Bonarda
Argentina's Secret Second
Bonarda is grown in Mendoza, San Juan and California.
- Tastes of
- plum, black cherry, blueberry and violets
- Goes with
- pizza, pasta and grilled sausages
- Also called
- Douce Noire, Charbono
The story
Bonarda is Argentina's 2nd most-planted red grape (after Malbec). But it's NOT Italian Bonarda. DNA testing revealed it's actually French Douce Noire—a grape thought extinct in France. Argentina's been growing it for 150 years without knowing.
Insider story
Italian immigrants brought 'Bonarda' to Argentina in the 1800s. They thought it was Italian Bonarda (Piedmont). For 150 years, everyone believed them.
In the 2000s, DNA testing revealed the truth: Argentine 'Bonarda' is Douce Noire, a nearly extinct French grape from Savoie. It's not related to Italian Bonarda at all. Oops.
But the name stuck. Changing it would confuse consumers. So Argentina still calls it 'Bonarda' even though it's not Bonarda. Welcome to wine.
Technical deep dive
Bonarda (Douce Noire) has soft tannins (1,800-2,200 mg/L), moderate acidity (5-6 g/L), and plummy fruit. Alcohol: 13-14.5% ABV.
It's easier to grow than Malbec—more disease-resistant, higher-yielding. This made it a bulk grape for decades. Quality producers slash yields to 30-40 hL/ha for concentration.
Industry secrets
Bonarda is Malbec's perfect blending partner. 10-20% Bonarda softens Malbec's tannins and adds fruit. Many 'Malbec' wines secretly contain Bonarda. Labels don't always disclose it.
For collectors
Investment grade C
- Auction records
- Minimal auction presence
- Blue-chip producers
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- Weinert
- Nieto Senetiner
- Value picks
- Mendoza ($10-25)
- Price trend
- Flat. Argentina's second grape—not investment-grade.
- Collector’s tip
- Not investment-grade. Blending grape for Malbec. Buy for drinking, not cellaring.