J. Lynne Wines

Jennifer (Jen) Lynne Wall is well known as the winemaker for Barefoot Wine Cellars. Barefoot wines have a dedicated following among millennials and they proudly call themselves “Barefooters.” The label’s tagline says it all, “Get Barefoot and have a good time!” Barefoot Wine Cellars (owned by Gallo) participates in 1,000 charitable events annually. In my younger days it was Lancers and Mateus that got me started in wine, today it is Barefoot wines that are introducing a new generation to wine. Over two million cases of eight different California-sourced varietals ($6), seven different reserve wines (including a reserve Pinot Noir - all $14) and two California Champagnes ($9) are produced annually. Interestingly, Davis Bynum’s father developed the name in 1965, calling his wine “Barefoot Bynum. Burgundy” and sold it in jugs. In pursuit of more higher end Pinot Noir, Bynum dropped the popular label in 1972. In 1986 the Barefoot Cellar brand was revived by Michael Houlihan and Bonnie Harvey who bought the brand from Davis Bynum. Barefoot Wine Cellars really took off in 1995 when Jen was hired to become the winemaker. In 2005, Gallo purchased the brand and with Gallo’s financial backing and marketing expertise, the label has continued to prosper.

I haven’t met Jen yet, but from what I read about her I should. The recent Quarterly Review of Wines said, “All the clichés emerge amidst her gusto: she could talk a dog off a meat truck, sell refrigerators to Eskimos, and so on.” Like a number of winemakers I know, she began college with the intention of going into medicine. After graduating from University of Santa Cruz, she headed instead to Sonoma County and became hooked on becoming a vintner. She learned her winemaking craft under the distinguished winemaker, Erin Green, now winemaker at Pahlmeyer (see article in this issue). Since 1995, Jen has accumulated over 2000 medals for Barefoot Wine Cellars. Like most accomplished winemakers, however, she yearned to have her own label. With the assistance of husband Mike, she debuted a Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in 2003 and accolades have quickly followed.

The J. Lynne Pinot Noir is sourced from the Cameron Ranch in the Russian River Valley. The original ranch was purchased in 1905 by the Reverend Donald Cameron. 120 acres was used to raise chickens and 58 acres to grow hops. Later, apple, peach and prune trees were farmed. In 1922, Donald’s sons Cameron and Bruce became the owners and carried on the farming tradition. In 1952, the hops were removed and later the apples as well. The first grapevines, 3½ acres of French Colombard, were planted in 1960. Wes (Charles’ son) took over the ranch in 1961 and in 1964, the ranch was split and 35 acres became known as the Wes Cameron Ranch. More and more grapes were planted in the following years and today the ranch is owned by Wes’s widow, Dorothy, and operated and managed by her son Butch Cameron and son-in-law David Cornelssen. Cameron Ranch is located just east of the Martinelli Winery. The ranch has a large year-round creek (Mark West Creek) on the northern border which is used to irrigate in the late winter and early spring months to protect against frost. Wes Cameron was a pioneer in the use of irrigation for frost protection.

J. Lynne Pinot Noir can be found in fine wine retail stores mostly in California, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Wisconsin (distributor is Republic National Beverage Company).