Both Golden Retrievers and Labrador Retrievers are waterfowl retriever breeds, obviously. Good ones should be EXCELLENT at waterfowl hunting, people's experiences with poor-quality individual dogs notwithstanding.
Both breeds have been completely screwed by their popularity as family dogs belonging to non-hunters. Most Goldens and Labradors you come across would probably make lousy hunters, not that anyone will find out.
However, a Lab or a Golden bred by a top-notch hunting breeder, not a puppy mill, not a "pet-quality" breeder, not a cheat, not a liar, but a good, reputable hunting breeder with titled dogs in the pedigree, will be GREAT dogs for hunting.
Now the breeds weren't bred for upland hunting. Some variants may be, but that's not their origin.
There's a huge difference between a top-notch upland dog and a top-notch waterfowl dog, though.
An upland dog can go for miles and miles, and hours and hours, looking for birds. But it usually isn't fond of sitting in a duck blind. VHD's can be used for duck hunting, but if you're planning on sitting in a blind for hours at a time, they'll be harder to manage.
A good waterfowl dog will sit next to you in the blind, and retrieve when needed. That's what they're bred for. Does that sound like an upland dog?
An individual dog has its own traits and personality, but there are also breed standards for behavior. You can't make general statements about an entire breed of dog, except based on those standards. "My lab does great on quail!" might be true, but that's not the breed standard. "My Golden was dog-aggressive!" or "My Golden bit childrens' limbs off!" might be true, but again, that's not the breed standard at all!
WRT your wife not wanting an upland dog, hell, I like Bully breeds, too; I don't expect our Pit Bull to hunt quail, though. She can cuddle on the couch, chase tennis balls, and give love to everyone we meet, though, so that's what she does. That and pre-washing the dishes, pots and pans. For bird hunting, we got a hunt-bred Vizsla. Frankly, while he's sweet, cute and funny, he's not nearly as good a house dog as the Pit Bull. But he's got all the characteristics that make a great bird dog, and none that don't.
Maybe your wife would like one of the Italian breeds, Muensterlanders, or one of the other non-skinny VHD breeds. They're all cute, and not skinny. Again, check the link I posted above.
Bracco Italiano ----------- Portuguese Pointer ----------- Large Muensterlander ----------- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
I don't know about "pointing Labs" bred with Vizsla in their lines, but I do know that there are Lab lines that are built a lot like thicker black Vizslas -- probably not your wife's style, either.
Two dogs might be a better plan. Again, you can get a great house dog at the pound for cheap, and rescued dogs seem to know it and love you all the more for it. Then you can go and find the ultimate pheasant dog, instead of a duck dog you hope will work on pheasant.