Wine growing in Uruguay takes place in an area with a privileged location, where lands prove ideal for vineyard cultivation. Hence, Uruguay is a quality wine producer country. On lying between the 30th and the 35th southern Parallels, the country shares the same latitude with the ultimate wine-growing regions of the Southern hemisphere, including Argentina, Chile, South Africa and Australia. All the territory throughout is suitable for cultivation of vineyards.

In 1978 French experts arrive in Uruguay as consultants to work with a group of winegrowers. These experts visited several vineyards and wine cellars and before soon they reached a conclusion: changes were to be implemented soon.

Nowadays, twenty years later, these experts and other experts related to the International Organisation of Vine and Wine (OIV) hold the process that took place in Uruguay as an inspiring example to the rest of the world.

In 1987, a national organization known as Instituto Nacional de Vitivinicultura (INAVI) was established. INAVI is a nongovernmental institution, directed by the Executive Branch of the National Government. Given the notable success achieved by the sector, the Institute’s authorities chose Uruguay as the new host of the OIV congress, which was held in Punta del Este in 1995. Five hundred people from thirty four countries attended the congress.

The growing recognition gained in several international events, the increase in Uruguayan wine exports and the rationalization process are the results of the spirit of continuous innovation encouraged by European immigrants, which they passed on to their families.

Tannat is the mother vine of Uruguayan viticulture. It was introduced among a variety of grapes to Uruguay in 1970 by Don Pascual Harriague, who was looking for the vine that would best suit the local weather and soil. Tannat, historically grown in Southern France, proved highly successful and led to the development of wine industry in the country.

Time later, his Tannat wine won Harriague the country’s best national wine award. Hence, since 1877, the Tannat has been considered the "national grape" in Uruguay. The Tannat are tannic wines, with soft tannis and have an attractive color.

Uruguay is currently the only country in the world which harvests the Tannat in significant quantities. The production is even larger than in its native area, Madiran e Irouléguy, in south west France. In Uruguay, the harvested area of this variety represents one third of the total vineyards. Uruguay has become increasingly well known as a high quality wine producer country. Moreover, owing to the recognition gained by the Tannat wines, other national wines were put on the market as well.

The Tannat wine structure also allow for stylish combinations with various grapes, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Shiraz. Uruguayan wine growers have also dedicated themselves to producing Tannat wine fermented in oak barrels.