Light gold-yellow color; yellow apple, lemon, grapefruit, peach, white flowers on the nose and palate.
Dry (1.76 RS); minimal tannins; brisk acidity (3.30 pH; 5.55 TA). Medium body. Made with 100% organic chardonnay grapes harvested in early morning to retain freshness. Fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel with selected yeasts. No oak is used in the making to emphasize fruit. 13% ABV
The winery is one of the world’s most awarded fully organic operations. It began its organic and sustainable path in 1998. The vineyard holds certifications for organic agriculture (ECOCERT) and biodynamic (Demeter) practices. It is the first Argentine winery to achieve Regenerative Organic Certification (ROC). The ROC certification covers three areas: soil health and land management, animal welfare, equity between farmers and workers. Domaine Bousquet is Argentina’s largest exporter of certified organic wines.
Their website states: “We are dedicated to farming organically while improving our land’s biodiversity. We believe that the healthier the vineyard, the better the fruit and of course the wine. In other words, by nourishing the land and treating it with respect, we know that the land will give us back its finest fruits.” And: “Organic crops are grown in harmony with nature without using any chemicals such as pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Organic agriculture uses natural fertilizers such as compost.”
The Bousquet family has four generations of winemaking experience. They arrived in Mendoza, Argentina, from France in 1990 and fell in love with the possibilities. They purchased land in the foothills of the Andes in 1997 in the Tupungato Valley, elevation 4,000 feet, one of the higher altitude vineyards in Argentina and the world. The climate is very dry, allowing Domaine Bousquet to have excellent water control through drip irrigation using meltwater from nearby Andes Mountains.
The husband-wife team of Anne Bousquet and Labid Al Ameri run the operation today. They met while studying at Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota. Anne was pursuing a master’s degree in applied economics. Labid, a Kuwait-born Iraqi who grew up in Spain, studied finance. They married and built careers in Boston, Anne as an economist specializing in the European paper packaging industry, and Labid as an international equity trader at Fidelity Capital Markets.
The couple’s wine journey began in 2001 when they first visited Argentina and the family wine business together. Labid joined the family business in 2005 and established the commercial structure for Domaine Bousquet, creating a presence in more than 30 countries. Anne continued her economic career until 2008, then joined her family’s business to work on financial planning, operations management, and business development. In 2009, the couple moved from Brussels to Tupungato to run the winery full time. They gained full ownership in 2011 when Jean Bousquet retired. Today, Anne is president, CEO, co-founder & partner. Labid is chairman of the board, co-founder & partner. They split time between Miami, where they run their U.S. importing company Origins Organic Imports (that handles Domaine Bousquet and other brands), and Argentina, where they oversee winery operations.
Bronco Wine Company is the Domaine Bousquet U.S. distributor. Bronco is a major U.S. wine maker—best known for “Two Buck Chuck”—but they also represent more serious brands, such as this one, and have a long history of distributing imported wines in the U.S. You should be able to find this wine at your wine store, and certainly online.
Domaine Bousquet Unoaked Chardonnay, Tupungato Uco Valley, Mendoza, Argentina 2023 is clean, bright expression of high altitude Argentine chardonnay made by a winery that is a trailblazer in organic, biodynamic, and regenerative agriculture. Straightforward easy drinker. $13
Pairing—Shellfish, oysters, clams, mussels, shrimp; light fish, grilled trout, poached halibut, cod, sea bass; seared white fish with rice. Grilled chicken, roast chicken with herbs, chicken salad. Green salads with citrus-based dressings; roasted vegetables. Cheese—Fresh goat cheese; brie, camembert; fresh mozzarella; young gouda, ricotta, feta, halloumi.
