Tannat is undoubtedly King in Uruguay, conquering over a quarter of vineyard plantations. However, there’s much more to Uruguay than just Tannat with a manifold of different grape varieties worth hunting down for their unique expressions in the different wine regions of Uruguay.
With influences from ancestors in Italy, Spain and France, there are many different grape varieties to explore in Uruguay’s wine regions. Whether that’s tasting Arneis and Sangiovese, or Marsanne and Malbec, there are varieties from all over the world finding their home in Uruguay today.
Here are three up-and-coming grape varieties, beyond Tannat, in Uruguay that you need to know about right now.
Marselan – An unexpected champion red wine in Uruguay
You might know that Uruguay is the world’s largest Tannat producer, but did you know that it is the world’s second largest Marselan producer? Although it is behind France in terms of Marselan production, Uruguay has over 140 hectares of this modern variety planted and it is offering some really delicious wines.
A cross between Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon, Marselan is well suited to the humid conditions of Uruguay (with its naturally high resistance to mildew and botrytis) and can produce quality wines year on year. You can expect a medium bodied wine with finer tannins, rich colour and deep notes of cherry and blackberries from a Marselan wine.
You’ll find Marselan planted in some of the most traditional regions of Canelones but also in the new coastal regions in the north. Marselan is often blended but also found as a single variety.
Top Uruguayan Marselan wines to try include wines by Traversa, Garzón and Familia Deicas.
Albariño – At the crest of Uruguay’s new white wave
If there’s one white variety in Uruguay that’s really receiving some well-deserved buzz, its Albariño. This Galician grape variety seems like a no-brainer for the humid, Atlantic climate of Uruguay’s coast (which shares many similarities to Galicia). However, it wasn’t until the early 2000s when Bodega Bouza produced their first vintages of Albariño that the light bulb moment occurred – Albariño is ideal for Uruguay.
The thick skins of Albariño prepare it well for the more humid weather, and it produces aromatic, fresh and characterful wines. Uruguay’s Albariño wines can be enjoyed young but recent vintages are seeing some of the more complex styles that can be aged for a few years.
Bouza was the pioneer of Uruguayan Albariño and now has two different regional Albariño wines – from Canelones and Pan de Azucar in Maldonado. Another key Albariño player is Bodega Garzón in Maldonado, producing more Albariño than anyone else. And other wineries making Albariño wines today include Bodega Oceanica Jose Ignacio and Juanico. Although the quantity might never give Galician Albariño a run for its money, the quality is already reaching a par.
Cabernet Franc – Uruguay’s most promising Cab
If you ask many of Uruguay’s new generation of winemakers, they’ll tell you that Cabernet Franc is one of their favourite grape varieties in Uruguay. Why? On a practical note, it ripens a month earlier than Cabernet Sauvignon which makes it a little easier on the logistics and less dependent on the end of the season weather forecast. But on a stylistic note, Uruguayan Cabernet Franc can produce deliciously perfumed, spicy and juicy red wines.
Cabernet Franc is having a moment in Argentina too and is indeed becoming a global favourite, and Uruguay is no exception. “Over the last year, I’ve really started to like and drink a lot of Cabernet Franc,” Gabriel Pisano, who is making a fantastic Cabernet Franc for his own Viña Progreso label, explains his fascination. “I love its peppery quality and how versatile it is, and Uruguay can make particularly good Cabernet Franc.”
Top Uruguayan Cabernet Franc wines include Viña Progreso, Bracco Bosca, Alto de la Ballena, Familia Bresesti, Familia Deicas.
Read more on South America’s different wine varieties.
Read about Uruguay’s wine regions.