Discover the Florida wine sub-region of Uruguay

about this subregion

The Florida wine subregion, nestled within the Uruguay's Center wine region of South America, has an environment that greatly influences its viticulture. This area, that shares the North wine region with Durazno and Lavalleja, is characterized by a humid subtropical climate, experiencing warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Such conditions are favorable for grape cultivation, ensuring a steady growth cycle and aiding in the development of the grapes' complex flavors without the need of excessive irrigation

Another defining feature of the Florida subregion is the diversity of soils. This region boasts a mixture of clay, gravel, and calcareous soils, each contributing with unique characteristics. For example, clay soils have a great humidity retention, while gravel soils provide excellent drainage, reducing root diseases-

Despite its rich environmental assets, the Florida subregion's production is relatively modest. According to a 2023 INAVI report, Florida's vineyards harvested 19 tons of grapes, which represented only 0.03% of Uruguay's total grape production. The region primarily cultivates Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Ugni Blanc grapes, that adapts well to the humid subtropical climate of this region.

Discover Terroir

The landscape of the Florida wine subregion in Uruguay is characterized by its rolling plains and absence of mountain ranges, something that provides a unique backdrop for viticulture. Uruguay's topography mainly consists of low undulating hills and broad plains, transitioning into a more hilly terrain toward the north.

The Florida subregion benefits from this rolling landscape, typical of Uruguay's interior regions. The area does not experience extreme geographical barriers, allowing for the circulation of air that is very beneficial for viticulture. The landscape of this sub-region, surrounded by natural beauty, is marked by a combination of rows of vineyards and patches of natural vegetation.

The serene landscape of the Florida subregion is both picturesque and suitable for viticulture, allowing this new world gem to produce some of the best wines of Uruguay.

The climate of the Florida wine subregion is humid subtropical, which means that the region experiences warm, relatively dry summers and mild, wetter winters. This climate allows the cultivation of a wide range of grape varieties, such as Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Ugni Blanc.

The weather in the Florida subregion does not often experience extremes, making it an ideal climate for viticulture. This allows the vines to grow in a healthy environment, while the good distribution of rainfall throughout the year helps to ensure that vines get enough water without the need for extensive irrigation systems.

The climate in this region is also influenced by its geographic location, which is relatively flat and open, which allows for the circulation of air. This helps to prevent the buildup of humidity around the vines, reducing the risk of fungal or root diseases.

The Florida wine subregion, located in South America, is characterized by its diverse soil types, which significantly influence the quality and characteristics of the wine produced in this area.

Clay Soils: Clay is a heavy soil type very benefitial for viticulture thanks to its ability to retain moisture. This characteristic is particularly valuable during dry periods, as it reduces the need for irrigation and helps maintain the overall health of the vine. The high nutrient content in clay soils also supports vigorous vine growth, which can lead to complex wines.
Gravel Soils: Gravel soils are well-drained and typically found in patches within the region. Its excellent drainage capabilities prevent waterlogging, something that could cause root diseases. In addition, gravel soils have a great heat retention capacity, which can give a more even ripening cycle to the grapes.. This soil type is perfect for growing robust red grapes.
Calcareous (Lime) Soils: Calcareous soil is rich in calcium carbonate, an element that contributes s to a higher pH level in the soil. Grapes grown in calcareous soils have higher levels of acidity, that allows to produce fresh white wines.

Discover

The Florida wine subregion, part of the Center wine region of Uruguay, is known for its unique terroir, that allows to cultivate different key grape varieties:

Tannat: Tannat is the flagship grape of Uruguay, and thrives in the subtropical climate of Florida. This red grape prefers well-drained soils and has a great tolerance to humidity, something that helps to avoid root of fungal diseases. Tannat tends to have vigorous growth, so growers usually need to implement canopy management techniques not only to give the grapes more exposure to sunlight, but also to obtain grapes with intense tannins and flavors.
Merlot: Merlot thrives in the cooler areas of the Florida department, where it can have a slower ripening cycle, something that allows for the development of intense aromas in the grapes. Merlot prefers fertile, clay-rich soils with great moisture retention, something that is key for a healthy development of the vines during the hottest months. This region offers moderate temperatures and rainfall, which helps Merlot grapes to maintain a balance between natural acidity and sugar levels, essential for the production of high-quality wines.
Cabernet Franc: Cabernet Franc is another red grape that adapts well to the climate of the Florida department, where it benefits from the warm days and cooler nights. This helps Cabernet Franc to develop higher levels of natural acidity. These vines are less vigorous than Tannat, so they require less canopy management. Cabernet Franc thrive in sandy or gravelly soils with good drainage that helps to obtain grapes with more concentrated flavors. This climate allows Cabernet Franc to have a steady maturation cycle, avoiding the risk of overripening.‍
Ugni Blanc: Known for its high acidity and vigorous growth, Ugni Blanc, also known as Trebbiano, is well adapted to the climate of this subregion. This grapes, that is also planted in renowned wine regions such as the Napa Valley, thrives in well-drained, lime-rich soils, which are prevalent in parts of this area. This grape is very resistant to humidity , something that coupled with its high acidity levels makes it the most planted white grape in Florida.

These grapes, coupled with other less planted varieties such as Marselan, Cabernet Sauvignon or Muscat, show the great viticultural potential of this new world wine region.

The Florida wine subregion of Uruguay, located in South America, is celebrated for producing unique wines that reflect the terroir of the area. Among the most popular wines from this region are Tannat, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Ugni Blanc.

Tannat: Tannat wine has a great robustness and depth. Usually, these wines show an intense and inviting red color, while in the nose they have a complex bouquet of dark fruits such as blackberries and plums. In the palate, this wine stands out for its bold profile, with structured tannins, subtle earthy notes and a spicy aftertaste This wine is a great prospect for aging, where it develops softer tannins and a more rounded flavor profile.
Merlot: Merlot from the Florida subregion has a smooth and less tannic profile than Tannat. The aromatic profile of this wine usually shows red fruit notes of cherry, raspberry, sometimes with cocoa or tobacco notes if the wine was aged . On the palate, it is velvety and has a medium body, with a great balance between fruit flavors and herbal undertones, that makes this wine very approachable and perfect to pair with a wide range of foods.
Cabernet Franc: This wine is renowned for its elegant profile. In the nose, it usually shows notes of ripe red berries, black pepper, bell pepper or leafy greens, that gives the wine its signature freshness. The flavor profile is bright and spicy, with great acidity and a slightly spicy finish. It's a wine that can be enjoyed young for its freshness or aged to develop more complex flavors.
Ugni Blanc: Ugni Blanc, also known as Trebbiano in Italy, is a wine that has an interesting refreshing profile, compared to the red wines of the region. This crisp and light-bodied wine has citrusy and floral aromas that are very subtle.In the palate, it often shows notes of green apple and lemon, coupled with a lively acidity that leads to a refreshing finish.

These wines, coupled with other varietals such as Marselan, Cabernet Sauvignon or Moscatel, showcase the unique charateristics of the terroir of Florida.

Florida

Associations

Discover Terroir

Discover