2022 Viña Progreso "Overground" Tannat Uruguay

Notes

While Tannat is indigenous to France, it found its "spiritual home" in Uruguay in the 19th century, similar to when Malbec became known as the flagship grape of Argentina. Uruguay is now the largest producer of Tannat in the world, and it is the only country where Tannat is the most-planted grape variety. The story of Tannat in Uruguay began in the 1870s with a Basque immigrant named Pascual Harriague who brought vine cuttings from his homeland near the French Pyrenees (close to Madiran AOC) and planted them in the northern Uruguayan city of Salto. For decades, the variety wasn't even called Tannat in Uruguay; it was known simply as Harriague and today, Uruguay celebrates April 14th as “Tannat Day” to celebrate the legacy of Harriague, who passed away on that date in 1894. The grape thrived because its thick skins made it incredibly resilient against the humid Atlantic climate of the country, which can often be too damp for more thin-skinned grapes like Malbec or Pinot Noir. Viña Progreso is an innovative winery in the heart of Uruguay’s Progreso region of Canelones, founded and led by winemaker Gabriel Pisano, who combines local tradition with modern, creative winemaking techniques. Located about 20 miles from the Atlantic coast, the winery focuses on producing wines with a fresh, vibrant style. The “Overground” Tannat is an approachable, fruit-forward expression of the variety, framed by the hallmark firm tanniins.