Bodega Brisas winery in Maldonado is one of the newest and largest wineries in Uruguay today, and was completed in 2019 with a state-of-the-art winemaking facility with a capacity for five million litres of wine. The wines, including Altos de José Ignacio and Brisas del Este, are all made in a youthful style focusing on the fresh fruit expression of this coastal terroir.
About Bodega Brisas
Bodega Brisas is part of the Maldonado wine estate of modern wine magnate Alejandro Bulgheroni and his second winery in Uruguay, following the success of nearby Garzón.
The winery is spread over 7,226 m² and was built with a design for maximum efficiency and sustainability.
About the vineyards
The first vineyards were planted in 2012 and are in a sub-region of Maldonado known as Altos de José Ignacio. The sloped hillside vineyards and the constant sea breezes from the Atlantic provide good air circulation and drainage which is beneficial for healthy grapes. The combination with warm summer temperatures means that white and red grapes can reach full maturity.
The estate is spread over 325 hectares and has 80 hectares of vineyards planted today, mainly with Tannat, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc. All of the grapes are machine harvested, in line with the winery’s concept for using modern technology for utmost efficiency.
About Bodega Brisas wines
Bodega Brisas has for different lines of wines, which all come from their Maldonado wine estate:
BRISAS DEL ESTE
The Brisas del Este wines is a brand which is focused on the domestic market and sold locally within Uruguay. The Brisas del Este portfolio includes single-variety wines made from Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, as well as a blend of Tannat-Merlot and the ‘Blend Selection’ which is a blend of Tannat, Marselan and Cabernet Franc.
ALTOS DE JOSÉ IGNACIO
The Altos de José Ignacio wines are a brand which is destined for the export market and has a Reserva level of wines which includes a Tannat that spends almost a year in barrel and an Albariño that spends 3 months on the lees. The collection also includes an unoaked Tannat-Merlot blend and a Sauvignon Blanc in the classic line.
COLINAS DE URUGUAY
The Colinas de Uruguay wines are sold in the export market and include a single variety Tannat, Albariño and Sauvignon Blanc. The name of the brand is inspired by the rolling hills, or colinas, of the landscape. These are bright, aromatic and unoaked wines.
BRISAS DE MAR
Brisas de Mar is a line of sparkling wines, which includes a Brut Rosé made from 100% Pinot Noir and an Extra Brut made from 100% Chardonnay.
About the winemaker: Germán Bruzzone
Germán Bruzzone is the winemaker of Bodega Brisas as well as Bodega Garzòn nearby.
He was born in a wine-producing family in Canelones, where he became the third generation winemaker of his family winery.
Following several years working at different wineries in Canelones, he started working with the owner of Bodega Brisas, Alejandro Bulgheroni, in his two estates in Maldonado.
Video about Bodega Brisas
Take a look at the opening of Bodega Brisas in 2019 with this quick video highlight reel: