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The Uruguay Center wine region is located in south-central Uruguay. It covers the departments of Durazno, Florida and Lavalleja. The region is situated in close proximity to the country's capital city, Montevideo and encompasses a diverse range of landscapes, including rolling hills, valleys, and coastal areas.
One of the distinguishing features of the Uruguay Centro wine region is its proximity to the Río de la Plata estuary. This large body of water, which acts as the border between Uruguay and Argentina, has a significant impact on the region's climate and viticulture. It helps to create a unique microclimate, characterized by cool breezes and increased humidity, which are favorable for grape cultivation.
According to an INAVI report, in 2022, there were 11 vineyards in this region, distributed as follows:
The predominant grape variety grown in Uruguay Centro is Tannat, which has found a particularly favorable home in Uruguay. Tannat is known for producing robust, full-bodied red wines with rich tannins and dark fruit flavors. Other grape varieties grown in the region include Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay.
Overall, the Uruguay Center wine region offers a combination of favorable climate, diverse soils, and maritime influence, creating an ideal terroir for grape cultivation. These conditions contribute to the production of high-quality wines that showcase the unique character and flavors of the region.
Vineyard Hectares
WINERIES
The Central wine region extends through the departments of Durazno, Florida and Lavalleja. Here, rolling hills and green plains predominate, on which endless rows of vineyards are located. This landscape not only graces the view of those who visit the region, but they are also key for the grapes to have the number of hours of sunshine necessary to develop intense aromas and flavors.
The terroir of this region is rich and diverse, with a myriad of microclimates that provide specific characteristics to the grapes. From the sun-drenched plains, which give the grapes a greater intensity of flavor, to the higher elevations, which result in grapes with greater acidity, each of the microclimates plays a key role in the production of the region's distinctive wines.
The soils of the Center region, composed mainly of a mix of clay, limestone, granite, sand and gravel, have a good level of fertility, which is not excessive. This allows the vineyards to have the necessary nutrients for their development, without this implying a decrease in the quality of the grapes.
The combination of climate, soil and natural beauty in this wine region makes it ideal for both wine lovers and nature lovers.
The Center wine region of Uruguay experiences a warm climate that is suitable for the cultivation of late-ripening grape varieties, such as Cabernet Sauvignon and Tannat, as well as for white grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc or Chardonnay. This region, situated below the Lago Rincon del Bonete, features soil composed of clay and sand, providing reasonable drainage which is beneficial for viticulture. The geographical conditions of the Central wine region allow for a warmer and more conducive environment for the grapes to achieve full ripeness compared to cooler regions.
Additionally, the region is renowned for its strategic location, which historically facilitated access to local markets, especially being near urban centers like Montevideo. This accessibility has helped sustain the viticulture in the area, with many vineyards benefitting from the moderate climate that helps in maintaining the balance of sugar, acidity, and tannins in the grapes, crucial for quality winemaking.
The Center wine region of Uruguay, known for its diverse soil composition, plays a key role in the production of high-quality wines with great character:
Because the wine industry in Uruguay is relatively young, the Center region does not yet have regional sustainability programs. However, it does receive incentives from the Sustainable Viticulture Program, developed by the National Institute of Viticulture (INAVI). This program seeks to guarantee both the origin and traceability of the grapes used for wine production, to ensure that all grapes are produced using sustainable practices.
Among the practices assessed by this program are:
It should be clarified that this program also certifies wineries, although it only assesses whether or not grapes from certified vineyards are used.
In Uruguay's Center wine region, the Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay grapes have adapted to the region's distinctive terroir:
The Center wine region of Uruguay is renowned for producing exceptional wines from grape varieties such as Tannat, Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. Each wine offers a distinctive aromatic and flavor profile that reflects the unique terroir of this region:
The Center wine region did not have the same level of development in the 4 departments that comprise it (Durazno, Florida, Lavalleja and Treinta y Tres). In fact, during the period between 1898 and 1930, of the four departments, the only one that had a significant relevance for Uruguayan viticulture was Florida, a department that to this day continues to be key for the region.
This wine region had a great growth between 1898 and 1930, due to the arrival of the railroad to the region, which connected the town of Nico Perez, located in Florida, with the department of Durazno. As a result, in 1898 the region had a planted area of 183 hectares of vineyards, of which Florida represented 135 hectares, in 1930 that number reached 366 hectares.
Through the years, the region managed to have a constant development, however Durazno was gaining more and more preponderance over the other departments, because it has ideal climatic conditions for a better ripening of the grapes. This meant that, in 2022, Durazno was the department with the largest wine-growing area in the Center region (19 ha) followed by Florida (16 ha).
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