Uruguayan winemaker Gabriel Pisano was born into one of the best-known wine families of Uruguay, the Pisano family. But in 2009 he launched his own boutique wine brand, Viña Progreso, in which he experiments with different, lesser-known grape varieties and innovative winemaking techniques. In this Terroir Talk, Amanda Barnes interviews him about his journey into winemaking and his philosophy about winemaking, exploring more challenging varieties and what he thinks is the Uruguayan identity in wine.

Gabriel Pisano interview: Viña Progreso Terroir Talk

Wine tasting notes Viña Progreso

Overground Viognier

There isn’t much Viognier in Uruguay, but Gabriel Pisano loves the challenge of working with this notoriously difficult grape variety and he yields excellent results: a vibrant, fresh and inviting young wine. It’s easy to drink, versatile to pair with and shows the great freshness you can get from white wines in Canelones.

Overground Pinot Noir

Another tricky grape, but one which Gabriel loves to drink and so wanted to bring into his ‘overground’ portfolio. Juicy, filled with crunchy red fruit notes, and with a refreshing acidity and lingering, aromatic finish.

Overground Sangiovese

Tapping into his family’s Italian heritage and coming from a block of old vines just behind the winery, this isn’t your usual Sangiovese. But it has the trademarks of Italian Sangiovese with aromas of roses and strawberries with a filling fruit-forward finish. An ideal partner for pasta dishes.