Uruguay Wine 101: What to Know Before You Go

You may not have heard much about Uruguay wine until today and while it’s a shame, you’d be forgiven.

Despite having a wine tradition that dates back over 150 years, only recently have young Uruguayan winemakers begun to focus on innovating their industry with new varietals and creative blends. They focus on elegant, surprising wines – quality beats quantity.

For almost thirty years, Uruguay has quietly becoming one of the new world’s most impressive wine regions, producing award winning wines that rival neighboring Argentina.

Here’s a brief history and break down on Uruguay wines so you can prepare yourself for your trip to Uruguay.

History of Wine in Uruguay

Uruguay’s wine industry dates back to 1870, when French-Basque immigrant Pascual Harriague first planted Tannat vines in Salto.

Tannat thrived in Uruguay’s humid coastal climate and became the country’s signature grape.

Largely Uruguay’s wineries went unnoticed on the international stage and most of the wine produced was consumed locally.

But recently, that has all changed.

Uruguay’s wineries are now receiving the international attention they deserve, giving some well-deserved competition to neighboring Argentina and Chile.

Wineries here are small-scale and typically stay in the family. Almost all of Uruguay’s 180 wineries remain in the hands of their original founding family, some for 4th and 5th generations (Montevideo’s Bodegas Carrau in Montevideo is in the hands of the 10th generation!).

Uruguay is the fourth-largest wine producer in South America and the only one with an Atlantic climate.

This means more rainfall and moisture – unique challenges for local winemakers. But it also allows Uruguay to produce wines that are notably different from those coming from arid Mendoza or Salta.

What to expect? Today, wineries in Uruguay focus on quality, reducing yields. Innovative winemakers experiment with new varietals and blends. They take risks and it pays off. For example, I loved the unexpected Viognier-Tannat blend at Alto de la Ballena. The viognier balanced the high tannins of the Tannat, it was a perfect marriage.

Tannat: Uruguay’s Signature Grape

Tannat is Uruguay’s flagship grape.

It has a reputation for being one of the world’s most tannic grapes, which can result in a robust, astringent wine (especially when young). This is why Tannat is more traditionally used in blends.

Early Uruguayan Tannat was known for being a rustic and intense table wine favored by gauchos and rural workers who traditionally drank wine with their meals. It was not an easy wine to drink.

Over the past few decades, however, advances in viticulture and winemaking have transformed Tannat into the elegant, internationally acclaimed wine Uruguay is known for today.

How to visit Wineries in Uruguay

Wine tastings in Uruguay have always been expensive (especially compared to what I am used to in Argentina). I used to balk at the prices but now that I’ve experienced them, I understand.

Winery visits in Uruguay are slow paced. They include a lot. You’re not just standing in a crowded tasting room sampling a few meticulously measured sips.

Instead, these wineries go all out to show you everything they’ve got. It’s a visit, a meal, and an experience. So I recommend only visiting one or two wineries per day in Uruguay.

Expect to spend 2-3 hours at each winery. Tastings include not just a few small sips but full pours of four to five different wines. You’ll be given something to eat, like charcuterie and empanadas, to enjoy these glasses at a relaxed pace. Your visit will be accompanied by the vineyard’s winemaker and you’ll very likely chat with the owner at some point.

It was immediately clear that they are passionate about what they do and that’s clear in the way you experience each winery visit in Uruguay. They are welcoming you into their home.

What does it cost to visit Uruguay wineries? It can cost as low as $25-40 US for more basic tours that you arrange yourself directly with the winery. Premium tastings that include lunch or charcuterie will cost between $50-100. For the most prestigious wineries and tours that include transportation (a must with the amount of wine you will try) expect to pay around $150-200.

🍷 Wine Explorers Uruguay: Reach out to Veronica and the team at Wine Explorers for a tailor-made Uruguay wine itinerary. They have been Uruguay’s best wine tours for over 10 years. If you’re in Uruguay long term, they offer twice monthly wine group tours. We went on two wine tours with Wine Explorers and I was grateful for their expertise.

Where to try Uruguay Wine

The top three wine regions in Uruguay are Colonia, Montevideo, and Maldonado.

• Carmelo, Colonia: The tiny village of Carmelo (one hour west of Colonia del Sacramento, 3 hours from Montevideo) is home to a number of boutique wineries.
• Canelones & Montevideo: Half of Uruguay’s wineries are in Canelones and the outskirts of Uruguay’s capital city.
• Maldonado: In the rolling hills outside of Punta del Este, you’ll find innovative, young wineries taking charge of this region’s unique coastal climate.

All of these regions are relatively close. Drive three hours from Carmelo to Montevideo, then another two hours from Montevideo to Maldonado. It is easy to visit all of them as part of a road trip across Uruguay.

Read more

• Uruguay Itinerary: Our 1 Week Uruguay Road Trip
• Day Trip to Colonia del Sacramento from Buenos Aires
• The Best Things to do in Uruguay
• Argentina’s Wineries & Wine Regions – Read all of my guides about Argentina’s best wineries and wine regions