As we know, a good reputation goes a long way. Today, Malbec carries Argentina’s name all over the world. And no wonder. It is, after all, the most widely planted and cultivated red variety in the country. However, there was a time when this was not the case. In every family, even the best ones, there is a black sheep that nobody remembers, like the Bonarda.
Native to northern Italy and brought to Argentina by emigrants in the 19th century, this red variety is the second most cultivated in the country (especially in the Cuyo region). Its colour depth and fruity aromas were spotted by the Zuccardi family, great winemakers of this area in the centre-west of the country, in Mendoza, who have launched Vida Orgánica, a new range of minimal intervention wines.
Both Bonarda and Zuccardi arrived in Argentina in the same century, directly from Italy. They have that in common. Since then, this family’s relationship with the land has remained intact, always seeking to find the best results in the field and in the vineyard. 60% of their current Bonarda crop is located in Mendoza, at an altitude of 700 metres above sea level. In general, this variety adapts quite well, because it withstands both high daytime temperatures and the lower overnight temperatures. Zuccardi Vida Orgánica Bonarda is made in a completely natural and artisan way, without chemicals or fertilisers, always seeking the best balance between human intervention and nature.
The work is of course carried out manually, and sustainable, renewable energies are used at all times. The rest of the process, which takes place in the winery, is always carried out with the minimum possible intervention, interfering as little as possible in the creation of this red wine. This is achieved with a simple and straightforward winemaking process, which begins with a manual harvest and continues with fermentation in stainless steel tanks. After this process, and once converted into wine, Zuccardi Vida Orgánica Bonarda macerates with its skins for a time, followed by bottling (without filtering or clarifying). Watch out for the Argentinian variety that you might not know about yet!