| Bonarda Piemontese | |
|---|---|
| Grape (Vitis) | |
| Species | Vitis vinifera |
| Origin | Italy |
| Notable regions | Piedmont |
| VIVC number | 1543 |
Bonarda Piemontese, now officially listed simply as Bonarda but also known as Bonarda di Chieri and Bonarda del Monferrato[1] is a red Italian wine grape variety that is grown in the northwestern region of Piedmont. Prior to the phylloxera epidemic of the 19th century, Bonarda was speculated to have accounted for 30% of the plantings in Piedmont but today is only found in scattered plantings along the left bank of the Tanaro river near Govone. In the mid-1990s, the grape experienced a slight revival as Piedmontese producers sought to add more aromatics to their Barbera wines by blending in Bonarda.[2]
Despite the similarities of their synonyms, the grape is not related to Douce noir grape which is known as Bonarda in Argentina nor the Croatina grape, which make tannic wines similar to Piedmont's Dolcetto.[3]
- ^ ,Vitigno Bonarda, Agricoltura e Qualità (in Italian), Regione Piemonte, archived from the original on 2007-08-16.
- ^ J. Robinson (ed) "The Oxford Companion to Wine" Third Edition pg 85 Oxford University Press 2006 ISBN 0-19-860990-6
- ^ J. Robinson Vines, Grapes & Wines pg 209 Mitchell Beazley 1986 ISBN 1-85732-999-6