When you think of a vacation solely based on wine, Europe and California are probably your go-to destinations. The last place you probably would think of is Uruguay.
Countries in South America, including Argentina and Chile, are known for its grape varieties, Uruguay has struggled to get the kind of attention that its neighbors have received for decades. But that’s changing thanks to the Bodega Garzón.
Located three hours away from the capital Montevideo, Garzón is a rural village in the coastal province of Maldonado. In this region is where you will find the winery Bodega Garzón, which has been gaining traction.
Wine Enthusiast Magazine recently named it New World Winery of the Year in 2018. And the following year, it ranked the No. 2 spot on the inaugural top 50 list from the World’s Best Vineyards Academy.
The winery’s managing director, Christian Wylie, told CNN that one of the biggest hurdles is its location and the fact that many consumers don’t know where Uruguay is.
“When we have tastings of Garzón wine around the world, one of the first things we do is show them a map,” he said. “We explain that Uruguay is at the same latitude as wine regions in Chile, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.”
The winery sits on more than 500 acres of land and since its opening in 2016, it has attracted more than 20,000 visitors a year, CNN reports.
Bodega Garzón produces a Tannat, a red wine varietal from the south of France and a signature grape in the region, the Galician white wine varietal of Albariño, and its most popular: Balasto, a blend of Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Marselan.
