At a recent lunch with colleagues in London’s financial fun zone, Canary Wharf, InterWined.com decided to put a single varietal bottle of Bonarda to the test. The way we saw it, Argentina’s popular wine should pair well with a sampling of Argentina’s popular steaks.

So we settled in to a table at Gaucho Grill, an Argentina-themed steakhouse, and ordered several glasses of Rivadavia Colonia Las Ciebres Bonarda. Some members of our party agreed to stick to the red, despite ordering ceviche. Since I had order a heart of palm salad with avocado and sherry vinaigrette, I decided to pair it with a glass of Cristobal 1492 Lujan de Cuyo Verdelho. I wasn’t worried about the European origin of the grape (Portugal), since Bonarda is rumoured to have its roots in Piedmonte.

The Verdelho was amazing, crisp and clean enough to cut through the vinegar, but now too ballsy as too smash the delicate hearts of palm. The guy who ordered a fiery prawn and roast tomatoes ceviche with lime and chilis became quickly disappointed with his decision to pair it with the Bonarda.

Oh, the burn, the burn.

We walked the Bonarda through 600 grams of flame grilled cow. We each ordered the sampler, which is 150 grams of Rump, Sirloin, Filet and Rib-eye. Can any wine pair with four cuts, some so different than the others? Not sure, but the Bonarda tried its best, and did well as the cheapest Bonarda on the menu.

Too weak, ultimately, to deal with the gutsy and robust rump. And too strong to allow the fillet to soften and melt in the mouth in its own time. But between the Sirloin and the excellent Rib-eye, the Bonarda set it up and knocked it back. It takes about an hour to eat so much steak, and thankfully for once, this wine didn’t evolve much in the glass.

It didn’t work any magic, but it definitely prevented indigestion. Sadly, InterWined admits it failed to consume all of the red meat. About 150 grams or so was left floating in the bloody soap that had by this time gathered in the bottom of the serving dish. Every one, though, polished off all of their steak and declared the Rivadavia a complete success.

Can’t argue with that: 8.8 points.

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