Tannat
Cabernet Sauvignon
Rieslig
Pinot Noir
Merlot
Gewurztraminer
Uruguay is the fourth most important wine producer in South America after Chile, Argentina and Brazil. Uruguayan wines have a long tradition and a growing recognition in the world market. The history of Uruguayan grapes and wines is as old as the country; Vineyards in URUGUAY have a 250 year of history, even though its commercial development began less than a century ago.The first grapevines were brought directly from Spain, as early as the first half of the 18th Century. The Tannat (Harriague) and Folle Noire (Vidiella) grapes from Southwest Bordeaux, France, followed. Commercial winemaking started in 1870. In the 1970’s, the Uruguayan wine industry initiated a new era towards excellency, renewing wine-stocks and perfecting the process of wine making and production. In 1988 the Vitivinicultural National Institute (INAVI) was created to coordinate the efforts of the State and the wine makers to develop and modernize the sector and to study and plan its economy. INAVI promotes quality and disseminates knowledge of wine as a means to stimulate its consumption. Consequently, Uruguayan viticulture has changed considerably over the past twenty years. The new plantations were mainly established with French imported vines of noble varieties. The wines produced from the new plantations are elaborated with modern techniques, and their type and quality allows them to compete with some of the world´s finest wines. SomTannat wines, although ready to drink now, can be kept for years as good reserve wines. Made in a various styles, Tannat wines have deep color and are tannic, astringent and intense. FROM URUGUAYAN WINES -- A tribute to our land........TANNAT, CULTURAL HERITAGE OF URUGUAY. Uruguay is the main tannat wine producer in the world. The tannat grape, of European origin (Southwest Bourdeaux, France) is the result of a happy match between grape and soil. Tannat represents the very history of Uruguayan wines: it is the story of European tradition and inmigration. The growing of the tannat grape is part of the cultural heritage and wine producing culture of South America. Our star wines are characterized by their great body and structure, intensity inside the mouth and fine aroma. Only countries like ours, with its privileged landscape, people, cuisine and wines can offer high quality of life. Therefore, protecting the style of Tannat wines in Uruguay, by harmonizing the acquired knowledge with a degree of innovation, means maintaining the grape and wine producing culture of our country and of America for future generations.
About two dozens, out of 280 Uruguayan wineries, which are mainly small, family-owned operations, export wines to the United States, and other markes such as Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Central America, Canada, Asia and several countries in Europe. "...Tannat is indubitably URUGUAY'S best variety. it is made in a broad variety of styles: everything from fruity roses to sturdy, cellar-worthy reds. Some producers age their wines in large old barrels, some favour stainless steel or epoxy-lined cement, and a few are experimenting with smaller French and American oak......." "Decanter" May 1999
Uruguay is in the band of wine production located in the southern hemisphere. It has four well differenciated seasons. It is on the Atlantic coast, south of Brazil, and north and east of Argentina. With a population of only 3.2 million people, Uruguay has a diverse, European-based culture. Its population, mainly third - and fourth generation descendants of Europeans - primarily Spanish, Italian and French- have the highest literacy rate in South America. Uruguay has five hectares of fertile land per inhabitant. Vast plains, a dense water network and a temperate climate all year round, allow for excellent results in cattle, farming, agriculture and forestry. Uruguay has almost seven hundred kilometres of coast that not only provide good fishing, but also vast beaches, known world-wide for the exceptional quality of their fine white sand. Uruguay is especially suited for producing wine because of its privileged location and particularly suited land for grape cultivation. Uruguay is situated in a typical warm sub tropical area, between 30 and 35 degrees south, at the same latitude as the best grape growing regions of Argentina, Chile, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. Uruguay is a mostly flat and humid country. Its enjoys an average annual temperature of 18 Celsius (65F), 39.4 inches of annual precipitation, mild Summers, and cool nights. The lowest temperatures are recorded in the north (Department of Artigas). Maximum average temperatures during the hottest month take place mainly at the North of Rio Negro (Black River), and the lowest at the South. On the contrary, minimum average temperatures during the coldest month take place in the north and the highest in the south. Southern Uruguay gets hot during the day but quite cool at night, making for good acidity. Warm temperatures provide for good dark color in the reds with soft tannins. Uruguayan geography and soils resemble those of the right bank of Bordeaux -- Entre Deux Mers --. They result in the production of fine wines with plenty of body and color for reds thanks to clay-rich topsoils but also with freshness from cool, limestone subsoils. The climate of Uruguay is warmer than Bordeaux, with a similar maritime influence but plenty of humidity. The country is divided into nine regions according to the characteristics of the grapes cultivated. About 90 percent of the land planted with grapes is located in the southern region, 5 percent in the southwestern region, and the rest, in the central and southeastern regions. Uruguay has an area of 68,322 square miles, twice the size of Austria, and almost one and a half times the size of the state of Alabama in the USA. At the end of 2004, Uruguay had 9.000 hectares of vineyards and the total production of wine was around 90-95 million liters per year: 35% red, 22% rose,11% white and the rest mixed (clarete). The total annual consumption is 97 million liters, equivalent to an average of about 30-33 liters per capita. Its geographic location in South America´s Southern Cone, coupled with other important facilities, such as banking and communications, have allowed Uruguay to guarantee its reliability as an exporting country for Latin America, as well as for Europe. Uruguay exports four percent of total production or 3.5 million liters. Fine wine accounts for 30 to 35 percent of total production. The growth of exports has been considerable lately; 3.1 million liters, in bottles of 750 ml., were exported in 2000 compared to 220 thousand liters, mostly in bulk, in 1995. The varieties planted are mainly Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonay, Viognier, Muscat Ottonel, Muscatel, etc. The climate, soil and topography of Uruguay resembles to the Bordeaux region in France, with moderate temperatures not greater than 35ºC. It helps, the closeness to the Atlantic Ocean that mitigates high temperatures during the summer months. The majority of the soils are calcareous (clay mud with a high percentage of calcareous soil), and the topography is gently rolling with good natural drainage.
The technology of Uruguayan wineries is traditional. Nevertheless most wineries are combining tradition with low temperature pre-fermentative maceration and with carbonic maceration elaboration. The technology ensures strict quality control of the products and enables the control of virus carriers. Also, the Virus Free Grape-vines Certification Program has worked toward the elimination of viruses.