Wine of the Week: Bonarda

by Kristine Hansen, Posted Feb 9th 2010 @ 3:00PM

Bonarda is a tricky wine to find. That's because there are few wineries making it. While in Argentina it's referred to as Bonarda, the California wineries – among them, Summers Estate Wines in Calistoga and Robert Foley Vineyards in Napa Valley – call it Charbono.

The confusion doesn't stop there. The jury is still out on whether Bonarda grown in Argentina is actually Bonarda Piemontese or Bonarda Novarese (also known as Uva Rara). But what we do know is that Bonarda used to be the most widely planted grape throughout all of Argentina until Malbec recently surpassed it. Bonarda's claim to fame used to be that it was incorporated into a red table-wine blend. Now, however, there are several 100% Bonarda varietals on the market.

As far as pairing with food, grilled vegetables and Argentine-style beef are amazing with Bonarda.

After the jump, check out the Bonarda wine we recently fell for.

2008 Argento Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina ($13)
This elegant wine is made from fruit grown in high-altitude, cooler vineyards on the winery's property. Aged in French (30%) and American (70%) oak, there's a genuine earthiness and terroir to this Bonarda. It's the perfect wine for a casual night in. If it's snowing where you are, don't be shy about throwing some logs onto the fire and pouring a glass of this wine. Blueberries and raspberries – as well as a smoky, woodsy scent – are on the nose and the finish is soft and round.

Filed Under: Drinks
Tags: argento wine, bonarda, robert foley vineyards, RobertFoleyVineyards, summer estates wines, SummerEstatesWines, uva rara

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Reader comments (Page 1 of 1)

2-11-2010 @10:00AM Luca said... Being both Piemonte and Novara in Italy you should look for Bonarda in Italy more than Argentina; here it is in fact quite common.

Regards

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2-10-2010 @8:53PM Steven Ruza said... This is a great tasting wine - Steven Ruza
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4-02-2010 @1:59PM Paul Kalemkiarian said... Bonarda is a bit of an enigma, isn't it? Regardless of its origins, it is a great grape variety that, when vinted, produces a wine that marries Malbec tones with the fatness of a Merlot and the gaminess of a Syrah. It can range quite drastically from being lighter-bodied with fruit flavors, light tannins and moderate acidity to being big, dense and tannic with dried fruit and even chocolate in older vines, and especially when oak aged.

The 2008 Monte Lindo is one of the better ones I've tasted (we're featuring it in our April 2010 Classic Series), really achieving a fantastic balance between these two extremes, being deep, but not so overbearing that it can't be paired with lighter dishes and especially tomato sauces.

Paul Kalemkiarian
President, Wine of the Month Club
http://www.wineofthemonthclub.com
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