The regions of Uruguay
Choose a region to read its guide, then move closer through its named subregions.
- 01Areniscas del Uruguay1 producerAreniscas del Uruguay lies in northern Uruguay, around the Uruguay River and the departments of Artigas, Paysandú and Salto. Its vineyards sit on varied sandstone formations, with calcareous soils in Paysandú and gravelly sites around Salto. Tannat has a local connection through Pascual Harriague, who introduced the grape to Salto around 1870.
- 02AtlánticaNo producers listed yetAtlántica runs along Uruguay's southeastern coast, where Maldonado and Rocha meet Atlantic influence. Cooling slows ripening and breezes contribute acidity. Look for Tannat, Syrah, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon among the reds, plus Sauvignon Blanc and Albariño, including Maldonado examples with a saline, savoury character.
- 03Cuesta BasálticaNo producers listed yetCuesta Basáltica sits in Uruguay's basalt country, where a large inclined surface falls toward the Uruguay River. The eastern edge rises sharply, while the west slopes more gently. In eastern Artigas, shallow basalt-derived soils and exposed rock leave a spare landscape long associated with sheep farming.
- 04Other producers5 producersThese producers are listed here with no more specific region shown.
- 05Piedra AltaNo producers listed yetPiedra Alta is a rock formation outside Florida beside the Santa Lucía Chico River. The Florida Congress promulgated three foundational laws there on 25 August 1825, and the site was declared a national historic monument in 1900.
- 06Río Platense2 producersRío Platense maps to Uruguay's Metropolitan wine region of Canelones, Montevideo and San José. Río de la Plata and Atlantic influence, along with regular rainfall, moderate summer heat and bring freshness, balanced alcohol and acidity to the region's wines.
- 07Riveras del UruguayNo producers listed yetRiveras del Uruguay follows the Uruguay River through Artigas, Paysandu and Salto. Hot, humid conditions, wide day-night temperature shifts and changing soils distinguish its wines, from Paysandu's calcareous ground to Salto's free-draining old riverbed soils and softer Tannat from the Dayman basin.
- 08Rodados del UruguayNo producers listed yetRodados del Uruguay is a soil-defined regional unit in Uruguay's wine map, not a legally delimited appellation. It belongs to a national wine landscape that includes clay, silt, sand, gravel and limestone-related soils.
- 09Sierras del Uruguay2 producersSierras del Uruguay sits in the southeastern wine area of Maldonado and Rocha. It is Uruguay's main Atlantic-influenced region, with more altitude and geological variety than the country's other wine areas. Cooling breezes help southern vineyards retain acidity and freshness, particularly in Tannat.