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 Bonarda Wine

 
 

Bonarda is a pseudonym used for four entirely distinct red grape varieties; three from northern Italy, and one from Argentina.

The oldest 'Bonarda', and the only one without a current synonym, is Bonarda Piedmontese. This is an aromatic variety, now near extinction but which once rivaled Barbera and Nebbiolo in the vineyards of western Piedmont. Although quite capable of producing distinctive wines of good quality, this 'Bonarda' was replanted only sparsely after the phylloxera epidemic of the 1880s, its plots often reallocated to Barbera. This is most likely because Bonarda Piedmontese vines offered only very low yields, and winegrowers at that time were forced to think in pragmatic, economic terms as they attempted to re-establish their vineyards.

The other two Italian 'Bonarda' vines are also from the country's north, and both are currently used in the Po Valley, slightly to the east of where the original Bonarda Piedmontese grew. Croatina, whose name betrays its origins in Croatia, is the most significant of these. It has long masqueraded under the name 'Bonarda' in southern Lombardy, most notably in the Oltrepo Pavese DOC, whose vineyard it shares with Barbera, Vespolina and increasing quantities of Pinot Noir. There are now even varietally labeled Oltrepo Pavese Bonarda wines (including a sparkling frizzante version) made from Croatina. The grape is also used slightly further down the Po Valley, in the Colli Piacentini hills of western Emilia-Romagna. Piacenza, the city at the heart the hills, lies just 30 miles (50km) south-east of Pavia, so it is easy to see how the name Bonarda spread gradually from west to east over the years, albeit to identify three completely different vine varieties.

Uva Rara is the final Italian 'Bonarda' grape, in this case Bonarda Novarese. It is called this because it hails from the hills above Novara, a Piedmontese town located just south of Lake Maggiore. Like Croatina, Uva Rara is used in Oltrepo Pavese wines, thankfully going under its Uva Rara title. As might be obvious from the name, Uva Rara was once quite a rare vine here, although it is now one of the key red varieties around Pavia.

The majority of 'Bonarda' grapes grown in the world are planted in Argentina, not Italy. Here, the grapes are used both in blends (often with the Argentine icon Malbec) and in varietal wines. But even this story is not simple, as the Argentine version is most probably Charbono, which has itself been confused with various varieties. The job of an ampelographer is rarely simple.



Alternative names for this grape variety

Uva Rara   Croatina  
Where it's used: Expand/collapse
 

Click on a listed Bonarda wine below for price and wine store information.  

We have found 102 wines made from this grape variety. Displaying 1 to 25.
Wine Name (by Search Rank, sort by Name) Region   
1. Altos Las Hormigas Colonia Las Liebres Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $9
2. Trapiche Broquel Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $16
3. Durigutti Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $13
4. Nieto Senetiner Limited Edition Reserva Bonarda, Agrelo, Argentina Agrelo   $22
5. Castello di Luzzano Bonarda Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy, Italy Oltrepo Pavese   $19
6. Bodega Dante Robino Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $11
7. Catena Zapata Alamos Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $9
8. La Posta Estela Armando Vineyard Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $16
9. Lamadrid Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $13
10. Lamadrid Bonarda Reserva, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $17
11. Las Moras Bonarda, San Juan, Argentina San Juan   $6
12. Castello di Luzzano 'Carlino' Bonarda Oltrepo Pavese, Lombardy, Italy Oltrepo Pavese   $17
13. Nieto Senetiner Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $22
14. Chakana Maipe Andean Culture Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $9
15. Argento Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $9
16. Sur de Los Andes Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $11
17. Luigi Bosca Finca La Linda Bonarda, Barrancas, Argentina Barrancas   $13
18. Bodegas Esmeralda Tilia Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $9
19. Don Cristobal 1492 'Cristobal 1492' Bonarda, Ugarteche, Argentina Ugarteche   $9
20. Fincas Patagonicas Zolo Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $11
21. Alta Vista Premium Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $13
22. Bodega Campo Negro Finca El Reposo Bonarda, Maipu, Argentina Maipu   $9
23. Ksana Bonarda, Mendoza, Argentina Mendoza   $17
24. Chakana Bonarda, Agrelo, Argentina Agrelo   $9
25. Huarpe Lancatay Bonarda, Barrancas, Argentina Barrancas   $9
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