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The wonder of Uruguay's wine
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No, I didn't suck the grapes right off the vine.
There are a million things I could tell you about my Uruguay getaway – the beaches of Punta del Este, the historical charm of Colonia, the late-night dinners and fabulous conversations and fun in the sun… but I’d rather start with the wine.
Oh. My. God. The wine. I’ve been to South Australia and tooled through the Barossa Valley with a gal pal, tried some of Spain’s finer offerings with a foodie friend, and naturally, visited SoCal’s Napa Valley with a gaggle of girlfriends. I can’t compare Uruguay’s vino offerings to any of them – it stands alone in a class by itself, indefinable, but deliciously so. With means that your trip to Uruguay pretty much demands a winery visit.
One of the wineries I had the joy of spending an afternoon at was the Bouza Winery, a family owned and operated business just outside the capital city of Montevideo. It’s almost surreal how quickly you go from the bustling city atmosphere into the serene, calm countryside, pulling up in front of a charming stone building with a welcoming atmosphere, the patio shaded with vines bearing baseball-sized grapes. It’s here that you can settle in for an incredible lunch, which I did – salmon that melted in my mouth, spinach that complimented it perfectly, and wine… oh, the wine.
I’m admittedly not the most sophisticated of wine drinkers, so I looked to my foodie friend to guide me. We started with a rose, to which she said, “This is good.” Then a chardonnay, to which she also said, “This is good,” before adding an extra “really good” after a second sip. By the time we made it to the tannat, which reportedly has high anti-oxidant properties, I was smitten. Our lunch took hours, the wine flowed continually, and as it was summer season, we luxuriated in the pleasant warmth with a slight breeze as we snuck more than a few bites of the fresh, home made desserts that were eventually placed before us.
One of the owners, Elisa Trabal de Bouza, joked that she had five kinds of grapes that were like her children, but I can’t say she was too far off in her assessment. As she guided us through the vineyard and led us around the property, explaining the care and passion that went into making the wines, it was clear that this was more than just a moneymaking venture for her and her family… and at the risk of sounding too cliché, you can taste the difference.
While the main attraction is obviously the wine (which isn’t to discount the dining experience in any way, but come on – it’s a winery), the grounds themselves are interesting to wander, with the vineyard stretching as far as the eye can see, and a vintage car museum that takes you all the way back to the beginning with a fully-restored Model T. Just make sure that you’ve left enough room in your suitcase for the bottles you’ll inevitably buy to bring home with you.
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