Uruguay Scores in the Top Three Nations’ Environmental Scorecard, According to Yale Study
According to the Environmental Sustainability Index (ESI) produced by a team of environmental experts at Yale and Columbia Universities, Uruguay was ranked the purest environment in which fine wine grapes are grown. Finland ranks first in the world in environmental sustainability among 146 countries and was ranked in the top spot over Norway, Uruguay, Sweden and Iceland. (You can see the full report at: www.law.yale.edu)
You may note that Finland, Norway, Sweden and Iceland do not enjoy the types of climatic cycles or characteristics of terroir that would make any of them a region favored for the cultivation of fine wine fruit.
TanTerra wines are hand crafted from grapes grown in vineyards that are located in the purest environment on earth in which fine wine grapes are cultivated.
Consistent summer heat of the 32 parallel, contrasted by Antarctic jetstreams in the winter, provide an ideal microclimate resulting in the same dynamic growing seasons enjoyed in the McLaren Vale in Australia and Stellenbosch in South Africa. Sandy soils result in ideal drainage in this unspoiled environment, free of caustic pesticides and synthetic contaminants.
Rigorous pruning regimens result in low yields of perfectly ripe fruit. 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 fruit during the most beneficial hours of the sun's rays.
The thoughtfully managed vineyards, and most especially the Tannat vines, are an “Invisible School” which, through continuous observation, research, and close study, teach us how to manipulate and elaborate the varietal in such a manner as to achieve its greatest, most nuanced and age-worthy expression.