Are you looking for a wine adventure? How about a red wine with its origins in France, touted as the healthiest red wine, affordable, and flexible as a food pairing. This wine adventure starts in Uruguay, South America’s 4th leading wine producing country after Argentina, Chile, and Brazil. Uruguay is one of the smallest countries in South America located between Argentina and Brazil with the majority of the wine production concentrated in the Atlantic coastal regions of Canelones, outside the capital city of Montevideo, and Maldonado. 80% of the wines produced in Uruguay are red, and Tannat is the most planted variety. To set the mood, I highly recommend watching the Amazon Prime video, “It Starts with Wine” Episode 1: Uruguay: Wine’s Best-Kept Secret.
courtesy of maps-uruguay.com
This month the Wine Pairing Weekend group of bloggers is discovering Uruguayan wines and food pairings. Join our Twitter chat Saturday, February 9th at 11:00 am ET using hashtag #WinePW. Don’t miss my fellow bloggers’ posts at the end of this one for more on Uruguay wine and food.
Tannat Facts
Tannat originated in southwest France and was brought to Uruguay with the Basque settlers around 1870. Basque immigrant Pascal Harriague planted the first Tannat vines, and for over a century the variety in Uruguay was known as Harriague.
Studies determined Tannat to have one of the highest polyphenols (antioxidants) of all red wines. (Tannat 4000 mg compared to Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon with about 1200-1300 mg). If you remember hearing about the French Paradox, polyphenols can positively influence your blood pressure and cholesterol!
Tannat is Uruguay’s signature grape varietal. Since the 1980’s, there has been an increased focus on quality in viticulture and winemaking practices. According to the Environmental Sustainability Index, Uruguay comes in third for the most environmentally sustainable country in the world behind Finland and Norway. This means Uruguay has some of the purest vineyard environment in the world. All that said, quality Uruguayan wines are priced at $15-30 a bottle, an outstanding value.
Tannat is a thick-skinned grape with high tannins. Uruguayan Tannat is frequently blended with other grape varieties resulting in a softer, smoother, more approachable wine that is more flexible when pairing with food.
Sources: South America Wine Guide, Wine Folly
My Tasting Notes
Disclosure: The wine was provided as a media sample, all opinions are my own.
2013 Alto de la Ballena Reserve Tannat-Viognier, Uruguay
14% abv | $26.00 (sample) | 85% Tannat 15%Viognier
Alto de la Ballena is a small, relatively new winery founded by husband and wife team, Paula Pivel and Alvaro Lorenzo in 1998 and located in the southeast region of Uruguay in Maldonado, 15 kilometers from the Atlantic coast. The climate is moderate with a maritime influence. The eight hectares of vineyards are planted on steep slopes of loose gravelly soil and include Merlot, Tannat, Cabernet Franc, Syrah, and Viognier. The estate saw its first harvest in 2005 and the first released wine in 2007. Their wines are currently available in Uruguay, Mexico, Brazil, and Sweden and coming soon to the United States, Belgium, Switzerland, and Argentina.
Vineyard: Sierra de la Ballena Whales Hills
Soils: crystalline rock, weathered granite with inlaid quartz, and limestone
Harvest: grapes are harvest by hand with very low yields
Aging: Skins of the Viognier are added to the Tannat grapes and macerated together at low temperatures for three days. The wine is aged for nine months in American oak barrels. Before bottling, the wine is lightly filtered.
Medium ruby in color. Medium bodied and acidity with medium+ tannins. Notes of black currants and vanilla. On the palate a soft mouthfeel with balanced tannins, licorice, and plums.
red quinoa pilaf, herb pan-roasted pork tenderloin, and citrus glazed roasted root vegetables
Food Pairing
Tannat is known for its high tannins which would call for a food pairing of rich, full flavored, high fat foods to balance the often gripping tannins. The Alta de la Ballena blended with Viognier, softens those tannins and adds exotic aromatics. I paired the wine with a winter plate of red quinoa pilaf studded with onions, red bell pepper, potato, cilantro, and a drizzle of aged balsamic vinegar, rosemary and thyme pan-roasted pork tenderloin, and citrus glazed roasted sweet potatoes, fennel, and sunchokes. The overall rustic and depth of flavors paired well with the Tannat-Viognier blend. The roasted vegetables were balanced with the tannin and acidity in the wine. The fennel echoing the licorice notes in the wine, the citrus glaze the hints of aromatics found in the Viognier, and the pork tenderloin with herbs enhancing the earthy flavors of the wine. Overall a clean healthy dinner highlighting winter produce paired with a full bodied balanced red wine.
Citrus-Glazed Roasted Root Vegetables
Ingredients
- 1 lb. sunchokes (Jerusalem artichokes)
- 2 fennel bulbs
- 1 lb. sweet potatoes
- 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 2 teaspoons fresh thyme, chopped
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
- freshly ground black pepper
- 3-4 tablespoons Citrus Glaze (recipe follows)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 425º F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Fill a medium bowl with cold water and add the sunchokes. Scrub them with a vegetable brush. Rinse under running water. Cut them into 1-inch size pieces and dry thoroughly.
- Peel the sweet potatoes and cut into 1-inch size pieces.
