We got our start as a “garage wine” back in the Sixties but really stepped up what Barefoot was about in 1986 when Michael Houlihan and partner Bonnie Harvey decided to relaunch the brand. The two of them, along with the first Barefooter, Randy Arnold, believed in making and selling wine that was both delicious and affordable and that could be enjoyed by everyone from first-time wine-consumers to hard-core aficionados.

We believe that we can both promote our brand and satisfy our desire to make the world a better place by partnering with various non-profits and pouring at various fund-raising events. Over the years, Barefoot has been a part of thousands of non-profit events and our popularity has grown along with our support of these ground-breaking organizations.

We took another big step in 2006 by becoming a sponsor of the Association of Volleyball Professions (AVP) Beach Volleyball supporting a grassroots sport that originated in our state-California. We’ve also teamed up with the grass roots non-profit, the Surfrider Foundation, to create the Barefoot Beach Rescue Project, designed to clean up beaches and ensure they are “Barefoot friendly.” These two initiatives help us spread a sense of fun in the sun while furthering the Barefoot philosophy of giving back.

Over the years, our wines have garnered numerous accolades and professional awards, but more importantly to us, we have a growing circle of loyal fans who love to enjoy our wine and who have joined us in the spirit of giving back to our communities and to our world. For us, and we hope for all of you, that’s an achievement well worth toasting with a glass of Barefoot wine.

I am a wine kind of gal. It is my choice of relax time drinks. Barefoot Wine is right at the top of my list. Not only does the taste make it a favorite but the company itself really is an amazing company doing amazing things to help our world. One of my favorite causes is their Beach Rescue Project:

Each year, over 25,000 beaches in the United States are closed or posted as unhealthy [source: www.surfrider.org]. To remedy this, Barefoot Wine and Surfrider Foundation encourage local residents to volunteer at cleanup and restoration events across the country to help make these beaches “barefoot-friendly.”

The Barefoot Wine Beach Rescue Project is back for its third straight year, and this time it’s bigger than ever! In celebration of Surfrider Foundation’s 25th Anniversary, Barefoot Wine and the Surfrider Foundation are rescuing, renewing and restoring 25 beaches this summer.

To find a beach near you to volunteer at go here and read more about their special project.

I also love Barefoot Wines strong sense of community, a great place to go to share recipes and favorite wines, along with meeting wonderful people. And speaking of what wonderful people they are I can’t wait to show you what they have put together for one lucky Dirty Shirt reader to win. Feast your eyes on this…

Barefoot Summer Essentials pack includes: a tote bag, wine opener, stemless wine glass, and a big soft beach towel. Some of the perfect summer fun essentials! Sorry no wine will be included.

If you would like to enter this giveaway for the Barefoot Summer Essentials pack please see and follow rules below, they are a little different then I normally post. And stay tune to the weeks ahead for a closer look at some of my favorite Barefoot wines.

Giveaway

• MAIN RULE – Check out and join Barefoot Republic and leave a comment here with your new Barefooter name. I am LittleBigFoot (remember if this rule is not followed then no others will count)
• 1 Extra Entry – Check out the Barefoot Wine flavors and tell me in comments which one you would choose and what you would pair it with.
• 1 Extra Entry – Tell me in comments something you would like to “kick off your shoes and get barefoot” and do this summer.
• 1 Extra Entry – Subscribe to my RSS feed or by email (or let me know if you already are) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry – Stumble this post and leave your Stumble name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry – Favorite The Dirty Shirt in Technorati and leave your name (I will be checking) in a separate comment
• 1 Extra Entry – Follow me on Twitter (button in subscribe section on on the right sidebar) and let me know your Twitter name in a separate comment.
• 1 Extra Entry for Tweeting about this giveaway. Please leave direct URL in comments so I can check or @jentifa
• 2 Extra Entries – Write a post on your blog linking to my blog and to the Barefoot Wine website.

This giveaway will run through midnight on June 23, with winner being announced the morning of June 24. Winner will be chosen using Random.org from all valid entries and notified via email. Winner will have 48 hours to contact me before another winner is chosen. Giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.