Domaine Bousquet sparkling wine and Argentine Christmas cuisine featuring Pionono sandwiches

As the days finally get longer in North America, there’s lots to celebrate and we have ideas– for wines, pairings, and subjects with a focus today on three of Domaine Bousquet’s organic sparkling wines with Argentinean Christmas cuisine and tomorrow with three red wines! Plus scroll down for links to more articles about South American sparklers from the World Wine Travel writers. First, a toast to the sun! 

From the beginning, Argentina’s Domaine Bousquet committed to growing grapes organically in the 4000′ high altitude, arid area of Gualtallary near Tupungato in Mendoza’s Eco Valley. This month, they celebrate 25 years as the number one organic and regenerative winery from Argentina. Domaine Bousquet earned the first Regenerative Organic Certification outside of the US, and the fourth worldwide. In 2022, they achieved B Corp Certification that recognizes their commitment to sustainability to people as well as planet.   

“Our DNA is to be organic — it was a path we took naturally,” says Anne Bousquet, co-founder and CEO of Domaine Bousquet. “We can always be more sustainable, not only in terms of the environment but also in socioeconomic terms.”

It was natural to grow grapes organically at Domaine Bousquet because of the aridness of the area, its phylloxera-resistant sandy soil that offer good drainage, and the mitigation of heat by the constant breezes from the Andes. While it only rains about 8″ a year making it a desert, there’s plenty of ground water coming down from the snowy Andes. 

Domaine Bousquet bring some sparkle to the long nights of winter

Clearly a toast is in order to Domaine Bousquet’s accomplishments as well as to the season and to the solstice!

Here in the US, winter is starting and the days are once again getting longer, but in Argentina, the days are getting shorter as they enter summer. While according to BonusFinder Americans’ favorite Christmas side dishes are rolls, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, and macaroni and cheese in that order, in South America where it is hot and summery at Christmas time, favorite Christmas dishes are a rolled sandwich called a Pionono with a variation on potato salad. Since where we live in coastal California Christmas Eve and Day is usually balmy and warm, this Argentinean menu offers up fresh flavors for the fresh air as well as:

1. a great alternative to more traditional dishes
2. an ideal lead up to the big meal
3. a great dish for potluck holiday gatherings
4. an awesome way to use leftovers   

Domaine Bousquet

Argentine Christmas Cuisine

• Picada (cheeseboard)
• Pionono (traditional rolled sandwich)
  with half smoked ham, half tuna, tomatoes, cheddar, parsley, blue cheese
• Potato salad (recipe)
• Deviled eggs with caviar
• Sue’s Christmas cookies and spiced nuts (see next post for recipes)

Domaine Bousquet Sparkling Wines 

All three wines are made from 100% certified organic grapes harvested at the Domaine Bousquet estate in the high-altitude Gualtallary growing zone of Argentina’s Uco Valley. Two are made in traditional French method (like Champagne), while the third is made in the Charmat method (like Prosecco).

• Méthode Traditionnelle Chardonnay-Pinot Noir Brut NV 
• Méthode Traditionnelle Pinot Noir-Chardonnay Brut Rosé NV
• Charmat Sparkling Rosé 

For more sparkling wine from South America check out these articles by World Wine Travel writers: 

• A Coastal Pairing: Apaltagua Costero Extra Brut + Shrimp Tempura by Culinary Cam
• Here’s to those Argentine sparklers that I have met, and to those I have yet to discover by Wine Travels with Dr. Sharon
• Organic, Pink, Bubbly – What’s not to love? by Crushed Grape Chronicles
• Popping Bubbles With Domaine Bousquet Organic Sparkling Wines by ENOFYLZ Wine Blog