With the aim of expanding knowledge about Uruguayan wines in the Latin American gastronomic industry, Uruguay Wines invited two delegations of sommeliers from restaurants recognized by The World's 50 Best Restaurants list and the Michelin guide in Brazil and Mexico in December 2024 and February 2025.

The strategy was to introduce the culture in an immersive way to influential opinion leaders in Latin American gastronomy through an immersive trip. For these missions, six sommeliers from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro were invited from December 2 to 7; and seven wine professionals from Mexico City, Guadalajara, Ensenada and Monterrey from February 16 to 22.

The 13 sommeliers traveled through the landscapes of the national vineyard and tasted more than 80 labels from different producers, most of which they did not know because they had never been to our country. The project, “Uruguayan wine on the best tables in LATAM” was presented and coordinated by the journalist and sommelier, Marcela Baruch, vice-chair for Uruguay and Argentina of the prestigious English list Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants.

Participating from Brazil in São Paulo were: Ricardo Santinho, owner and head sommelier of Vila Anália (a gastronomic complex in the East zone with five restaurants, as well as a supermarket); Danyel Steinle, sommelier and owner of the Nelita restaurant in São Paulo, number 21 on the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list and member of the World’s Best Sommelier Selection for Brazil; and Marcelo da Fonseca from the Evvai restaurant, 2 Michelin stars and number 22 on the Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants list. From Rio de Janeiro came Cecilia Aldaz, winemaker and sommelier, partner of the Oro (two Michelin stars) and Pipo restaurants in Sao Paulo; and Edouardo Arruda from the Belmond Copacabana Palace hotel and the Michelin star restaurants Cipriani and Mee within the same hotel.

These six sommeliers got to know the wines of 15 wineries from four regions: southwest, south and southeast and north. From Colonia, they were with representatives from Los Cerros de San Juan. From Canelones with Marichal Wines, Nakkal Wines, Bodega De Lucca, Pisano Viña & Progreso, Establecimiento Juanicó, Vermut Flores, Bracco Bosca and Pablo Fallabrino. From Rivera with Cerro Chapeu. Finally, Bodega Bouza Las Espinas, Cerro del Toro, Bodega Garzón, Compañía Uruguaya de Vinos del Mar and Viña Edén participated for Maldonado. All in all, labels with the possibility of being incorporated into Brazilian restaurants were tasted.

In addition, the professionals learned about our main varieties and production systems, learned first-hand the history of the wineries they visited, and were welcomed by winemakers and/or owners of the different establishments. They all concluded that the experience was very enriching. Despite the proximity to Brazil, the visitors shared that competition in the local market is very strong and Uruguay is not always the first choice for their diners, therefore, work in the restaurant dining room becomes essential when it comes to promoting the wines.

Regarding the Mexican group, most of them tried Uruguayan wines for the first time during their visit to the country. From Mexico City came Erick Orea from the restaurant Máximo Bistro and former sommelier of the two Michelin star Pujol; Estefanía Olivera from the oyster bar La Docena with four branches in the country and several positions on the Latin list of The World's 50 Best Restaurants; Aisha Jireh Moreno from the Michelin star Sud 777 recognized within the world and Latin list of 50 Best; and the wine list consultant Andrés Amor. From Guadalajara, Samuel Montaño was welcomed, sommelier of the restaurant Alcalde, which occupies the number 12 position in Latin America's 50 Best Restaurants and the 67th in the world edition of 50 Best. Finally, from Ensenada came Román Carballo, from Fauna restaurant in the Valle de Guadalupe, ranked 17th on the Latin America’s 50 Best Restaurants list, One to watch restaurant in 2020, Highest new entry in 2022, and its owner and pastry chef Maribel Aldaco won the award for the best pastry chef on the continent in 2023.

During their stay, all the professionals were surprised by the different expressions of Tannat, the wide range of white wines, the slightly undulating geography of the country, the maritime influence and the friendly idiosyncrasy of the locals.

The Mexican contingent tasted wines from wineries in the south, southeast and north of the country: Nakkal Wines, Marichal Wines, Bodega De Lucca, Bodega Santa Rosa, Vermut Flores, Pisano Viña & Progreso, Bodega Bouza, Vivi Primus, Atlántica Gourmet, Pablo Fallabrino, Bracco Bosca, Viña Edén, Cerro del Toro and Bodega Garzón.

During both missions there was gastronomy in restaurants such as Manzanar, Lo de Tere, 1921 Restaurant, Café Misterio, Bodega Garzón, Bouza in Las Espinas and Montevideo, seafood at Leonardo Etxea, barbecue at El Palenque and at the Bracco Bosca winery, wine at Viti Bar de Vinos and a visit to Vermutería. In addition, there was chivitos and fainá at the bars Arocena and Chez Piñeyro. There was also candombe, local musicians on the playlist of each trip, and sunsets at Casapueblo.

Uruguayan wine was successfully showcased in its multiple nuances, stories and flavours, which confirms its good position on any prestigious international table.