Uruguay Wine Tours
Tannat, Albariño and boutique family wineries in Colonia, Montevideo and Punta del Este, often called South America’s best-kept wine secret.
Uruguay’s Wine Regions
Colonia & Carmelo
Uruguay’s oldest wine region: boutique wineries and old vineyards near the UNESCO-listed colonial town of Colonia, on the Río de la Plata.
Montevideo & Canelones
Uruguay’s largest wine-producing area, about 45 minutes from Montevideo, with family-run wineries and long lunches.
Maldonado & Punta del Este
Atlantic-influenced vineyards near Punta del Este, where you can pair the beach with world-class wine.
Private Tours in Colonia & Montevideo
Colonia, just 1 hour 15 minutes by ferry from Buenos Aires, combines a UNESCO-listed historic quarter with Uruguay’s oldest wine region. Montevideo is the gateway to Canelones, where most of the country’s vineyards grow. We pick you up at your hotel or the port with a private guide and vehicle. For Punta del Este, write to us and we’ll design a private tour for you.
Colonia: Winery Visit & Asado Lunch
From USD 178 per person
A boutique family winery, premium Tannat tasting and a traditional asado. Or a cheese and cold cuts picada, from USD 145.
Colonia: Historic Quarter & City Tour
From USD 115 per person
Four hours through the UNESCO-listed old town, Calle de los Suspiros, the Rambla and the bullring.
Montevideo: Winery Visit & Lunch
From USD 179 per person
A boutique family winery in Canelones, Tannat with the winemakers and a paired lunch. Perfect as a shore excursion.
Montevideo: Private City Tour
From USD 115 per person
Four hours through the Old City, its squares, the seats of government and Centenario Stadium.
Uruguay’s Wine Country in Depth
Uruguay is a small country with a big wine culture, built by Basque, Italian and Spanish immigrant families. Most wineries are still family-run, many by the third or fourth generation, so visits feel personal: it’s often the owner who pours the wine. Uruguay’s climate is closer to Bordeaux than to Mendoza, with ocean breezes, rain and mild temperatures that give fresh, elegant wines.
Colonia & Carmelo
Colonia del Sacramento, founded by the Portuguese in 1680, has a cobblestone historic quarter listed by UNESCO. Around Colonia and in Carmelo, further up the Río de la Plata, boutique wineries and some of the country’s oldest vineyards produce Tannat, Albariño and Merlot. It’s the perfect region for a day trip from Buenos Aires, or for a few slow days among the vines.
Montevideo & Canelones
Canelones, next to Montevideo, is home to the majority of Uruguay’s vineyards and many of its historic family wineries, in areas such as Progreso, Las Piedras and Juanicó. A tour here pairs perfectly with a day in Montevideo: the old city, the Rambla along the river and lunch at the Mercado del Puerto.
Maldonado & Punta del Este
The newest wine frontier, in the hills between Punta del Este and the Atlantic. Granite soils and ocean influence make excellent Albariño, Tannat and Pinot Noir, and the area around Garzón has become a destination for wine and food lovers, just inland from the beaches.
Tannat, Uruguay’s Signature Grape
Tannat arrived in Uruguay from the south-west of France in the 1870s, brought by Basque immigrants, and found a second home here. Uruguay’s maritime climate softens its famously firm tannins into a red that is powerful yet approachable, with dark fruit and a long finish. Today it’s the country’s most planted grape and its calling card abroad.
Alongside Tannat you’ll taste Albariño, fresh and saline from the coast; Merlot and Cabernet Franc; and blends of Tannat with Merlot or Marselan. Read more in Tannat, the icon wine of Uruguay.
Day Trip to Colonia from Buenos Aires
A short ferry ride across the Río de la Plata takes you from Buenos Aires to Colonia del Sacramento. We pair our historic quarter and city tour with a winery visit and asado lunch, and have you back at the port for the ferry.
Suggested Uruguay Wine Itineraries
Every trip is private and built around you, but these are the routes our guests enjoy most. Use them as a starting point.
1 Day: Colonia from Buenos Aires
Morning ferry, a walk through the historic quarter, a winery visit with lunch, and back to Buenos Aires.
3 Days: Colonia and Montevideo
Colonia and Carmelo, then Montevideo with the family wineries of Canelones and lunch at the Mercado del Puerto.
5 Days: From the River to the Atlantic
Colonia, Montevideo and Canelones, finishing with vineyards and beaches near Punta del Este.
Planning Your Uruguay Wine Tour
How Many Days Do You Need?
A day trip from Buenos Aires is enough for Colonia and a winery lunch. With two or three days, add Montevideo and the boutique wineries of Canelones. Give it four or five and you can finish on the coast, among the vineyards near Punta del Este.
Getting There
Ferries cross the Río de la Plata from Buenos Aires to Colonia and Montevideo several times a day. Montevideo’s airport also has direct flights from Buenos Aires and other major hubs. We meet you at the port or airport and handle all transfers in Uruguay.
When to Go
Uruguay’s wineries welcome visitors year-round. Summer, from December to March, is the liveliest season, with harvest in February and March and the beaches of Punta del Este in full swing.
Where to stay: see our guide to boutique hotels in Colonia del Sacramento.
Food & Wine in Uruguay
Uruguayans take their asado seriously, and a winery lunch often means beef, lamb and chorizo cooked slowly over wood, with Tannat on the table. Add the famous chivito sandwich, fresh fish on the coast and dulce de leche desserts. In Montevideo, the Mercado del Puerto is a must for grill lovers.
Uruguay Wine Tour FAQ
Can I do a Uruguay wine tour as a day trip from Buenos Aires?
Yes. Take the morning ferry to Colonia, explore the historic quarter, visit a winery with lunch, and return to Buenos Aires the same day.
What wine is Uruguay known for?
Tannat is Uruguay’s signature red: structured, with dark fruit and a long finish, softened by the country’s maritime climate. Albariño, Merlot and Chardonnay are also excellent.
What's included in a private Uruguay wine tour?
Winery tastings, a wine-paired lunch, private transportation and an English-speaking guide, with pickup at the port, airport or your hotel.
Can I combine Uruguay with Argentina?
Yes. Buenos Aires, Colonia and Mendoza make a natural route, and it’s the backbone of our two-week South America small-group journey.
Combine Uruguay with Argentina
Uruguay fits naturally into a trip to Buenos Aires and Mendoza. It’s the route of our two-week South America small-group journey.
Plan Your Uruguay Wine Tour
Tell us your dates and where you’ll be staying, and we’ll suggest the right wineries for you.