Is Barefoot Sweet red wine gluten-free?

January 13, 2026 •

4 min read

Over one in a hundred people in the UK are estimated to have celiac disease, making the question of whether everyday products like wine are safe a regular concern. If you're wondering, "Is Barefoot Sweet red wine gluten-free?", the good news is that the Barefoot brand confirms their wines, including the Sweet Red, comply with gluten-free standards.

Quick Summary

This guide confirms that Barefoot Sweet Red wine is officially gluten-free, with a gluten content below the 20 ppm threshold. It explains how standard winemaking and fining agents work, details the specific ingredients and practices used by Barefoot to ensure their product's safety, and addresses cross-contamination risks for those with high sensitivities.

Key Points

Officially Gluten-Free: The Barefoot brand confirms that its Sweet Red wine, along with its entire range, contains less than 20 ppm of gluten, meeting the FDA standard.
Made from Gluten-Free Grapes: The primary ingredient, grapes, contains no gluten, making the wine naturally suitable for a gluten-free diet.
Minimizing Cross-Contamination: Barefoot's large-scale commercial production uses modern techniques like stainless steel vats and safe fining agents, which significantly reduce the risk of gluten exposure from older methods like wheat paste barrel seals.
Safety for Sensitivities: For most individuals with celiac disease or gluten intolerance, Barefoot Sweet Red is a safe option, with minimal risk of contamination.
Labeling Consistency: Barefoot clearly labels its products as gluten-free, including its flavored fruitscatos, which provides consistent guidance for consumers.
Distinction from Other Alcohol: Unlike some beers and wine coolers with gluten-containing additives, standard unflavored wines like Barefoot Sweet Red are made through a naturally gluten-free process.

Yes, Barefoot Sweet Red is Labeled Gluten-Free

For those adhering to a gluten-free diet, checking ingredient lists and product certifications is a critical step. Barefoot, owned by E & J Gallo Winery, explicitly states that its entire lineup of wines, including the popular Sweet Red Blend, is gluten-free. The company confirms that its production process is in compliance with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's definition of "gluten-free," meaning the final product contains less than 20 parts per million (ppm) of gluten. This makes Barefoot Sweet Red wine a safe choice for most individuals with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity. While wine is naturally derived from gluten-free grapes, Barefoot's confirmation provides an extra layer of assurance for consumers with dietary restrictions.

The Wine Making Process and Gluten

Understanding the standard winemaking process helps clarify why most wines are considered gluten-free, and where potential, though minimal, risks might arise. Wine is fundamentally a fermented beverage made from grapes, which contain no gluten. The typical process involves several stages:

Crushing and Pressing: The grapes are mashed to release their juice. For red wines like Barefoot Sweet Red, the juice is kept in contact with the grape skins to achieve its color and flavor.
Fermentation: Yeast converts the sugar in the grape juice into alcohol. The yeast used in winemaking is naturally gluten-free.
Fining (Clarification): This process removes unwanted particles to improve the wine's clarity. Most modern fining agents are gluten-free, such as egg whites, clay (bentonite), or protein from peas. Historically, some winemakers used gluten-containing agents, but this is now very rare and any residual gluten is typically negligible.
Aging: While some wines are aged in wooden oak barrels sealed with a flour paste, modern winemaking often relies on wax-based sealants or stainless steel tanks. Barefoot’s large-scale, consistent production likely utilizes stainless steel to ensure uniformity and reduce costs, minimizing the risk of wheat-paste contamination.
Filtration and Bottling: The finished wine is filtered and bottled. Good manufacturing practices, including strict sanitation protocols, prevent cross-contamination at this final stage.

Specifics of Barefoot Sweet Red Production

The Barefoot Sweet Red Blend is a mix of grape varietals including Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Grenache, and Petite Sirah. These grapes are naturally gluten-free. The company's large-scale production facilities and strict quality control measures further minimize risk. In addition, Barefoot's flavored fruitscatos, which contain added natural flavors, are also explicitly labeled as gluten-free. This means Barefoot's policy extends across their product line, providing consistency for consumers.

Comparison of Potential Gluten Sources

To understand the safety of wine for a gluten-free diet, it's helpful to compare the different aspects of the production process and the associated risks.


Production Stage	Source of Potential Gluten	Prevalence of Risk	Relevance to Barefoot Sweet Red
Grapes	Not Applicable	None	Naturally gluten-free ingredient.
Fermentation	Not Applicable	None	Yeast is naturally gluten-free.
Fining Agents	Hydrolyzed wheat protein	Very Low	Rare and modern winemakers use gluten-free alternatives.
Barrel Aging Sealants	Wheat flour paste	Extremely Low	Uncommon practice; modern production uses alternatives like wax or stainless steel.
Cross-Contamination	Shared equipment	Low	Strict sanitation protocols in commercial wineries minimize this risk.
Additives	Flavors/colors in non-standard wine products	Varies	Barefoot specifically labels its products, including those with added flavors, as gluten-free.

For Highly Sensitive Individuals

While Barefoot Sweet Red is certified gluten-free, individuals with extreme sensitivities, like those with severe celiac disease, should be aware of potential, though minimal, cross-contamination risks associated with the industry at large. The 20 ppm standard is safe for the vast majority of people, but some may react to even trace amounts. However, since Barefoot is a large commercial producer, its standardized processes and adherence to the FDA rule make it a very low-risk option. Unlike craft breweries that may produce both gluten-containing beers and gluten-free products, commercial wineries like Barefoot typically have dedicated and controlled processes that prevent significant cross-contamination.

Conclusion: Confidently Enjoy Barefoot Sweet Red

In summary, if you are following a gluten-free diet, you can feel confident in your choice of Barefoot Sweet Red wine. The product is made from naturally gluten-free grapes, and the manufacturer has a clear company-wide policy affirming its compliance with strict gluten-free standards. Potential risks from winemaking practices like fining and barrel aging are virtually nonexistent in this brand's modern, large-scale production. While flavored wines and coolers can be a different story, Barefoot clearly labels its products to avoid confusion. For the vast majority of people, Barefoot Sweet Red is a delightful and completely safe gluten-free beverage option.

Beyond Celiac provides valuable resources and confirms that unflavored wines are naturally gluten-free.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, Barefoot Sweet Red wine has no hidden gluten. It is officially labeled gluten-free by the manufacturer, complying with FDA regulations that ensure it contains less than 20 ppm of gluten.

Most traditional, unflavored wines are naturally gluten-free because they are made from grapes. However, potential, though minimal, risks can come from fining agents or barrel aging. It is safest to choose brands like Barefoot that explicitly confirm their gluten-free status.

In rare cases, trace amounts of gluten could enter wine from historical fining agents like wheat protein or from a flour paste used to seal oak aging barrels. Modern practices, however, have largely eliminated these risks.

Yes, people with celiac disease can generally drink Barefoot Sweet Red. The wine is certified and confirmed to be gluten-free, with a gluten content well below the safe threshold of 20 ppm.

According to Barefoot, their entire range of wines produced in the United States, including other red wines, white wines, and fruitscatos, are confirmed to be gluten-free.

The risk of gluten cross-contamination in Barefoot wine is very low. As a large commercial brand with standardized production, they adhere to strict cleaning and processing protocols to ensure their products meet gluten-free standards.

Barefoot Sweet Red is a blend of Zinfandel, Pinot Noir, Barbera, Grenache, and Petite Sirah grapes. All of these are naturally gluten-free.