Liquor Plus Radio

Show Notes Wine of the Week Jan 10-16, 2012: La Chamiza Bonarda When you drive through the streets of Mendoza Argentina there is a clear Italian influence on the architecture and cutlture. Many of the street names are Italian names which makes perfect sense when you consider that the majority of the immigrants that built Mendoza came from Italy in the 1860’s. A whole bunch came from the Marche region which is located on Italy’s East Coast. With that pedigree it is not too hard to see how such a vibrant wine culture has developed in Mendoza and surrounding area. One of the many gifts bestowed upon the area were some grapes, namely Bonarda. What?  You say... Bonarda, what the heck is Bonarda. It is said that Bonarda has it’s home in the hills and valleys on the border between France and Italy and is known as Charbono in California. When speaking to those in the know in Argentina they can confirm that it is not Croatina which comes from Lombardy and is likely Bonarda Piedmontese. In any case Bonarda, until rece