An Overview of the Wines of Uruguay

Uruguay is home to a proud winemaking tradition in an unusual location, and a far cry from the desert-and Andes-dominated landscapes associated with most vineyard regions in the South America continent.

  • Uruguay means “river of the painted birds” in the indigenous Guarani language

  • In Uruguay, the dominant factor is the Atlantic Ocean, whose winds, storms, and tides ensure a cool climate.

  • Uruguay is about the same size as the U.S. state of Wisconsin and its population of 3.5 million is roughly that of Connecticut.

  • In terms of planted vineyards (14,804 acres), it’s a little smaller than Alexander Valley in California’s Sonoma Valley.

  • In terms of worldwide production of Tannat (tahn-naht), Uruguay is second only to France. And, in Uruguay, Tannat accounts for 27% of vineyard plantings.

    • In Uruguay, Tannat is also known as Harriague (Ha-ree-AH-gay), surname of the first producer to plant it in the country

  • Even so, Uruguay is the 4th largest wine producer in South America

  • Other principal grape varieties include:

    • Reds: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc

    • Whites: Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Viognier, Albariño

  • There are 180 active wineries

  • The oldest winery in Uruguay dates back to 1854 and is called Los Cerros de San Juan

  • Only 5% of the wines produced in Uruguay are exported. And, just under 20% of the exports are to the U.S. (i.e., ~1% of wines from Uruguay make it to the U.S.)

  • Most wineries are family businesses with many now in the 3rd and 4th generations

  • Today, Uruguay has a dual character: on the one hand it continues to produce in a traditional style to suit local tastes, with Tannat dominating the scene. On the other, alternative and innovative styles, such as sparkling whites and much lighter reds are appearing.

Look for upcoming Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week blogs featuring Tannat from some of the best wineries in Uruguay. Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Bluestone Vineyards Wines

Bluestone Vineyard is named after the "bluestone" (a type of limestone) that is a main component within the local soil. It is a family owned and operated vineyard and winery in the Shenandoah Valley AVA.

Curt and Jackie Hartman began planting grapes in 2003 to make wine for personal use. In 2007 they decided to make the vineyard a business. Their two sons are running the winery with Lee Hartman as Winemaker and General Manager and RC Hartman as the Operations Manager. Today, Bluestone Vineyards is producing about 5,000 cases annually. 

Each of these two red wines from Bluestone Vineyard recently tied for fourth place in the 2023 Shenandoah Valley Cup.

2021 Bluestone Vineyards Estate Merlot ($26)

This Bluestone Merlot is produced from 100% Merlot grapes that are Estate grown. It is deep garnet in color with aromas of plum, cherry, dried herbs and a hint of smokiness. On the palate, this medium-bodied wine has medium tannin and acidity with flavors of black cherry, white pepper and cedar with a soft-chocolate finish.





2021 Bridgewater Crimson Virginia Red Blend ($26)

The Bridgewater Crimson red blend is made in collaboration with nearby Bridewater College.

This Crimson red blend is a traditional Bordeaux blend of Petit Verdot (50%), Merlot (33%) and Cabernet Franc (17%). It is deep garnet in color with bright red fruit aromas. On the palate, this full-bodied wine has good complexity with rich red fruit flavor and peppery notes. It finishes with spicy notes.

The Shenandoah Valley AVA is producing a bunch of great wines and these are two fine examples from Bluestone Vineyard. These award winning wines are a great value and a great fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wines of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received these samples at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Samples Provided by Bluestone Vineyard via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

How to Select a Bottle of Wine to Take to a Party

Photo by Scott Warman on Unsplash

You've been invited to a party and asked to take a bottle of wine.  Now what?  You don't think you know a thing about wine but are expected to show up and not embarrass yourself.  Well, fear not!  

There are several things to consider. First, who will be attending the party. If this is an invite to the boss’s house for dinner, that's one thing. If it's a after-work happy hour, a beach party or picnic, that's another.  The primary thing to consider is who you are buying the wine for. 

So, let's start from the easiest position to be in.  If you are invited to an after work happy hour, a beach party or picnic with a big group, don't fret.  Just about any bottle will do.  The point will be to enjoy some food and wine and have a good time.  Show up with a chilled bottle of Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, or a Rosé and your bottle will fit right in.  

Next, if you are invited to someone's house for a big party, whether it be an open house or a birthday party, again it's hard to go wrong.  The big group will just be looking for a bottle that can be opened and enjoyed while socializing at the party. Along with the previously mentioned white wines and rosés, you might venture into some reds wines and consider a popular Red Blend, Zinfandel, or a Merlot. Inexpensive versions of these can easily be found in the $10-$15 range. And, like the beach party or picnic, it will be easy to introduce your wine with little threat.