- Trim the fennel bulbs, quarter them lengthwise, and cut out the core. Slice each quarter in half.
- Spread the vegetables in a single layer on the lined baking sheet. Drizzle them with olive oil and season with salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. Toss to combine and mix. Roast for about 30-40 minutes or until vegetables are tender.
- Just before serving drizzle the vegetables with 3 tablespoons of the citrus glaze and toss gently to mix.
Citrus Glaze
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 2 tablespoons agave nectar
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
Instructions
- Place all the ingredients in a jar and shake well.
Herb Pan-Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Ingredients
- 1 1-1/4 lb. pork tenderloin
- 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh rosemary, chopped
- 1-1/2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves
- 2-1/2 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375 º F.Cut the tenderloin in half to make it easier to handle when pan searing.
- In a small bowl, mix together the rosemary, thyme, 1-1/2 tablespoon olive oil, and about 1 teaspoon of black pepper. Spread the mixture over the pork tenderloin, coating it well.
- In a heavy oven proof sauté pan, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil and heat over medium high heat. Add the pork tenderloin pieces and sauté for about 6 minutes total turning the meat every 2 minutes until well browned all over.
- Transfer the pork in the pan to the oven and roast uncovered for about 20 minutes. An instant thermometer should read 145º F for the meat to be done. Cover the meat loosely with foil for about 10 minutes before slicing.
More adventures with Uruguay wine and food from my fellow Wine Pairing Weekend bloggers
- Pinny at Chinese Food and Wine Pairings presents Uruguay’s Bodega Garzon Tannat Paired with Lamb Skewers and Beef Short Ribs
- Camilla from Culinary Adventures with Camilla gives us Brined Quail with a Numbered Bottle of Tannat
- Cindy from Grape Experiences provides Taste Uruguay: 1752 Gran Tradicion Montevideo 2017 and Pasta with Caruso Sauce
- David from Cooking Chat stirs up BBQ Baked Steak Tips with Wine from Uruguay
- Wendy from A Day In The Life On The Farm presents Food and Wine of Uruguay; Chivito Sandwiches paired with Garzon Cab Franc
- Jeff from FoodWineClick offers up Picturing Uruguay with Lentil Stew & Aguara Tannat
- Kat from Bacchus Travel & Tours hints at a Hidden Gem: On the Hunt for Wine from Uruguay
- Jane from Always Ravenous stirs up Discovering Uruguayan Wine Paired with a Winter Plate
- Steven from Steven’s Wine And Food Blog shares Tannat and Brazilian Feijoada
- Linda from My Full Wine Glass asks Meatless in Uruguay – Is that possible?
- Deanna from Asian Test Kitchen says Relax Your Mussels with Uruguayan Albarino
- Sarah from Curious Cuisiniere pairs Tannat from Uruguay and French Cassoulet
- Nancy from Pull That Cork gives us Uruguay: a Wine and Food Sampler
- Gwen from Wine Predator shares Uruguay: Influenced by Immigrants
- Jennifer from VinoTravels presents Bodega Garzón Tannat with Sausage Stew
- Martin of ENOFYLZ Wine Blog writes A Taste of the #Food and #Wine of Uruguay
- Nicole from Somm’s Table serves Two Rounds with Bodega Garzón Tannat: Chivitos and Chipotle-Coffee Flank Steak
- Rupal from Syrah Queen is ready with Tannat – The National Grape of Uruguay
- Jill at L’Occasion rolls out To All The Foods I’ve Loved Before: Pairing Uruguayan Tannat
Thanks for calling out the Amazon video on Uruguayan wine. The wines definitely need more notoriety. The quality-value score for these wines is hard to top!
After watching the Amazon video I was ready to hop a plane to Uruguay! Yes the value of the Uruguayan wines is incredible.
I didn’t know tannat had so many polyphenols. I guess that means I should definitely drink more of it. Love the use of sunchokes and red quinoa too. Looks delish!
I did not realize the high polyphenols in Tannat until I did the research. Cheers to healthy red wines!
Ok,,,,you are the 4th member of this group, thus far, to have recommended this series. I can’t wait to have a free evening to curl up with a glass of wine and the remote. Thanks for sharing a healthier pairing.
Yes watch the video, I loved it! Always looking for healthier food and wine pairings.
Sounds like a delightful winter pairing, Jane!
It was a delicious pairing and on the lighter side.
Your winter plate and a Tannat sounds great together! Love the Tannat facts too! Well done Jane!
great looking plate to go with the Tannat! Curious how it tastes with the Viogner blended in, a bit lighter perhaps.
The Viognier mellowed the tannins of the Tannat and added nice aromatics.
Good looking dinner and I’ll bet it was great with the Tannat. I especially liked your quinoa pilaf. We’ve been exploring ancient grains this year and quinoa has become a favorite of mine.
Isn’t it a pleasure to tell the story of a small winemaking family? Your roasted veggies and quinoa have my mouth watering. Lovely paring with the Tannat and how interesting there is some Viognier blended in too. Cheers!
I wish you could see the Alta de Ballena property. It has all this rich biodiversity and it’s up on a windy hill. So beautiful!