Uruguayan Garzón and Bouza wineries among the 50 best in the world

According to the World’s Best Vineyards awards, two Uruguayan wineries ranked among the 50 best wineries. Bodega Garzón obtained sixth place in this ranking, while Bouza ranked 30th.

This prestigious list annually reveals the 50 most unique wine experiences and includes the best places to taste magnificent wines and learn about winemaking and grape growing. The ranking is compiled from nominations made by nearly 500 wine, travel, and wine tourism experts from around the world who belong to this academy.

Bodega Garzón, which has always been in the top 10, entered this year in sixth place. The ranking highlighted its proximity to the prestigious Uruguayan tourist destination of Punta del Este and the elegant fishing village of José Ignacio.

The winery opened its doors in 2016 and this year also became one of the first representatives of the Uruguay country brand under LSQA certification. This licensing highlights the values of sustainability, leadership, and management that distinguish the country and allow companies to position their products better abroad.

Garzón is one of the leading wine exporters in the country and, according to World’s Best Vineyards, “is already spearheading the Uruguayan wine scene.”

This organization highlighted the winery endowed with some of the oldest granitic soils in the world (2,500 million years old), and the “vibrant biodiversity that includes virgin native forests and palm trees.”

Above its subway cellars, World’s Best Vineyards explained striking examples of the ancient rocks that stand out, forming part of the architecture itself, and the entire estate is LEED Silver (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified, built with sustainability in mind.

Highlighted hiking, the possibility of picnics among the vineyards, and horseback riding or hot air balloon rides were some activities the organization highlighted from Garzón.

“The Garzón Tajamares Golf Course is not only sprinkled with idyllic (and challenging!) lakes but has been modified by Masters and US Open champion Ángel Cabrera for optimum play,” stressed on his website World’s Best Vineyards.

The winery offers to live the gastronomic experience at the hands of the Patagonian chef Francis Mallmann, who, according to the review of this ranking, his fondness for grilled cuisine “adds a delicious wild element to the dining.” The menu options, which World’s Best Vineyards suggest eating as the sun sets over the vineyards, are paired with the estate’s signature wines.

No less important is the emphasis that this prestigious academy places on the wines produced by the Garzón winery, which, being located at the same latitude as the best wineries in Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand, cradles of the most outstanding wines in the world, achieves wines of the highest quality and global recognition.

"The 240 hectares of vineyard are divided into over 1,000 plots, each identified by its microclimate, orientation, humidity, sun exposure, and soil composition. In the winery, Italian winemaker Alberto Antonini encourages the expression of the fruit’s natural characteristics through gentle handling and minimal use of wood,” the academy said about the winemaking of Bodega Garzón wines.

“Tannat is the standout grape, not just of Uruguay in general but Bodega Garzón in particular; it is afforded freshness and nuance by the moderating impact of the Atlantic to the south (its Antarctic currents especially), for bold yet taught wines. Experiments with white varieties, including the Spanish Albariño, are proving hugely promising,” stressed the academy.

Bodega Bouza ranked in the top 30
Bouza returned to the ranking after having been in 2019 and 2020 and did so in 30th place. This academy highlighted the Melilla winery, located a short distance from downtown Montevideo and close to the Rio de la Plata.

“In a little over 20 years, this family-run winery has become one of Uruguay’s most critically acclaimed producers. Offering tours, tastings, and two restaurants for visitors to explore, Bodega Bouza is a shining example of Uruguay’s exciting wine scene,” said World’s Best Vineyards.

The winery and vineyard, around which the current estate is built, were founded in 1942. In 2000, Juan and Elisa Bouza began a transformation process inspired by the countryside and its products, which sought to work on a human scale to achieve the best results.

Today, the winery is from five different vineyards, each with different soils and proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. “The overall climate is similar to Bordeaux, with four distinct seasons, leading to wines and vintages with strong personalities. This diverse patchwork of terroirs also allows the winery to plant a wide variety of different grapes. As such, Bodega Bouza can offer a whole range of wines from light-bodied reds such as Pinot Noir, crisp and refreshing whites like Chardonnay and Albariño, to full-bodied, powerful reds such as Uraguay's flagship grape, Tannat," the ranking highlighted.

They also added that the winery is firmly committed to sustainability and manages the vineyards with as few chemicals as possible. “ vineyard teams thin the foliage where necessary to reduce the risk of disease, and by encouraging biodiversity natural predators take care of pests. Cover vegetation between the rows is spontaneous which has allowed a resurgence of the plants native to the Uruguayan prairie," noted.

According to World’s Best Vineyards, being 15 minutes from the country’s capital, the Bouza winery offers visitors "the perfect day trip experience.” Every day Bouza offers tours and tastings, and guests can sample regional dishes in the restaurant, which also houses a collection of classic cars. Those able to take a more extended excursion can visit the vineyard’s restaurant at Las Espinas, which offers a beautifully paired menu and 360° views of the local countryside. The winery also has a wine and tapas restaurant in Punta del Este and a boutique at the Sofitel Montevideo Hotel.