the price should never be the only thing to base your decision on. The reason for that lies in the fact that there are exceptions to the rule. Not all high priced wines are of premium quality, just like not all affordable wines are awful. In fact, it’s not uncommon to find a rather inexpensive wine to be top-notch. On the other hand, certain overpriced wines are nothing more than mediocre.
There’s No Such Thing As Ultimate Consistency
We must be aware of the fact that no winery in this world can always give us the same consistent quality from one vintage to the next. A lot of factors that affect the quality are simply out of their hands, and as a result, a certain variety can falter from one year to the next. What’s more, you should never expect all the varieties from a certain brand to be as good as the single one you’ve tried before. Just because there’s consistency within a single varietal, it doesn’t mean that has to be the case with others.
Lots of wine producers, including some of the largest names in the wine industry coming from California or Australia, make a wide range of varietals. It’s not surprising to see a difference in quality between certain varieties, including Cabernet, Sauvignon Blanc or Shiraz, for example.
Types Of Barefoot Wine vs Yellowtail Wine: Varieties
Both of these brands have a wide range of varieties you can choose from. In both cases, there are distinctive aromas and flavours that are appropriate for all kinds of events you might be hosting. Whether it’s a business lunch or a casual dinner with friends, all of the varieties listed below bring something unique to the table, yet it’s all well balanced and will surely be enjoyed by everyone present.
Barefoot Wine Varieties
Barefoot wines are definitely what they claim to be – fun, flavourful and approachable. Whatever your preferred variety is, this brand surely has something that meets your needs. All of their wines are easy-going, but that definitely doesn’t mean they can’t be at par with some highly-priced varieties on the market. Here are some of the most popular Barefoot products you should definitely try.
Pinot Noir
This is a medium-dry wine with a full-bodied flavour of red cherry, followed by a tinge of raspberry jam and black cherry. You’ll also feel a touch of molasses, which perfectly balances the wine and creates a velvety, sweet mouthfeel. This is a great wine for all kinds of occasions, whether it’s a family gathering or a romantic night out. It goes well with different meals, such as lamb, salmon and pasta.
Malbec Wine
Barefoot Malbec is a luscious red wine with fruity flavours of blackberry and currant. With aromas of caramel, spice and vanilla, as well as a tinge of toasted oak, leaves a long and smooth finish in your mouth. This variety gives the perfect balance of strong flavours and spicy tinges, something you don’t expect from such an affordable wine. It’s one of those bottles that can be enjoyed with a steak or pizza. It goes well with so many different meals.
Chardonnay
This is a bright white wine with a bold flavour, thanks to notes of green apples, sweet peaches and a tinge of honey and vanilla. It’s more dry than sweet, and it goes well with lighter dishes, such as chicken, salmon or pasta.
Sauvignon Blanc
For lovers of fruity wines, this is a perfect choice. Barefoot Sauvignon Blanc is a dry, aromatic white wine with notes of honeydew melon and nectarine. When you add a tinge of jalapeno and sweet lime to the equation, you get a crisp, delicious finish. There’s no better variety to pair with fresh vegetables or a cheese plate.
Yellowtail Wine Varieties
Just like Barefoot, Yellowtail is known for making premium quality wines with an affordable price tag. There’s a wide variety of bottles to choose from, each suitable for different events and occasions you’re engaging in. Their unique crafting process is thoroughly envisioned to create an excellent product without spending a pretty penny on it. There are plenty of varieties this brand offers, but now, we’re going to focus on four that are, in our opinion, the best.
Yellowtail Sangria
Inspired by Spain’s traditional drink, Yellowtail Sangria is a fruity red wine with notes of orange rind, mandarin and red berry. It’s sweet and refreshing, with a clean, light finish. You can drink it on its own, or top it with diced lemon and orange, for the ultimate experience.
Yellowtail Cabernet Merlot
This blend is rich and velvety, with aromas of cherries, berries and a tinge of spice. Dark fruit flavours of Cabernet are further elevated with chocolate and plum flavours from Merlot wine. Together, they create soft and easily drinkable wine that goes well with any red meat.
Yellowtail Bubbles White
Having a special occasion? You can’t go wrong with this Bubbles variety. It’s crisp and zesty, with tropical and citrusy flavours and just a tinge of floral notes. Its fresh, creamy finish is perfect for a celebration.
