URUGUAY SPECIAL – PART V: BOUTIQUE BOUZA AND STAGNARI WINERIES

In this fifth Uruguay’s Wine Special, we invite you to know two concepts focused on fine wine production- Bouza and H. Stagnari- both wineries are properties of 100% dedicated families to wine production which is H. Stagnari’s case and as a second activity, which is Bouza’s case. The input of both families to winemaking is added to the effort of many others that are growing, dreaming and living for the Tannat. AndesWines.com from Uruguay.
BOUZA WINERY

Our visit to Boutique Bouza Winery was in charge of Juan Martin Borda, General Manager and Dr Eduardo Boido, oenologist, who guided us into vineyards covered by crushed stones being an experiment implemented to increase temperature and radiation in the lower part of the vineyards.

It was a quiet day. Although we did not have lunch at the Restaurant, we could appreciate great care in details. Its automobile museum and old trains taste by the owners are remarkable. All this made the visit and experience mixing wine and history.

It is hard to see care and dedication put for the winery development by the family; details which are admired by their friends and colleagues of the area. Having just 100,000 bottles, in just eight years they have achieved creating an unique concept making Wine Uruguay to be proud, which no one could ever hesitate.

Vineyards treated with great care, low loads and certain winemaking techniques, in addition to strict cask controls, make this wine to be an experience to talk and enjoy.

With surprise we see a train being restored that will be part of luxurious rooms for special guest in the future.

History begins driven by love to field and fruits coming from it. Family’s initiative grew in conjunction with the theme: “work at small scale always provides better results”. In order to achieve such objective, they had great care in following up all the process from vineyard to the top and they trust that is the way to get from their vineyards the personality which identifies them.

Vineyards are located on great fertility lands, good drainage and they are characterized by the presence of calcium carbonate. Property is divided into two fields: in Las Violetas and Melilla. In the last one, there is the winery containing 5 vineyard hectares approx. of Chardonnay, Albariño, Merlot and Tannat. Las Violetas is composed by 12 hectares with varieties of Tempranillo, Chardonnay, Merlot, Albariño and Tannat. Lands, in turn, are divided into 4 vineyard hectares between 16 and 30 years and 8 young vineyard hectares.

In order to guarantee that pre-established quality standards are achieved, they are taking care of using only own grapes, because of their fruit is well ventilated, has indirect light and has foliage conduction with high sun exposure. They are aware that not even the best technology is enough if accurate fruit treatment and proper maintaining conditions are taken.

H. STAGNARI WINERY

Uruguay’s well-known grape: Tannat, which for a while it was denominated as Harruague, name of the person who introduced it into the country’s viticulture in 1840. It is still used that name in some Uruguayan sectors until now.

In their time, Harruague harvested 200 hectares of Tannat getting international recognition in that period of time when their wines were exported to France.

Héctor Stagnari, part of the third generation of the family, was graduated from the oenology school and together with his father, they started with vine plantations for high quality wine production.

After years of specialization and hard work, Héctor Stagnari decided to create their own way and founded H. Stagnari Winery in 2000. From the very first time, his wife Virginia Moreira de Stagnari supported him in all the process and until now she supervises many winery tasks related to visitor reception and tourism.

Having own vineyards in the Departamento de Salto and in the Canelones, Héctor Stagnari produces author wines with character and unique type which can be appreciated in their well-known wines- Dayman, Dinastía and Tannat Viejo- they seduce the most demanding palates in the markets where they are introduced.

They export just 20% of the production; that is why this year they Hill be focused on opening new markets, as well as strengthen internal market growing at huge steps.

Their current location is in the coast of the Río de Uruguay (Uruguay River), near to the big water mirror created along Salto Grande’s lake. Thermal fluctuation from there creates an excellent tannin ripening which subsequently they will be processing by their own and winemaker. This is part of the great secret for what Fine Wines H. Stagnari produces the most awarded Tannat wine in the world.

In a very few years, Héctor achieved the unthinkable: getting such award varieties in competitions and presentations around the World, which is the main Winery asset which is supported by their own wines. And that is how in year 2007 they achieved to be crowned as the World Best Red Wine with their Tannat Viejo 2005 on Vinalies América Latina de Chile competition, beating wines of different countries and positioning them in the international wine map.

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