Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/72473
Dante Irurtia Another winery founded by Basque immigrants, Irurtia owns over 800 acres of vineyard near the beautiful old town of Colonia, just across the Rio de la Plata from Buenos Aires. Irurtia makes an interesting sparkling wine from Chardonnay and Muscat as well as a number of reasonably priced varietals such as Gewurztraminer, Viognier and Tannat under the Km.0 label. Establecimiento Juanicó The Juanicó property in Canelones has a long history beginning in the 1830s. In 1979 it was acquired by the in Canelones's limestone-clay soil. The winery is run by the fourth generation of Marichals, brothers Juan Andrés and Alejandro, with help from the third generation, their mother Lidia and father Juan Carlos. The winery produces Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Tannat. Pisano Family Vineyards The Pisano family arrived in Uruguay from Liguria in 1870. In 1924 the next generation produced the first Pisano wine. Today the winery is guided by the dynamic, mustachioed Daniel Pisano who, with his brothers Eduardo and Pizzorno, a hard-working couple who have recently added on to the winery and are producing sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Tannat. Vino Finos H. Stagnari This small winery produces white wines from estate vineyards in Canelones and red wines from Salto, 300 miles to the north. The winery is located in the Nueva Hespérides region of Salto. H. Stagnari has won many awards and medals for its "Viejo" Tannat. Juan Andrés Marichal. Deicas family who have greatly mod- ernized the operation and enlarged it into Uruguay's biggest producer. The company farms over 500 acres of vineyard and was one of the first Uruguayan producers to recognize the potential of Tannat for the region. Three generations of Deicas family members are involved in the winery, which has a partnership project with Bernard Magrez and Château Pape Clément. Marichal This small winery was established in 1938 by the Marichal family who descended from immigrants from the Canary Islands. All wines are produced from estate-owned vineyards planted Daniel and Eduardo Pisano. Gustavo, have made this winery one of Uruguay's best known. All wines are made from estate-owned vineyards in Canelones. Although the simple, basic winery produces just 30,000 cases, Pisano wines have found a wide-spread international market with distribution in more than 45 countries. The Pisanos produce a large range of wines includ- ing Torrontès, Viognier, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot and Tannat. Pizzorno Family Estates The Pizzorno winery, established in 1910, is only a few miles from Pisano. All wines are made from the 50 acres of estate-owned vineyards. The cur- rent proprietors are Carlos and Ana Carlos and Ana Pizzorno. Viña Varela Zarranz The Varela Zarranz family began producing wine in 1933. They bought the current Canelones vineyard and winery site in 1944. There are 240 acres that comprise vineyards, winery, storage and a remarkable garden featuring a number of unusual botanical specimens. Victoria Varela, a member of the youngest family generation, is winery spokesperson, and young Carla Falabrino is the enologist. Production includes spar- kling wines, Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Franc and Tannat. An unoaked 2011 blend of Tannat and Merlot may be a preview of a new style of value wine that shows great promise for export. july 2012 / the tasting panel / 75