With more than 200 wineries, Uruguay is the new world’s undiscovered wine jewel. Some vineyards are over a hundred years old run by fourth and fifth generation winemakers; some of the newer ones are owned by foreigners who have fallen in love with Uruguay. For years, but most noticeably in the last decade and a half, wines from Uruguay are winning gold and silver medals in international competitions. And rivalling more well-known Argentina in the process.
It was typical for Uruguayan families, many descendants of Italians and Spaniards, to grow grapes and make their own wine at home. I have a relative whose family has a tub to tread the grapes at home that dates from several generations ago. A number of wineries allow you to have a go at treading grapes yourself in February.
Since 2000, wine-making has been professionalised under the tutelage of renowned flying wine-makers coinciding with a new generation of local enologists getting their wine-making credentials in Uruguay and specialising abroad. These young wine-makers are daredevils, making new styles, trying new blends and all importantly getting great results. The wines of Uruguay, surprise drinkers with their marked difference to other South American and new world wines.
Uruguay’s wine regions
Most wine is produced in:
- Montevideo and Canelones
A full half of all of the wineries in Uruguay are located in just one province—the department of Canelones. These wineries were founded by European immigrants in a radius rideable by horse from the port of Montevideo, Uruguay’s capital. Almost all are small family-run concerns. How many capitals—or major cities—of the world have a wine region so close to home? Studies have equated Canelones with Bordeaux in France.
Drive time: 10-40 mins from Montevideo - Carmelo, Colonia in the west of Uruguay
Colonia is a south-western province most well-known for the historic city of Colonia del Sacramento. Carmelo’s wineries are just outside the town of Carmelo and almost all dedicated to boutique-production.
Drive time: 3 hrs from Montevideo; 1 hr from Colonia - Maldonado to the east
Maldonado with its coastal breezes and cooler temperatures has become the new hot spot for Uruguayan wines. On the way to Maldonado from Montevideo you’ll pass Atlantida, a small wine region sharing the same climatic characteristics.
Drive time: 1.25 hrs from Montevideo; 30 min from Punta del Este
Tannat: Uruguay’s flagship wine
Incredibly one in every three bottles of wine produced in Uruguay is a Tannat. So what does Uruguay’s flagship wine taste like? Here’s a guide to get you started. The wines were chosen by restauranteurs in Montevideo whose mission is to get their customers hooked on Uruguayan wines This is advice worth following.
- Tannat for beginners Its history, taste and those restaurateur recommendations 😉
- Top 2020 tannats
Where to try Uruguay wine
- Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay: Beaches, Ranches & Wine Country includes over thirty pages on the wine of Uruguay including ten very different wineries to visit in three different wine regions. Best wine lists
- Guru’Guay Guide to Montevideo Wineries to visit within and close to the city. More best wine lists
- Why you should only visit one or two wineries per day in Uruguay and I’d say just one
- Wine Explorers Private tours. Twice-monthly group outings to wineries around Uruguay and for wine evenings in Montevideo frequented mainly by expats
Wine tasting in Montevideo
More reading
- Canelones King producer of Uruguay wines
- 2020 vintage is some of the best wine in decades
- Two of the world’s top wineries are in Uruguay
- A ninja winemaker in Uruguay: Manuel Filgueira of Los Nadies
- Best Uruguayan wines of 2017
- 3 Uruguayan white wines you must not miss (2014)
- Uruguay wines vs. Argentina’s, who comes out top? Financial Times’ Jancis Robinson was rating Uruguayan wine highly back in 2014
11 Responses
Hi Karen, do you know of any nice winery that hosts people for the night as well? We are a Belgian family of 4 (all above 21y) setting foot to south-america for the very first time aroun New Year!
Absolutely, Karin! You can find recommendations in the different wine regions in The Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay: Beaches, Ranches and Wine Country. Have a wonderful time! — Karen
Is there by any chance a compiled list of all 200+ wineries available with basic information?
Hi Rahul, this is good timing as I am meeting with the president of the Uruguay wine board next week. I’ll ask him! — Karen
Do you have any particular recommendations for wine?
Hi Adam, I am actually a beer (and grappa 🙂 ) drinker myself so I don’t! But I will contact the helpful folks at Bodegas del Uruguay and we’ll see what they have to recommend at this time.
Great, thanks.
Have you tried the Mastra beers or Montevideo Brew House yet, beer lover?
Hi Adam I am very fortunate that I live just five blocks from the new artesanal beer maker and resto-pub Montevideo Beer House! and have visited it at least three times in the last month (which now I look at their Facebook page is basically since they opened)! I am a dark beer fan. They have a beer which is remarkably similar to Guiness – I think it’s the dry stout. They have made me very happy indeed 🙂 They also sell Davok beers, which until MBH appeared on the scene, was the maker that I was happiest with (love their Indian Pale Ale).
Mastra I am not a big fan of. They seem to be attending to the South American palate which prefers its beers sweeter than I do. Fair enough. That is where we are based.
Montevideo Brew House is in the Pocitos neighbourhood in a spot that is a little difficult to get to on foot, but worth it, for the beer and the charming maze-like streets. The address is Libertad 2592 esq. Viejo Pancho, Pocitos. If you walk from Blvr Artigas, take Viejo Pancho and just keep walking!
Hello Adam,
Uruguay produces most of the well-know European varieties since the climate is very similar to the Spanish, French and Italian growing regions (particularly because of its proximity to the sea).
However, its signature grape is Tannat, a red variety on which Uruguayan winemakers have gained master expertise. Other grapes you can find excellent wines are Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir, Albariño, and Merlot. There are more than 40 exporting wineries, I do not know particularly which you could find where you live, but the average quality is quite good in the range of 15 dollars. If you are in Uruguay, I recommend you keep above 150 uruguayan pesos. If you have any question in particular on a specific wine, winery or variety, please contact us directly through our website contact button. Cheers! Viviana – Bodegas del Uruguay.
Adam, your question prompted this new post http://www.guruguay.net/uruguayan-wines-outclass-argentinas-says-financial-times-wine-critic/. Happy quaffing!