Bonarda

VIVC records the prime name Corbeau for variety number 2826, a black-skinned variety, and gives France as its country of origin, so France is its likely homeland. Its parentage is unknown: both parent fields in its VIVC passport are blank, and no full pedigree is recorded. WineWiki's VIVC-derived lineage data links no children or siblings for Bonarda.

• VIVC prime name: Corbeau; VIVC variety number 2826; berry skin: black
• Country of origin: France (likely, single source)
• Parents: none recorded (parentage unknown)
• Offspring and siblings: none linked in WineWiki's lineage data

The name Bonarda is attached to several distinct grape varieties. Argentine Bonarda is the French variety Corbeau, also listed as Bonarda de Argentina, and it is known as Charbono in the United States. Bonarda is also a synonym of Croatina and of Uva Rara, both varieties of Italian origin, while Bonarda Piemontese is a separate variety under its own name. Ampelography had already shown that Argentine Bonarda was not Bonarda Piemontese, but it could not say which grape it was. This article covers the Argentine variety.

• Argentine Bonarda: the French variety Corbeau, listed as Bonarda de Argentina, and known as Charbono in the United States
• Croatina: an Italian variety that also carries the synonym Bonarda
• Uva Rara: another distinct Italian variety that carries the synonym Bonarda
• Bonarda Piemontese: a separate Italian variety under its own name

Bonarda reached Argentina with the immigration waves of the late 19th century, and its cultivation began in the Cuyo region, especially Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja. Its name was taken from the Piedmont Bonardas, which had nothing to do with it, and for ampelographers Argentine Bonarda remained an enigma. In 2008 researchers from the Faculty of Agronomy of Mendoza turned to genetic studies and linked it to Corbeau, a grape planted mainly in the south of France and known as Charbono in California. Bonarda Argentina is now recognised as a synonym of Corbeau in global nomenclature.

• Arrived with the immigration waves of the late 19th century; cultivation began in Cuyo
• Name taken from the Piedmont Bonardas, which are unrelated
• Genetic studies by the Faculty of Agronomy of Mendoza in 2008 linked it to Corbeau, known as Charbono in California
• Recognised as a synonym of Corbeau in global nomenclature

Bonarda is grown in 15 of Argentina's wine-producing provinces, and its cultivation began in the Cuyo region, especially Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja. INV figures for 2023 show 17,141 hectares, 8.4% of the national vineyard. Mendoza holds the largest share of the country's Bonarda, followed by San Juan. In Mendoza the variety grew on farms in the low, warm eastern zones, where it is still used for simple, very cordial wines consumed in Argentina. In Decanter, Sebastian Zuccardi said that Bonarda from cooler areas such as the Valle de Uco, thinner and more refreshing, has a way to go to bring about exciting wines.

• Present in 15 Argentine wine provinces; cultivation began in Cuyo, especially Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja
• INV figures for 2023: 17,141 hectares, 8.4% of Argentina's vineyard area
• Mendoza holds the largest share, followed by San Juan
• Traditionally planted in the low, warm eastern zones of Mendoza

Bonarda makes intensely coloured wines, marked violet or purple when young and evolving towards ruby red. The aroma is intense, with red fruit including cherry and black fruit such as blackberry, plum and blueberry. Its soft tannins give the wine a velvety, elegant texture. The variety is well suited to improving blends, especially with Malbec. Decanter's Joaquín Hidalgo groups today's Bonarda into three styles: simple and fruity wines that make up the bulk of the everyday market, powerful and full-bodied wines, and a newer style built on freshness and a certain thinness.

• Intense colour: violet or purple when young, evolving to ruby red
• Red fruit including cherry; black fruit such as blackberry, plum and blueberry
• Soft tannins give a velvety, elegant texture
• Well suited to improving blends, especially with Malbec

For a long time Bonarda was used in Argentina as the base of everyday red wines because of its high yields per hectare and outstanding colour. Its move upmarket began around the turn of the century: once its oenological potential was recognised, growers reduced yields per hectare and it began a new career as a varietal for high-quality wines. El Enemigo, whose partner and winemaker is Alejandro Vigil of Bodega Aleanna, makes an El Enemigo Bonarda from the El Mirador vineyard in Rivadavia. Vigil is also chief winemaker of Bodega Catena Zapata.

• Long the base of Argentina's everyday reds thanks to high yields and outstanding colour
• Quality push began around the turn of the century
• Reduced yields per hectare turned it into a varietal for high-quality wines
• El Enemigo Bonarda: Bonarda from the El Mirador vineyard in Rivadavia; partner and winemaker Alejandro Vigil (Bodega Aleanna)

Primary sources: https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=passport%2Fview&id=2826 ; https://www.vivc.de/index.php?r=cultivarname%2Findex&CultivarnameSearch%5Bcultivarnames%5D=cultivarn&CultivarnameSearch%5Btext%5D=Bonarda ; https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/informe-de-variedad-bonarda-0 ; https://www.argentina.gob.ar/noticias/bonarda-en-argentina-ampelografia-superficie-produccion-y-usos ; https://enemigowines.com/ Reference sources: https://www.decanter.com/argentina-2014-coverage/the-long-road-of-bonarda-2935/ Last verified 2026-10-20