Charming Carmelo in western Uruguay, an hour’s drive from Colonia del Sacramento, has been called the Uruguayan Tuscany. The sleepy town is surrounded by eight boutique wine producers – mostly small, and all family-run concerns.
Each vineyard is very different one from the other. Though what they have in common is that your winery tour guide will most likely be the owner or the principal wine-maker. And they all have unique stories to tell you as part of (abundant) wine-tasting.
Plan to visit just one or two Carmelo vineyards per day. These are leisurely personalised experiences to be savoured, very different from what you might expect in more commercialised parts of the wine world.
The good news is that you can coordinate wine-tastings at each vineyards by email. And the vineyards are usually extremely quick to answer. the wineries in Carmelo.
The Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay: Beaches, Ranches and Wine Country
Cover photo: Fefo Bouvier
Guru’Guay’s hearty thanks: My visit to Carmelo wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Sylvana Cabrera of ComeryBeber.com for scouting out wonderful locations for Guru’Guay readers, Diego and Ana Paula Cordano of Almacén de la Capilla for providing me shelter in their wonderful little cabin amongst the vines and Mariño Sport, the most trusty rent-a-car in Uruguay. As always all opinions expressed in this article are my own.
Related articles
An introduction to Uruguay wine country
Uruguay is the new world’s undiscovered wine gem. Plan your trip to Uruguay wine country. Tips to regions, wine tasting in Montevideo & private wine tours.
...
Baco – Montevideo’s top wine restaurant
A French bistro with probably the longest wine list in the city and multiple by-the-glass choices is one of the best new Montevideo restaurants by far.
...
2020: the best Uruguay wines in decades
Following a textbook harvest, experts and winemakers are heralding Uruguay wines of 2020 as some of the best in decades, reports sommelier Adriana Rossi.
...
Tannat for beginners
One in every three bottles of wine produced in Uruguay is a Tannat. What does Uruguay’s flagship wine taste like? Here’s a guide to get started, by locals.
...
The Top Tannats of 2020
One in three bottles of Uruguay wine is a Tannat. Yes, Uruguayans LOVE this red. Nowadays there’s a Tannat for every occasion. We celebrate the Top Tannats.
...
Feel good in quarantine: 10 minutes in a parallel universe
Join us as we parachute in on a virtual visit to a Uruguay wine-maker. Harvest is just ending and there’s some feel good news, it’s the BEST in 40 years.
...
Montevideo #1 in new travel show
The host of this brand new travel show fell in love with Montevideo. The wine, soccer, carnival, food… so many things to do.
...
Two of the world’s top 50 wineries are in Uruguay
Bodegas Garzon and Bouza have ranked #2 and #44 amongst the world’s top 50 wineries. What other wineries to visit when you’re in Uruguay?
...
Manuel Filgueira: Ninja winemaking in Uruguay
Trained in elite French chateaux but down to earth, Manuel Filgueira is one of Uruguay’s top winemakers, producing tiny quantities of exceptional wine through “sheer stubbornness”.
...
The 20 very best Uruguayan wines
Uruguay’s wine production is small yet magnificent. Here’s the very best from the Guru’Guay Guide to Uruguay, a guide to wine country and more.
...
Wine tasting in Uruguay vs Napa, California
Take it from the Tannat Queen. If you want a wine tasting experience to remember – and generous pours! – Uruguay beats Napa hands down.
...
Wine tasting in Carmelo
Wine tasting at the unique family-run boutique wineries of Carmelo, Uruguay. Plan your route, find contact details and prices.
...
Hello!
Do you know if they are still doing the shuttle for the wineries? We have tried asking our hotel, Casa Chic, with no help. Thanks in advance!
Hi Rachel, the shuttle is only currently going on Saturdays. Apparently there are changes being made. I’ll keep you posted if you write me a reminder. — Karen
Hello! Thanks for all of the helpful information! We will be staying at Casa Chic and are hoping to do a day of wineries. Wondering if you think you could bike from there to them or too far? If to far we may book a wine tour. Any recommendations for New Years? Thank so much!!!
Hi Rachel, sorry it took me a while to get back to you. I’ve been checking details with Diego at the Almacen de la Capilla. You can hire a remise (private car) to take you to Colonia Estrella where El Legado, Almacen and CampoTinto are located. The driver can drop you off and you can hire bikes at Almacen and get around that way.As mentioned I really recommend doing max two tasting in a day, they are meant to be long and leisurely. Ask Casa Chic how much the remise is going to be there and back (but not that the driver wait for you). Please support Guru’Guay by telling the vineyards them you found about them through us at the time of booking. Where will you be for New Year? Best — Karen
Thank you so much! We may rent a car now, trying to decide our best option. We will be there for New Years! Anything fun to do?
Hi Rachel, yes, being in an out of the way hotel like Casa Chic, it’s probably a good idea. My recommended car hire company has offices in Colonia if you are interested. No idea about New Year in Carmelo is like! I would imagine it would be very quiet, Uruguayans are big into family at holidays – but people there will be best to advise you…
Thank you for your review about our wineries!!
We are having some problems with our web site. Please note a new e-mail
bodegafamiliairurtia@gmail.com
Regards. besos
Maria
Thanks, Maria! I’ll update directly!