Viña Edén
Viña Edén is the vineyard and family winery set up by Brazilian entrepreneurs Mauricio and Rosane in 2009. With almost 250 hectares in Pueblo Edén, near Punta del Este, the vineyard has Tannat, Chardonnay, Merlot, Marselan and Pinot Noir planted and is producing still and sparkling wines, including unoaked Tannat, which embrace the fresh and bright modern school of Uruguayan winemaking.
You can visit the winery for a tasting, lunch, picnic or full-blown asado, and even traverse through the vines on electric buggies.
About Viña Edén
Viña Edén is a boutique family winery focused on making premium wines in a sustainable manner, taking care of its environment. Mauricio and Rosane came to Uruguay from Brazil and invested in the estate in Puelo Edén, which they fondly call the Tuscany of Uruguay.
The steep hillsides, valleys and hills, with stoney soils and a strong maritime influence proved to be ideal conditions for grape growing and they planted a vineyard in 2009, making their first wines in 2013.
The winery, which is split over three levels, has a gravity flow system: the first level is the grape reception area, the second level is the fermentation room, and the last level – which takes advantage of the cool temperatures, darkness and humidity underground – is the cellar for ageing wines in. The whole winery is built to be eco friendly and uses solar and wind power. In fact, the estate harvests so much solar and wind energy that they can run the entire operation on their renewable energy and feed some back into the grid for the neighbouring village.
About Viña Edén vineyards in Maldonado
The 6.6-hectare vineyard has Tannat, Merlot, Marselan, Chardonnay and Pinot Noir vines, all planted in high density on the poor, rocky soils of the region. One particular plot, on the highest and stoniest part of the vineyard, is planted with Pinot Noir and Merlot in 1×1 density. Viña Edén specifically selected the clones they planted from France and brought them to Uruguay.
The vineyard benefits from a significant maritime influence with cool, foggy mornings and breezy, sunny afternoons. The free-draining soils also alleviate much rot pressure.
About Viña Edén wines
PUEBLO EDÉN
Pueblo Edén is the entry level line of the collection with youthful and fresh wines made with a focus on pure fruit and varietal expression. The line includes a Tannat, Chardonnay, rosé and two sparkling wines.
VIÑA EDÉN
Viña Edén is the premium line, for which wines mature for some time in the cellar – either in concrete tanks or barrels. These are more complex wines with good potential for ageing, and some highlights include the fresh and bright Tannat Cemento (aged only in cement tanks) and excellent range of sparkling wines made by traditional method and aged on the lees for several months.
CERRO NEGRO GRAN RESERVA
Cerro Negro Gran Reserva is the top-of-range wine which is a complex blend of Tannat, Merlot and Marselan.
About the winemaker Marcelo Breganti
Marcelo Breganti is the head winemaker of Viña Edén. He grew up in a winemaking family in Canelones and studied at the Thomas Barreta winemaking school. Having worked in several wineries in Uruguay, he joined the team at Viña Edén in 2015, the winery’s third vintage. Today he regularly contributes to different oenological and viticultural studies and research topics at the Agronomy Faculty in the local University.
Marcelo and Viña Edén’s winemaking philosophy is to respect the terroir and let the fruit express its character in the wines with minimal intervention in the winery.
Visiting Viña Edén winery & vineyards
Ideally located beyond the hills of cosmopolitan Punta del Este, Viña Edén is in the heart of the growing wine route of Maldonado. You can visit the eye-catching winery and vineyards for a tasting, tour or a bite to eat.
All of their wines are available to taste in different flight options and you can enjoy a plate of local charcuterie, cheese and artisanal bread, or stay for lunch at the restaurant which uses local ingredients from nearby organic farms. You can either enjoy a full-blown asado or a three-course pairing menu, or enjoy a picnic in the vineyards under the shade of centennial trees.
Visitors can also organise for tours around the vineyard on their electric carts, and you can book a private tasting with the winemaker.
Tasting notes
Prizes and Awards
Best Uruguayan Chardonnay: Descorchados
Best Uruguayan Sparkling: Descorchados
Methóde Champenoise Brut Nature 3D: 95 points Tim Atkin
Tannat Cemento: 93 points Jamie Goode
Tannat Reserva: 93 points Jamie Goode
