Bonarda Argentina / Douce Noire

Also known as Bonarda Argentina · Douce Noire · Douce Noir · Corbeau · Charbono

Argentina’s Bonarda is the French-origin Douce Noire, also known as Corbeau or Charbono. It can make deeply coloured, fruit-led reds with freshness and grip, as well as adding colour and fruit to blends.

Aromatic palette

StrawberryRaspberry

raspberry · strawberry · anise · pepper or other spice, depending on the wine

Read the structure.

acidityVariable; fresh examples can feel lively

tanninCan be supple or quite grippy

bodyMedium to full, depending on site and extraction

alcoholDepends on harvest and style; not automatically high

What could you confuse it with?

Do not merge this grape with Croatina, Bonarda Piemontese or Uva Rara. The unqualified word Bonarda can mean different grapes in Italy; Criolla is unrelated as a generic label.

Origins & family

Regional roots

Argentina’s Bonarda is Douce Noire, historically associated with Savoie. It is distinct from Italian grapes called Bonarda.

In the vineyard

Well established in warm, dry Cuyo, especially Mendoza, San Juan and La Rioja. Irrigation, crop balance and harvest timing matter; it also appears in cooler Uco sites.

Regional expressions

Argentina

Mendoza

Raspberry or other red fruit and spice are useful clues; varietal wines and blends both occur.

Structure

Often deeply coloured, with body and tannin varying by extraction.

At the table

Compare an unoaked example with an oak-aged wine before generalising.

Explore Mendoza

Cellar & service

Winemaking & development

Varietal and blended wines both occur. Colonia Las Liebres 2022 matures in concrete without oak, showing a fresh, juicy interpretation; other producers may use wood or more extraction.

Service & ageing

Serve fresh dry examples slightly cool; decide on air after checking tannin and aromatic openness.

Pairing logic

Fruit-led examples can work with tomato pasta, pizza or lighter grilled meat. Match the sauce and tannin of the bottle.