Is Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon good?
Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon is fine for the price: a simple, soft, fruity red for about $7 that works for parties and cooking, but it does not taste much like a classic Cabernet.
Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon · Cabernet Sauvignon · California · nearly everywhere
- Alcohol
- About 13% to 13.5%
- Sweetness
- Dry, but soft and fruity
- Grapes
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Made by
- Barefoot, owned by E. & J. Gallo
- From
- California
- Price
- About $6 to $8 (about $11 to $13 for 1.5 liters)
- Calories
- About 120 to 130 in a 5 oz glass (estimate)
What it tastes like
Cherry, plum and a hint of vanilla. Light for a Cabernet, smooth, and slightly sweet-tasting, and the flavor fades fast.
- Bodylight → big
- Sweetnessdry → sweet
- Zingsoft → zippy
- Gripsmooth → grippy
Is it worth $7?
At $7 it does the job, especially in the big 1.5 liter bottle for a crowd. For about $5 more, Columbia Crest Grand Estates is a real step up.
Who it’s for
For budget parties, sangria and cooking. If you want a red to sip slowly and enjoy, spend a little more.
How to serve it
Serve cool, about 20 minutes in the fridge.
The backstory
Barefoot began as a garage wine in 1965 and became a real brand in 1986, when Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey took it over and drew that famous footprint label. Gallo bought it in 2005 and turned it into one of the biggest wine brands on the planet. It is made in huge amounts to taste the same in every bottle, which is why it is so smooth and simple.
How it compares
- Barefoot Cabernet vs Yellow Tail Shiraz
Yellow Tail Shiraz is juicier and a bit sweeter-tasting for the same price, so pick it if you want a fruit bomb, and Barefoot if you want something a little drier.
- Barefoot Cabernet vs Two Buck Chuck
Charles Shaw is even cheaper at Trader Joe's and tastes similar, so it comes down to which store you are already in.
- Barefoot Cabernet vs Columbia Crest Cabernet
For about $5 more, Columbia Crest tastes like a real Cabernet with grip and depth, so trade up when the wine is the point and not the mixer.
What to eat with it
Questions people ask
- Is Barefoot Cabernet Sauvignon sweet or dry?
- It is dry. It is soft, fruity and low on grip, so it can come across a little sweet, but it is not a sweet wine like Barefoot Moscato.
- How many calories are in a glass of Barefoot Cabernet?
- Gallo does not print a number on the bottle, but a 5 oz glass of a dry red at about 13% alcohol is usually around 120 to 130 calories, with roughly 3 to 4 grams of carbs.
- Who owns Barefoot wine?
- E. & J. Gallo, the biggest wine company in the US, which bought Barefoot in 2005. The founders, Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey, built it up from 1986.
- How do you make Barefoot Cabernet taste better?
- Chill it for about 20 minutes and drink it with food, especially pizza or burgers. It also makes great sangria: add sliced oranges, a splash of brandy and some sparkling water.
- What wine tastes like Barefoot Cabernet?
- Charles Shaw Cabernet, Yellow Tail and Dark Horse Cabernet are all in the same soft, fruity, budget lane. If you want the same easy feel with a bit more going on, try Josh Cellars.
If you like this, try
- Dark Horse CabernetCabernet Sauvignon · about $9It's fine
- Two Buck ChuckCabernet Sauvignon · about $4Skip it
- Yellow Tail ShirazShiraz (Syrah) · about $7It's fine
Last checked 2026-10-04. Moxie Vino isn’t affiliated with Barefoot; this is our honest take. Bottle photo: Barefoot (E. & J. Gallo).