Tannat

Tannat is thought to originate from the Basque region of France and is closely related to the Madiran region located in the foothills of the Pyrenees in southeastern France. Cultivated since the 17th and 18th centuries, the Tannat produced blend wines with Cabernet Sauvignon or Cabernet Franc. In 1870 a Basque immigrant named Pascual Harriague brought the variety to Uruguay. It adapted and flourished, becoming the national variety of Uruguay and accounting for about a third of its total production. It is a challenging grape because, depending on the terroir, Tannat acquires a different flavour. The varietal wines from Tannat are dry, rich in tannin and display all the complexity of dark fruit. They become more rounded when blended with other varieties such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Pinot Noir, or Viognier. In terms of pairing, Tannat tends to go well with structured dishes. It goes well with almost all kinds of meats and is excellent with game and lamb.