Next comes the smaller couples party where you are to take a bottle of wine. Here your wine will be noticed. If you know the hosts well, it’s certainly appropriate to ask what type of wine they'd like for you to bring.  They know what food they are going to be serving and should give you some direction on a white versus a red.  Otherwise, show up with a nice bottle of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir or Merlot in the $15 price range.

A harder situation is when the boss invites you over for dinner or you are in a social situation where you are trying to make a strong positive impression.  Even if you weren't asked to bring a bottle of wine, you should show up with one.  If you are trying to impress, plan on shopping by price and find a nice bottle of red wine (Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah, or Zinfandel) in the $20 - $30 price range.  Yes, that may be a bit pricey compared to what you would usually spend, but remember, you want to impress.  And, spending a few extra dollars will be well worth it.

Finally, if you've been invited to someone's house where you know they are big wine lovers.  You want to be shopping the upper shelves which is where the 'nice' wines are usually displayed.  If you can go $35 to $50, do so.  And focus on the red wines. A nice bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Zinfandel, Syrah, Petite Sirah or a fine red blend should impress. 

Whether it's a picnic party or a small gathering, be sure to look around at what other wines show up.  It will give you a better sense for next time. And, you just might want to drop off your bottle and try someone else's wine that you've never tried before.  

So, boldly go out there, pick up a bottle of wine to share and, most of all, don't worry. Your wine will be appreciated and rapidly consumed.  Cheers!

Behind the Cork™ - Jump Mountain Vineyard Borderland Red Blend

2019 Jump Mountain Borderland Red Blend ($27)

From the Shenandoah Valley AVA, Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is an award-winning wine having received 1st place in the Shenandoah Cup Awards!

Approved in 1982 as Virginia’s first American Viticultural Area, the Shenandoah Valley AVA is located in the Appalachian region of the eastern United States covering the land along the western edge of Virginia and spilling into the easternmost portion of West Virginia.

Bounded by the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Allegheny Mountains to the west, these two ranges create a specific mesoclimate for the valley between them, which itself ranges from 500 to 1,800 feet above sea level, protecting it from storms from the west and rain-bearing winds blowing in from the Atlantic coast, 100 miles east.

Protected by the sandstone knob of Jump Mountain, the micro-climate and soils found at Jump Mountain Vineyards create conditions conducive to growing vinifera grape varieties.

This Jump Mountain Borderland red blend is produced from 50% Tannat, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon and 25% Cabernet Franc. It is deep ruby in color with big aromas of rich dark fruit. On the palate, this blend has wonderful flavors of cherry and raspberry with medium tannin and a balanced soft finish. The three ‘big’ red grapes used in this blend might typically need a good hour or more in the decanter but the 2019 Borderland was great right after pulling the cork.

Being a 1st place wine, and only having produced 50 cases, this Jump Mountain Borderland red blend may be tough to find. But if you are able to find it, pick up a couple - it’s super! And, at the price, it’s definitely a perfect fit as this week’s Behind the Cork™ Wine of the Week. Cheers!

Disclosure of Wine Sample Submission: I received this sample at no cost for review. The opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Media Sample Provided by Jump Mountain Vineyards via the Shenandoah Valley Wine Growers Association and Donna White Communications

Lady Bug Taint in Wine? Yes - It's a Real Thing!

Photo by Justin Lauria on Unsplash

There are various type of problems that can occur in the winemaking process that result in the wine being damaged, or tainted.

Some common wine faults include:

  • Oxidized wine - Wine which is exposed to too much oxygen can take on orange/brown colors and nutty flavor

  • Brett - Caused by a type of yeast, this fault causes wine to smell like a barnyard, hay bales, a sweaty horse saddle, Band-Aids, or a sweaty horse

  • Cork Taint - Caused by airborne fungi and bacteria, wine takes on the odors of wet newspaper, a wet dog, or moldy cardboard

  • Cooked Wine - When wine has been exposed to too much heat, it can take on a nutty, brown color along with a roasted sugar aroma

  • Lightstrike - After exposure to too much UV light the wine may take on the smell of wet wool

These types of damage are sometimes rare (e.g., Brett, Cork Taint) and others are more common than we think (e.g., Oxidation, Cooked wine, Lightstrike). But then there’s Lady Bug Taint!

Lady bugs are quite common in the outdoors and generally thought to be beneficial to plants. The problem comes when Lady bugs remain on clusters of grapes during the winemaking process. When they are in distress, such as being crushed or drowned, their defense mechanism is to give off a smelly compound. This compound can have nutty notes, sometimes compared to roasted peanuts. It can also include odors of molded potatoes, asparagus, rotten peas or green bell pepper. It’s thought that just one beetle per vine can be enough to taint the resulting wine!

While not considered harmful to humans, this Lady bug taint is a real thing. So, as always, if your wine has an off-odor, it’s likely one of many things that can be damaging, including Lady bug taint. Who knew?