Updated November 2026
Short answer: Uruguay is South America’s smallest wine country, with about 6,000 hectares of vines, and its signature grape is Tannat, which covers roughly a quarter of its vineyards. Most wine comes from Canelones, near Montevideo, while Colonia, Carmelo and Maldonado are the easiest areas to visit. For a first trip, combine Colonia del Sacramento with a winery lunch.
Uruguay sits between Argentina and Brazil, and it makes boutique, family-run wines that are still little known outside the region. Its Atlantic and Río de la Plata influences give fresher, more elegant reds than many visitors expect, and its wine country is small enough to explore in a few days.
Uruguay wine at a glance
| Uruguay | |
|---|---|
| Vineyard area | About 6,000 hectares |
| Signature grape | Tannat, roughly 27% of plantings |
| Main region | Canelones, with about two-thirds of the vineyards |
| Second region | Colonia, with about 1,100 hectares |
| Whites to know | Albariño (Maldonado), Sauvignon Blanc, Viognier |
| Harvest | Roughly February to April |
Canelones: Uruguay’s wine heartland
Canelones, just north of Montevideo, holds roughly two-thirds of Uruguay’s vineyards and most of its wineries. The land is gently rolling, the climate is maritime and temperate, and the soils are clay-rich with granite. This is the home of Tannat, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc as important supporting reds.
Colonia: wine and heritage in one day
Colonia is Uruguay’s second-largest wine region, and it is where the country’s first Sauvignon Blancs were made, helped by the cooling influence of the Río de la Plata. It is also the easiest to visit: Colonia del Sacramento, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a short ferry ride from Buenos Aires. Our Colonia winery and asado lunch tour pairs a winery visit with lunch, and you can add our Colonia del Sacramento city tour.
Carmelo: boutique wineries on the river
Carmelo, in the same department, sits on the banks of the Río de la Plata and has become Uruguay’s best-known area for wine tourism, with family wineries that welcome visitors and small vineyard lodges. Narbona Wine Lodge, founded in 1909 by Juan de Narbona on the site of one of the country’s first wineries, has an old cellar, a restaurant and a few guest rooms, with Tannat as its main grape. Bodega Familia Irurtia is one of the area’s largest producers and a good example of a family-run estate.
Maldonado: the Atlantic coast
Near Punta del Este, Maldonado is Uruguay’s newest premium frontier. The vineyards sit on granitic soils close to the Atlantic, with cooling breezes that suit Albariño and fresh, elegant Tannat. Bodega Garzón, founded by Alejandro Bulgheroni, planted its first vines in 2008 and opened its winery in 2016, and it is the best-known address in the region.
The grapes to know
- Tannat: Uruguay’s flagship, with deep color, dark fruit and firm tannins. Our deep dive, Tannat wine: Uruguay’s signature grape, covers its history and style.
- Merlot and Cabernet Franc: softer and more herbal reds, often blended with Tannat.
- Albariño: a Spanish white that has found a home on the Atlantic coast, crisp and mineral, excellent with seafood.
- Viognier and Sauvignon Blanc: aromatic whites that thrive in the cooler zones.
Food and wine in Uruguay
Uruguayan cuisine suits its wines. Tannat is made for asado and aged cheeses, Albariño for grilled fish from the Río de la Plata, and chivito, the national steak sandwich, is the casual classic. Finish with dulce de leche.
When to visit
The harvest runs roughly from February to April, and April is Tannat Month, with Tannat Day on April 14. Spring, from October to December, brings mild weather and green vineyards. Winter is cold and quiet.
Visit Uruguay with Borravino
Our private Uruguay tours include the Colonia winery and asado lunch, the Colonia city tour, the Montevideo winery visit and lunch and the Montevideo city tour. Uruguay also combines easily with Argentina: a day in Colonia is part of our South American wine itinerary. Want a longer Uruguay stay, with Carmelo or Maldonado? Write to us and we will help you plan it.
Uruguay wine: what you need to know
What is Uruguay famous for in wine?
Tannat. Uruguay is the world’s largest grower of Tannat, and the grape is considered its national variety.
Which Uruguay wine region should I visit first?
Colonia. You can combine the UNESCO-listed old town and a winery lunch in one day, and it is a short ferry ride from Buenos Aires. Canelones, near Montevideo, is the best choice for variety.
How big is Uruguay’s wine industry?
Small: about 6,000 hectares of vineyards, mostly in the south of the country. That is why most wineries are family-run and visits feel personal.
Is Uruguayan Tannat different from French Tannat?
Yes. The Madiran original is famously tough and needs long ageing, while Uruguay’s maritime climate tends to give softer, fruitier wines that are easier to enjoy younger.
Ready to explore Uruguay’s wine country? See all our Uruguay wine tours, or compare the three countries in our guide to Malbec, Tannat and Carmenère.