Wines and vineyards of Montevideo and Canelones

Uruguay’s wine heritage goes back to the first Spanish and Italian immigrants who brought the grapevine some 250 years ago.

In 1874, a French Basque immigrant named Harriague imported grapevine cuttings of the obscure French variety called Tannat (“Tah-naht.”). This red grape, usually grown only in the wine region of Madiran in Southwestern France, produces dark, dense red wines of extremely tannic nature (the name “Tannat” is said to stem directly from “tannin”), so harsh and unyielding that they often require years of aging to become drinkable. Tannat proved an excellent match for the soil and climate in Uruguay, and it has become the country’s leading variety.

Later in 1954, Spanish immigrants introduced Albariño, a white variety that has widely developed along the dierent wine regions of country In recent years, the quality of wine produced in Uruguay has been increasing and it is now considered the fourth-largest wine-producing country in South America.

The southern region of Canelones and Montevideo is home to some of the oldest vineyards of the Uruguay wine country. We will visit two of the wineries in this area located some 20 minutes from downtown Montevideo where we will enjoy wine tastings and lunch.

Discover the secrets of the winemakers and taste some of the best Uruguayan wines in the region. (Please note that the selection of the wineries may vary due to availability and opening days). (Includes specialized guide, lunch & tasting)

Duration of tour: 6 hrs.

Available: All year round with previous booking only