The Best Wine Tasting Tours in Uruguay.

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Why Visit Uruguay?

Uruguay is a breath of fresh air with miles of stunning beaches, verdant green countryside, rich colonial cities and extraordinary diverse wine regions. There are over 200 wineries in Uruguay with some dating back to more than a hundred years old! Located in southeastern South America and tucked between Brazil and Argentina, Uruguay, with an area of around 176,215 km², is the second smallest country in South America.

Wine holidays to Uruguay will astound and delight each and every visitor who graces its land. It’s best known for its special grape varietal, Tannat which is now known as the healthiest red wine in the world. Not only will you be treated to old and treasured wines when you arrive, but local enologists fixated on making new styles and attempting new blends will show you exactly why Uruguay is a wine region not to be slept on. Many of its wine has achieved gold and silver medals from global competitions and is a well-known rival of Argentina.

It is not uncommon for families with Spanish or Italian ancestry to grow grapes and become local winemakers in their own homes. The conditions for winegrowing is on par with some of the best wine regions in the world, such as Chile, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. It is the only country in South America located completely outside of the tropics, existing in temperate zones. It’s growing conditions are comparable with the world-class French wine region of Bordeaux.

Some of the best wine regions in Uruguay include Colonia, Maldonado, Salto and Rivera. Wine lovers who are constantly striving to find star quality wines to indulge their palate should start planning their vineyard holidays to Uruguay now.

Plan Your Visit

Best Known Grapes

Tannat is widely planted in Uruguay and is certainly one of their best known grapes. Newer grapes that are also making a name for themselves are Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Albariño.

Best time to visit

The best time to visit Uruguay is during the off-peak months of spring and autumn . During these periods, you can enjoy fewer crowds, perfect warm weather and lower prices! A visit to Casa Pueblo in Punta del Este is a must . See the famous hand out of the sand, enjoy lunch at La Huella in Jose Ignacio, and visit wineries with a local guide. Be sure to visit Montevideo where you can have a BBQ lunch at the famous Mercado del Puerto and visit the wineries with a local guide. We also recommend visiting Colonia where the oldest winery in Uruguay is. Book a tour to Carmelo to visit wineries with a local guide. Walk around the famous historic plaza in Colonia (world heritage site). Don't miss out on the wine and food festivals in Uruguay, such as the Tannat Festival and Punta Food & Wine Festival.

How long to stay

If it is your first time in Uruguay, it’s best to spend at least 3 days wine touring. Uruguay has 3 main wine regions, namely Montevideo, Punta del Este & Colonia. You can catch the Buquebus to Montevideo, where you can spend a few days and visit family wineries followed by a couple days in Punta del Este with visits to costal wineries. You can then return to Buenos Aires via Colonia. There are also beaches, small towns, colonial architecture, landscapes, farming (lots of cows), off-the-beaten track venues.

How to get there

There are over a dozen major airports in Uruguay that serves different regions, with Carrasco International Airport (MVD) located 19 km northeast from downtown Montevideo being the largest in the country. Those interested in travelling to the wine region of Salto will most likely fly into Salto Airport (STY) . If your end destination is Colonia, you'll need Laguna De Los Patos Airport (CYR) , and for those who have planned their wine holidays to Rivera, the best airport for you is Rivera Airport (RVY).