bonarda

[friarTuck]

i have a bonarda (03) from altos la hormigas.....is it a varietal or style? heard lots of good about it will try it tonight and let u know...

friar

[Innkeeper]

Bonarda is an insignificant grape from the Piedmont Region of Italy. It is right up there with Pelaverga, Croatina, and Vespolina. For some reason the folks in Argentina have shown some enthusiasm about it. We recently had an inexpensive Sangiovese-Bonarda from there. They didn't say what the proportion of each was, but even a 10% shot of Sangiovese should be able to liven up the dullest counterpart. This wine, that cost a whopping $5.00, was not very interesting.

Having said that, one of our more respected members, Woodman had this to say about the Alamos Bonarda three years ago: http://www.wines.com/ubb2/Forum23/HTML/000158.html But, don't have any info about the Altos.

[Thomas]

Ever hear of a grape called Charbono? Some people in the wine industry think the Bonarda of Argentina is Charbono and it is not the same as the Bonarda in Italy, which even there is known by three separate identifications, in two or three separate wine regions.

There's even a school that thinks Bonarda is Dolcetto...

Quite a mystery grape.

[friarTuck]

thanks... my next ?...what the hell is it....

i just tried it...

this is good juicy fruit..dry finish...good wine for 6.99

luv ya

friar

[friarTuck]

is there anywhere to chat?

[Innkeeper]

You can chat with our friends over at www.wineloverspage.com

[Botafogo]

Carl, I may have to come up there to your "insignificant" state and take you to the woodshed personally!

Bonarda is the PRINCIPLE grape of large swaths of Lombardia including the Oltrepò Pavese and Buttafuoco zonas, a lot of Emilia-Romagna as well as having large plantings in Argentina.

DOCs include:

Colline Torinesi Bonarda (Piemonte)
Colline Novarese Bonarda (Piemonte)
Costa della Sesia Bonarda (Piemonte)
Buttafuoco Rosso (Lombardia)
Oltrepò Pavese Bonarda (Lombardia)
Colli Piacentini Bonarda (Emilia Romagna)

IGTs include all manner of sweet, dry, fizzy and vivace versions from all three regions.

It is a deep, dark and smoky varietal that is made in many wonderful styles ranging from slightly sweet and fizzy to so dark it will permanently stain your teeth.

We have more Bonarda than Sangiovese here in our Italo-centric store and great producers include Fratelli Agnes (who make nothing else and have been in business for 900 years), Martilde, Pellegrini, Picchioni, Verdi, Torti and many more.

Roberto


[This message has been edited by Botafogo (edited 05-16-2005).]

[Botafogo]

I'm not sure what is up with a winery called "altos la hormigas" which means the Higlands of the Ants (as in insects)?!?!?!?

[winoweenie]

Talked to uncle Oscar and he has no ideer about this juice. WW