Consistent summer heat of the 32 parallel, contrasted by Antarctic jetstreams in the winter, offers the same dynamic growing seasons enjoyed by the McLaren Vale in Australia and Stellenbosch in South Africa. Far from the reach of industry and urban sprawl, the vineyards are located at sea level in the purest environment on earth in which fine wine grapes are cultivated and Tannat wines created. Sandy soils result in ideal drainage in this extremely pure and unspoiled environment. (Read Tannat grape history)
The ideal microclimate and thoughtfully managed Uruguayan wine vineyards, especially the Tannat vines, are an Invisible School which, through continuous observation, research, and close study, are teaching us how to manipulate and elaborate the varietal in such a manner as to achieve its greatest, most nuanced and age-worthy expression.
Rigorous pruning regimens result in low yields of perfectly ripe Tannat grapes. The practice of pulling leaves on the morning-sun side of the canopy further train the canopy upward within the trellising system to allow for optimum exposure of the emerging bunches of Tannat grapes during the most beneficial hours of the sun's rays.
Hand harvesting done in the cool of night protects the Tannat grape in its journey from the vineyards to the winery, where the Tannat grape bunches undergo further culling by hand selection prior to being included in the TanTerra crush.
TanTerra represents the frontier of world-class Uruguayan wines. We utilize state-of-the-art winegrowing practices in producing both classic and experimental varietals that display the intensity, power, and richness of New World offerings with the complexity, elegance and finesse of classic Old World wines.
TanTerra wines, produced from Tannat grapes that are sustainably grown and farmed exclusively from this terroir, are characterized by more elegant and softer tannins that merge with ripe, dark fruit notes of mulberry, plum, fig and blackberry.
We invite you to share our excitement and enthusiasm as we pioneer the next great wine region of the world, bringing a fantastic “new” varietal, and the best Tannat, to the attention of the American palate.