Formerly it was used only for common wines. Today is the varietal with which Premium and Super Premium wines are exported to $ 90 a box is drawn.
“Elastic”. With this word define the winemakers to Bonarda a red variety that was once used for ordinary wines but through low yields in vineyards and modern winemaking practices, has become a prized varietal for Premium wines and even for products that support a guard up to 7 years.
In fact, 2008 may be remembered as the year of the “rediscovery” of Bonarda, as exports of wines made from this varietal, grew exponentially.
According to MRT (www.mrt.com.ar), “monthly export volumes ranged from 5000 to 6000 boxes, but September broke with a volume of over 8000 cases of Bonarda, while October reinforced the trend reaching peak of more than 18,000 cases exported “.
While it is still far from Malbec, Argentina’s Bonarda is having good consumer acceptance in the United States, Brazil, Norway, Canada, Finland and the UK, the top six destinations for this varietal. The turning point Some brands have become the most successful cases. The winery that marked the turning point and produced a Super Premium wine Bonarda, Nieto was Senetiner.
Roberto Gonzalez, chief winemaker of the firm, claims that the winery was among the first to discover the benefits of this grape in 2001 with exclusive wines for the English market.
“Bonarda is very similar to Malbec, with a feature that identifies, low tannin. Besides, does not reach high levels of alcohol as a Malbec, Bonarda wines are around 13 degrees.”
Winemaker assessed the acceptance of consumers Bonarda in Brazil, but also from the United States, is given by the Italian immigration. “In fact there Bonarda in Italy, but there is debate about whether it is true or not Bonarda” says Gonzalez and deshilvana the first story about the Bonarda, we reap talking to winemakers.
Nieto Senetiner makes a Super Premium, Bonarda limited Partida, late harvest and Don Nicanor Nieto Bonarda Senetiner online.
“This wine sells well in domestic market, but it lags behind all traditional varietals in Argentina, although surpassed Merlot. In exports is still behind the Cabernet and Syrah, but eventually climb up,” predicts González. The most sold in the export ranking Bonarda Premium with 22% in turnover FOB Colony Hare brand signature is Altos Ants.
Carlos Vázquez, director of the company founded by the famous “flying winemaker” Italian Alberto Antonini, explains that the Bonarda is a wine without wood, which is made from a “blend of grapes” in areas such as El Mirador, Agrelo, Tupungato , Campgrounds and Ugarteche. From next year will have their own production Colonia Los Amigos, in Lujan.
Vazquez explained that in 2003 began to develop Bonarda high end with a wine earned 92 points in Wine Spirit. “There are few boxes, some 17,000 with a retail price of $ 10 s I think we were successful because the world already knew us since 1997 Malbec” he says.
having a lower acceptance in domestic market Vazquez says that “people have the idea that it is for common wines, but the reality is that it is very elastic.”
According to the story told, became Argentina’s Bonarda, apparently as an impurity of Barbera d’Asti, so here is known as Barbera Bonarda. The French Genetically Peñaflor Group with its brands Farms Private (Andean Vineyards), Las Moras (Las Moras) and buckler Trapiche, is first with 25% share of the FOB.
Daniel Pi, chief winemaker of the Group, explains that “exports Bonarda began about five years earlier, few people understood that the Bonarda was a good variety. When treated well, as it is the Malbec, achieving adequate maturity with a good wine, giving wine with soft tannins, with lots of strawberry flavor.
This is a variety that optimum maturity is the end of the season, with 13.5 degrees. ”
Expert when talking about varieties, Pi says that Argentina Bonarda is not like the Italian. “According to research from the University, through DNA analysis, it emerged that the Corbeau, which in Italy is called Charbonno is genetically the same as the Bonarda Argentina.”
Further notes that Argentina grape, unlike Europe, is successful ripeness. “When above the dew fall much further, and rots there be harvested earlier, with low alcohol content, and does not give the same concentration as in Argentina,” he explains.
While acknowledging that the Bonarda is the mother of our common wines, stresses that “is a very elastic range, even in vines with many kilos per hectare, gives a lot of color and easy to drink wines. But when yield is reduced even in areas warm, gives concentrated wines that can be sold at higher prices. “Author: Gabriela & nbsp; Malizia. Area Wine, Editec SRL
