Marichal winery was founded in 1916 as a family business selling grapes and later making table wines.
About Marichal winery & the Marichal family
The Marichal family have been growing grapes for over 100 years in the heart of Las Violetas in Canelones region. As part of their family tradition, viticultural know-how and understanding has been passed down through the generations.
The first generation of the Marichal family in Uruguay started with Isabelino Marichal and Juana Lugano who immigrated from the Canary Islands and Italy respectively, and made a new home in Etchevarría, Canelones, planting grapevines in the early 20th century.
The second generation, brothers and sisters Lorenza, Francisco, Ezequiel and Juan Máximo, all grew up among the vineyards and worked with their mother Juana who had to take over the reins of the family production when Isabelino died while the children were all young. In 1938, this second generation built the family winery and started table wine production, which was continued by the third generation until the end of the 20th century.
Fourth-generation brothers, Alejandro and Juan Marichal, are today in charge of running the winery – taking care of the vineyards and winemaking respectively. In 2002, they decided to make their mark on the family legacy and convert production from table wines to fine wines ready for export.
The family winery now has a wide portfolio of wines which are widely exported and sold locally. Tannat is, of course, their flagship but Marichal also has a strong leaning towards Pinot Noir.
You can read more about the family history online.
About Marichal vineyard
With 50 hectares of vines planted in Etchevarría in Canelones, the vineyard surrounds their winery in this renowned sub-region of Las Violetas which is well known for its Tannat.
The vineyard is planted on gently sloping hillsides and the soils are mainly clay loam with calcareous deposits. The location, around 25 kilometres from the coast, benefits from afternoon coastal breezes which cool the evening temperatures.
Marichal winery has mainly Tannat, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Semillon, Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc planted in their vineyard. Their most prized vines are their oldest block of Tannat vines, which are over 40-years-old.
Vineyard management is focused on sustainability and integrated farming, and Marichal winery is part of the sustainable viticulture program being developed by INIA and INAVI.
About Marichal wines
Marichal’s diverse portfolio has a range of traditional, and some less traditional, wines:
PERIPLO
Periplo is the youngest line of wines produced by Marichal winery and focuses on making ‘wines with an adventurous spirit’, according to Juan Andrés. This line is focused on fresh fruit and a youthful expression and includes Sauvignon Blanc, Tannat and Cabernet Sauvignon. The eye-catching labels are a homage to Ezequiel Marichal, who constructed the winery in 1938.
MARICHAL
Within the main Marichal range there are several series, which starts with the classic Marichal line which is focused on single-variety expressions of their main grape varietals. The wines don’t have any oak ageing and are focused on the fruit-expression of each variety. The range includes Tannat, Merlot, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon.
MARICHAL RESERVE
The Marichal Reserve Collection is focused on a more complex range of wines which are typically made from grapevines which are over 20 years old. Both red and white wines in the range are aged for a certain period in French or American oak, and the range includes Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Tannat, as well as two interesting Pinot Noir blends – one with Tannat for a rich, red wine, and one with Chardonnay for a light, salmon-coloured rosé.
MARICHAL GRAN RESERVE TANNAT A
There are also some special release wines which include the icon wine of the winery, Marichal Grand Reserve Tannat A. This is a single vineyard Tannat which comes from their oldest Tannat vines (over 40 years old) and is aged in barrels for 18 months, and only produced in the best vintages.
Marichal is also experimenting with Semillon, Sauvignon Gris, Moscatel de Alejandria, Arinarnoa and in 2021 will have their first vintage of Albariño, so watch this space!
About the winemakers
Marichal winery has three winemakers taking care of the wine production: brothers Juan Andrés and Alejandro Marichal, and Sebastian Strada.
Alejandro Marichal, winemaker & agronomist
Alejandro Marichal is in charge of the vineyards. As well as studying winemaking in Uruguay, Alejandro has done vintages in Napa, California. “I live really close to the winery and I love wine, friends and playing tennis every once and a while,” he says. “I always try to play my part in the continuous improvement of the quality of grapes and together with my family aim to make better wines each year.”
Juan Andrés Marichal, winemaker
After studying winemaking in Mendoza, Juan Andrés Marichal worked in two different wineries to learn the ropes in Argentina and returned to Uruguay in 2002 to work at and help transform the family winery into fine wine production. “When I came back, together with my brother we decided our role in the family history of the winery would be to focus on making export-quality wines,” says Juan Andrés. “Together with our winemaker Sebastian Strada, we have been defining how to achieve the best quality from the vineyard to the winery.”
Sebastian Strada, winemaker
Having worked with the Marichal family for over 15 years, Sebastian Strada has been an integral part of converting the family winery into a premium wine business. Sebastian works on a daily basis in the winery taking charge of caring for the wines, many of which are cellared for several years before release.
Visiting Marichal winery
Marichal is a family winery and so you are likely to be attended by one of the family members who will take you for a tour of the winery and facilities before sitting down in their cosy tasting room to taste through some of the wines from the portfolio.
If you are a Tannat-lover and want to get your head around the age-ability of Tannat, you can book in advance for a vertical Tannat tasting where you will have the opportunity to taste several vintages of Tannat.
You can also book ahead to enjoy a traditional Uruguayan lunch with the family, or a cheese board and homemade empanadas over wine tasting.
You can visit Monday through Friday with advance booking, and the wine shop is open 9 till 5. Visits are family and child-friendly and visitors with disabilities are welcome.