Yellowtail Red Sweet
This blend of Riesling and Cabernet Sauvignon is sweet, vibrant and very easy on the palace. With flavours of berries, vanilla and chocolate, this is an ideal choice for wine cocktails. It pairs exceptionally well with tuna or chicken casserole.
Barefoot Wine vs Yellowtail: Which Of These Brands Speaks To You?
As you can see from the list above, both Barefoot and Yellowtail offer a large variety of premium but affordable wines you can pick from. If you’re on a hunt for a wine that tastes great yet doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Then look no further. Both of these brands have something that suits your needs, and is appropriate for all kinds of events and occasions.
As for which brand is the best, we leave the choice to you. Ultimately, the decision lies in your own taste, but whichever you choose, you can’t go wrong.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section is reserved for questions that usually come to mind when it comes to making a decision between wine brands and varieties, as well as storing and serving wine.
What is the best temperature for serving wine?
This depends on the variety. Sparkling and light-bodied white wines are best served “ice cold,” which is at a temperature ranging from 3 to 7°C. Rosé and full-bodied white wines should be “fridge cold,” which is anything from 7 to 12°C. Light and medium-bodied red wines are ideally served as cold, at a temperature between 12 and 15°C. Finally, bold red wines should be slightly cool, served at a temperature range from 15 to 20°C.
Keep in mind that wine serving temperature affects aromas and flavours you notice in your wine. That’s why lower quality wines are better when served cooler, so any potential flaws are muted. The same goes the other way. While sparkling wines are generally great when served ice-cold, you want certain high-quality sparklies, such as vintage Champagne, to warm up a little bit, in order for the aroma to be more prominent.
Finally, your personal preference also matters. If you enjoy drinking a glass of very cold wine, by all means, go for it. But know that certain flavours might be more subtle that way, and you might be missing out on something.
How long can I store wine?
While unopened wine can last a lot longer than the opened one, it can still go bad. Still, if it smells and tastes well even after its expiration date, you can still consume it. Most wines that fall into the affordable category are meant to be consumed young.
The shelf life is affected by the type of wine and the way it’s stored. So, for instance, white wine can last unopened up to 2 years past its expiration date. For red wines, that goes up to 3 years past the printed date. And as for fine wines, they can last up to 20 years, given they’re properly stored in a wine cellar. One thing that’s true in each case is that wine should be kept in a cool and dark place with bottles placed on their sides. This is preventing corks from drying out.
How long does opened wine last?
Once you open a bottle of wine, you expose it to oxygen, heat, light and even yeast. All of these can cause a certain chemical reaction, leading to an alteration in wine quality and flavour. As we previously mentioned, wine should be stored in a cool place. That’s because it slows down all of these chemical reactions and stays fresh for a longer time.
Generally, lighter wines go bad more quickly than darker ones. For instance, sparkling wine won’t last more than 2 days from opening. Most white and red wines will last 3 to 5 days when stored in a cool place with a cork. Rosé might last up to 7 days in the same circumstances.
With that being said, fortified wines such as Port and Marsala will last up to 28 days! This is because they’re made by adding brandy to fermenting wine. The high alcohol content basically kills all yeast, preventing further fermentation. Therefore, what you get is a long-lasting wine.
How to store leftover wine?
Among all the factors that affect your opened bottle of wine, oxygen is the biggest issue. The reason behind it is simple. If you’ve drunk half a bottle of wine, this means that the empty space in your bottle is now replaced with oxygen. And half of a bottle of oxygen is no good if you plan on drinking the rest of the wine in the next couple of days.
What you can do is transfer leftover wine to a smaller container. You can find half bottles (375ml) at most stores, and they’re ideal for preserving wine for a few more days. Transfer your wine to that bottle, and close it with either a cork or saran wrap. Then, place it in the fridge. This way, it can last a couple of days, 5 to 7 at most.
Once you’re ready to drink the leftover, take it out of the fridge and let it warm up to the ideal temperature for that specific variety. In case you use wine for cooking, you can freeze the leftover in ice cube trays, and use them to make the sauce.
What are the signs of wine gone bad?
Aside from checking the expiration date, there are other ways to know if your wine has gone bad. First, you want to check for the change in colour. Dark wines that turn brownish, as well as white wines that become golden or opaque, should definitely be thrown away.
You can also smell your wine to check if it’s gone bad. A wine that was open for too long will smell like sauerkraut, while a stale wine will have the odour of applesauce. However, if the bottle was never opened but the wine has gone bad, it will smell like garlic or cabbage.
Finally, you can always taste the wine if you’re brave enough. If it has a sour or burnt applesauce flavour, it’s time to throw away the bottle.
Is drinking bad wine dangerous?
While nothing will happen from taking a sip of a wine gone bad, that doesn’t mean you should drink it. Most wines go bad from exposure to oxygen, but in some cases, the reason lies in bacterial and yeast growth. If that’s the case with your wine, that means you might ingest some foodborne pathogens, and end up with food poisoning. The risk of that happening is fairly low, but that still doesn’t mean you should drink it. After all, it won’t taste well, so if you have a bottle of wine that has gone bad, just throw it away.
What are some good sweet wine varieties?
Moscato, Tokaji, Sauternes, Port, Riesling and Ice Wine are some of the sweetest wines out there. And contrary to popular opinion, they’re not just for the dessert. In fact, back in the day, these wines were the most coveted style of wine in the entire world. Nowadays, there are many different styles of sweet wine, ranging from golden to jammy.
What causes the wine to taste buttery?
The buttery flavour is most commonly associated with the Chardonnay variety. This flavour comes from diacetyl, which is a compound that appears as a byproduct of malolactic fermentation. This is the process of secondary fermentation, when malic acid gets converted into lactic acid. Both of these acids have a distinctive flavour. Malic acid gives that tart flavour reminding of green apples, while lactic acid tastes almost like butter. Nearly all red wines and some white ones undergo malolactic fermentation. Those that don’t are recognized for their high acid levels and a crisp finish.
Conclusion
When it comes to the Barefoot VS Yellowtail showdown, there are no winners. If you’re looking for a premium bottle of wine that not only tastes great but is also affordable, then both of these brands have something for you in their line of wines. The ultimate choice comes down to the specific occasion as well as your personal preference when it comes to taste.
With so many brands and varieties available at stores, people tend to grab the first bottle that catches their eye, and base their opinion about the wine variety solely on their blind pick. Picking a random bottle is like Russian roulette. There’s a possibility you’ll pick a premium quality wine, but the reality can also be quite the contrary. That’s why it’s always better to actually take your time and decide on a bottle based on different characteristics, such as type of grapes, taste and alcohol content.
You don’t have to be a wine expert to pick a high-quality bottle. Lucky for you, there are lots of resources online that can give you more information about different brands and varieties. Once you know all that you need to, making a decision suitable for your taste will be a piece of cake.
Finding a bottle that matches your taste shouldn’t be hard with all the wine available at the market. Both Barefoot and Yellowtail are brands that are designed with an average consumer, like you, in mind. There are lots of people who want to enjoy a good glass of wine without having to pay a pretty penny for it. Well, these brands can offer just that.
While this guide gives you a lot of useful information, you won’t know how well a certain variety tastes without a thermometer. As you know from our Frequently Asked Questions section, every wine should be chilled before serving. For white wines, that temperature range is from 3 to 12°C, depending on the variety, while reds are ideal at 15 to 20°C. If you’re keeping your wine at a temperature-controlled unit, make sure to put your white wine into the fridge for half an hour prior to serving it. In the case of red wine, put it a room temperature for 30 minutes, to warm up a bit.
Choosing between red and white wine is just the first step towards finding that perfect bottle. There are tons of wine brands on the market, available at most stores. Yellowtail and Barefoot have become popular for their affordable prices, consistent taste and a large variety of options. If you’re looking for a wine that’s of premium quality and with a low price tag, you can’t go wrong with either. They’re suitable for all kinds of events, whether it’s a date night, business lunch or solo binge-watching of your favourite show. From white and reds, to rosé and sparkling, there’s something for everyone.
Regardless of your choice, there’s one thing you should do if you haven’t already. Invest in a wine cooler. This will prolong the life of your wine and allow you to serve them at a proper temperature.