I have a special interest in wines and will often add visits to areas that have a well developed wine industry. What a surprise to find that the wine industry is alive and well in Uruguay. Not only is it alive and well but equal in quality and presentation - to any wine region I have previously visited. What a unique experience the wineries wine tasting rooms presented to those sampling their wines. I think my photos will show you how unique this experience was.
Its all about the Tannat Grape
Tannat is a red wine grape, historically grown in South West France and is now one of the most prominent grapes in Uruguay, where it is considered the "national grape" The Tannat vine was introduced to Uruguay by Basque settlers in the 19th century. Now it is Uruguay’s wine identity such as Malbec is to Argentina and Carmenere is to Chile. The Tannat wines produced in Uruguay are characterized by elegant and softer tannins with blackberry fruit notes. It was a definite winner for me.
Canelones & Carmelo
are the two major wine growing areas of Uruguay. If you enjoy wine and want to experience wine tasting in a special way, head to these two areas. Both areas will have accommodation options for staying right at a Bodega (winery). I stayed at the Pizzorno winery and also the Le Legado winery. Both offered excellent accommodations and a 3 course lunch that featured their wines. Because most wineries are small in nature, you get a real family feel to your stay. My stay at Le Legado was exceptional as the owners were involved in all aspects of the winery. They have a small winery and only produce 8,000 bottles a year. They have an oak barrel of their Tannat and Merlot blend that was aged for two years - available for personal tasting 24 hours a day, really!
Bouza Winery
I’ll finish my blog about the Uruguayan wine regions with a few photos from a special winery just north of Montevideo. The wine tasting room and the five course lunch paired with five different wines - was over the top impressive. Table service was first class and the whole event amazing. This would be my choice for an event to experience Uruguay’s wine industry and get a chance to enjoy Uruaguay’s national grape - the Tannat grape.
